Tony Laureano is Portugal’s youngest big wave surfer. He started surfing when he was just five and grew up influenced by what was happening in Nazaré and throughout Portugal’s big wave scene.
His father, Ramon Laureano is a big wave legend, Nazaré pioneer, a professional jet ski rescuer, and is responsible for some of the most hardcore rescue operations ever attempted at Praia do Norte. With these roots and this environment, it’s no surprise that Tony Laureano started to charge Nazaré exceptionally early. With the backup of his father’s rescue resources, Tony got the chance to feel the Portuguese giant at a very young age and naturally grew comfortable there.
Tony already has a handful of XXL Big Wave Award submissions, both towing and paddling, and has a fair share of heavy wipeouts. But above all, he has stories his highschool friends can only dream about. His surfboard is displayed on the Surfer’s Wall in the Lighthouse Museum in Nazare, alongside legends like Garrett McNamara, Ross Clarke-Jones and Rodrigo Koxa. In Portugal, he’s respected as one of the country’s most promising stars and the first big name of a generation that’s grown up with Nazaré being “Nazaré.”
“Meet Tony” is a short filmed during the 2018/2019s winter — a special season where Tony learned that sometimes even tiny onshore beach break can be as dangerous as a 60-foot Naza closeout.
