Thomas Traversa & Charlie Paris tackles the famous Nazaré surf spot

A hunter of winter storms, a world reference in windsurfing in big waves, and equipped with his Concordia, the French Thomas Traversa sailed on the ultimate surf spot in Nazaré, where the biggest waves in Europe form. A look back at this epic ride and a presentation of the watch "Concordia Nazaré" limited edition that we released for the occasion.

1. Nazaré, the wave where records are broken
2. Thomas Traversa, a world-renowned windsurfing expert, storm
3. Concordia Nazaré, the watch for thrill-seekers

1. Nazaré, the wave where world records are broken

Nazaré is a small fishing town of 15,000 inhabitants, located in western Portugal, known for giant waves that can reach 20m high. The secret to this spot reaching such records? A 5 km deep fault in the Atlantic Ocean that stops just in front of the Nazaré lighthouse, forcing the wave formed underwater to stop abruptly and send all its energy back to the surface, creating gigantic waves.

This phenomenon has always existed, but surfers were unaware of it until 2010 when the town council sought to revitalize Nazaré during the winter by alerting surfers to this potential surf spot. Since then, Nazaré has been home to legendary waves, such as the 23-meter wave surfed by Garrett McNamara in November 2011. Since then, it has been the place where surfing records are broken. For example, Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Kox broke the world record for the largest wave ever surfed in 2018. It was 24.38 meters high, the equivalent of a nine-story building. 

The waves at Nazaré aren't known for being the most beautiful, but they are the biggest, the most challenging, and the most exhilarating. This spot is tricky because, unlike traditional shoals that generate large waves offshore and can be ridden around on either side, here you have to choose the right wave, one whose shape will allow you to escape before it closes out. 

Every winter, colossal waves roll in off the coast of Nazaré, and as predicted, the "big waves" were definitely there this year! An exceptional spectacle, attracting extreme surfers. Among them, Thomas Traversa.

2. Thomas Traversa, world reference in storm windsurfing

This year, we therefore partnered with the windsurfer Thomas Traversa to tackle Nazaré. In heavy weather, with nearly 40 knots and 15-meter waves. It is a huge honor for our team to have such a champion as an ambassador for our young watch brand. PWA "wave" world champion in 2014, three-time champion of the legendary "Red Bull Stormchase"Thomas Traversa has established himself over the years as THE A world reference in big wave windsurfing. Beyond his titles, Thomas Traversa is, in our opinion, an extreme adventurer who achieves feats that only he and a few other riders in the world are capable of.

3. Nazaré, the watch for thrill-seekers

During this session, Thomas Traversa wore the "Concordia - Nazaré", our limited edition designed for lovers of gliding and thrills. Designed and assembled in France, water-resistant to 300m thanks to its crown and screw-down case back, the "Concordia Nazaré" presents a Aesthetically pleasing, both sporty and attractive.With its sharp, muscular style, taut lines and smoky blue dial, the "Concordia - Nazaré" displays a modern and sporty elegance. The watch's hour markers and hands are coated with Super-LumiNova® for optimal legibility in the dark. The Super-LumiNova® is the same color as the center of the "smoky" blue dial. The topographic map of the depths of Nazaré is engraved on the back of the watch; this engraving reveals the underwater canyon, located just in front of the famous Nazaré surf spot, which explains the formation of these mythical waves. For the automatic version, it is SOPROD with its P024 movement that wins our trust to equip the watch. And for the quartz version, it's the Seiko VH31 "Sweep Second" movement, which is unique in having a seconds hand that beats 4 times per second. Case The watch case is made of 316L stainless steel with polished, matte, and brushed finishes. Aesthetically, 316L stainless steel retains its shine over time and does not tarnish. Its anti-magnetic shielding meets ISO 764 standards. The unidirectional rotating bezel with 120 clicks on the automatic version is topped with an anodized aluminum disc.

The press is talking about it:

Thomas Traversa becomes the first person to windsurf Nazaré at size in port tack conditions - Windsurf Magazine
Windsurfer Thomas Traversa recounts the giant waves of Nazaré and how to survive them - Sailing and Sailboats