Garrett McNamara with a board made from Varial Foam. Photo:Mercedes-Benz
In surfing, there are a few people that break the mold. They’re the ones that appeal to markets outside of surfing–the Kelly Slaters and Bethany Hamiltons, the ones that become something more than a surfer to an audience enamored with the idea of surfing. And if there is one common thread that is evident in those that break out of that role, it’s passion. An obvious, unabashed love for what they do. As a viewer, you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they would be doing what they’re doing whether anyone was watching or not.
Garrett McNamara has that passion. He has a passion for surfing almost unimaginably enormous waves. When most people turn and run, Garrett McNamara turns and goes. He’s above the bickering about whether or not Nazaré’s a real wave. He doesn’t care what you’re surfing on or how you got onto the wave. He rides what he feels like riding and tows when it’s too big to paddle. He does this because he has that passion for surfing. It’s about the wave, and nothing else.
Garrett McNamara teamed up with Mercedes, a company not normally associated with surfing. A few years back, Mercedes-Benz started something called the MBoard Project. They partnered with McNamara and the North Canyon Project to create a series of surfboards unlike any others. Using materials like cork, they created boards that suited the wave in Nazaré and put McNamara in the driver’s seat for the test drive. The most recent in the series is made from Varial Foam, a high-density foam used in the aerospace industry. And since Garrett is doing things no one else in surfing is doing on boards no one else in surfing is riding, I thought it would be interesting to get a few of his thoughts.
How’d you get hooked up with Mercedes? Because they’re not a surfboard company, did you have any concerns about having them build you boards that you use in potentially life-threatening situations?
They started up by supporting us with vehicles while we were in Portugal, and then they came to me and said that they didn’t just want to be on land, they wanted to get in the water. The three point star of their logo actually represents land, air and sea. They proposed making me a tow board that could perform in the extreme conditions of Nazaré. I knew that they were perfectionists and in the top of their field. I was so honored and gladly accepted!
How involved the design process of those boards are you?
Very involved. I basically shared all of my experience over the last 20 years with them and was side by side with them during the entire process.
Does experimenting with different materials for surfboards (cork, etc) on huge waves make you nervous? I feel like that’s a terrifying place to test something out.
I have a pretty good idea if a board is going to work before I even take it out, so not really.
Your wife stands on the cliff and radios information about incoming sets, right? How does she handle watching you? Is she ever nervous?
My wife is the most amazing woman I have ever know. She is my rock, and as long as I listen to what she is saying on the radio, everything is perfect. The only time she gets nervous is when I don’t listen and get to close too the rocks in front of the cliff.
The issue of how to measure a wave always seems to come up with Praia do Norte. In your opinion, has a 100-foot wave been ridden there?
I definitely don’t think the 100-footer has been ridden yet. I honestly have not sat down and measured any of the waves ridden–mine or anyone else’s. I do know that those are the biggest waves I have ever seen and the biggest I have ever ridden.
Why do you think Nazaré has been a little bit discounted by North American surf outlets? I feel like if that wave were in California, it would be the most popular thing on the planet.
Nazaré is one of those places you have to experience for yourself to fully appreciate and understand. The power and intensity you feel on the cliff or in the water is indescribable.
A lot of people just think of you as a tow-guy, but you paddle into big waves with the best of them. Would you prefer tow in or paddle? Or is it just whatever gets you into the biggest waves of the day?
Its whatever is going to be the most fun. I just like having fun whether, it’s paddling, towing, or SUPing. And for me, it’s not about the biggest wave, it’s about hunting for the barrel!
Below is the footage of Garrett at Nazaré on a Mercedes surfboard made from Varial Foam.
