Watch: Von Froth // The Jewel of the Atlantic
It's a long way from Bill Finnegan's season-long campaigns in silence to Nic von Rupp taking cash for comment, but the waves and landscape of Madeira manage to wash the dirty feelings away.
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Comments
Hmmm. Watched this with a mix of joy (sound muted) and despair. God, he just flogs everything.
Yea I agree. How much are flights to Portugal?
Incredible scenery, landscape and waves.
But what an odious and unbearable individual.
Unbearable indeed, I would certainly need to carry a hammer to cure myself of the headache Von
Vexing would bestow, yet look what the universe has provided :(
The locals can kiss those "three surfers in the water" days good bye...The power of the internet.
If just 1% of all who watch that clip actually book a ticket (based on the latest YouTube stats)....well welcome to 500 frothing euros all zipping through historic Portuguese towns and hassling around those pristine glassy point break take off zones....
Its not a secret spot - but over exposure is a killer.
Love his energy. Cant say I like his self promotion and the wake he leaves behind.
https://beachcam.meo.pt/livecams/madeira-jardim-do-mar/
This will sound like sacrilege but it reminds me of rock-runner days here.
Drool-worthy though.
A good deal more powerful, FR, but the same gin clear water and long rights. No coincidence that I'm a fan of both places.
Apart from it usually being lumpy sectioney and crowded around here :)
Lennox can't handle even half the size that this place seems to be able to and still hold true to the reef.
Yeah I know, I was just being a goose.
Haha. Was just stirrin ya FR. Have a good Chrissy mate.
Sick of seeing this prick completely blow out all of europes waves to the world. I bet he'll b the first to complain when he goes back in 5years and its completely overrun with travelling surfers. Who is benefiting frim this except him??
He is one selfish turd.
Btw, Orlando, the local that NVR talks to, was a skinny little pre-teen when I first surfed the place. He soon became a ripper, then a charger, and he has been heavily promoting the island for years. Not the under-the-radar spot it used to be.
Wouldnt worry too much about the crowds,.. the wind can be a menace thanks to local geography - an offshore can swing devil a bit too easily. Pretty are to see it lining up and so glassy like NVR had it.
Thought the same thing
Great looking place/waves and would love to visit.
So uncrowded (now)
Im sure the locales will give him a warm welcome on his return.
I don't know about you but my flights are already booked. Joint looks sick.
Thanks Nic. RIP locals. Stay tuned for my TikTok updates.
Can you live feed when you at the airport, picking up a car, checking into accom? Man, I really love living vicariously through others and need to know and I also neer yo know what you eat for breakfast. It’s always avo but you never know-o!!
this prick always gets so much love hahahah
We need more of this
Bahahah, yes!!
Gold.
Saw one good one where John John and co were going to surf Avalanches. Not too much BS, just a bunch of guys prepping to surf absolutely ridiculous waves.
Anyone else check their phone during that first track?
It'd be interesting to hear what Bill Finnegan thinks about this vid.
Early pioneer and trad journo vs. a modern surfer using modern media.
Would Bill just shrug or would he be off it.
Don't think Bill surfs anymore. Already in the mid 90s, when I got to know him at Jardim, he was more surf journalist/thinker than surfer. That said, I'd hazard a guess that he wouldn't be a great NVR fan.
He definitely still surfs as he outlined in Barbarian Days the lengths he goes to fitness wise to still be surfing in his 60’s.
Best book I've ever read on surfing. I took on his mantra - if there is surf at the beach don't drive away looking for a supposed better wave.
Can we start a petition to starve this egocentric surf capitalist loser of exposure please? Cheers,
You say your speechless with the view. Please don't speak. Great waves but Nic you really should not publicise it like you do. Read the comments. Cause your sponsors will for sure.
Barbarian days audio book is epic.
His account of this joint is so good
One day maybe
Hate to be that sad keyboard warrior but my god the guy’s a douchebag
Just want to clarify. Why do so many of you dislike this guy? He is doing the same thing as Torren Martyn, Ishka Folkwell, Aiyana Powell, Johanna Brebner, Laurie Towner, - but I get the impression that they are regarded favourably?
Reckon the travel lightly and with respect appeoach v the go pro look at me approach is part of it Haggis. Personally, I would rather spend time with Martyn and Folkwell than Von Rupp. He would become tiresome very quickly. That said, he can surf and has the most enviable lifestyle.
That's a fair comment. Cheers
His entitled attitude. Also how he sets out each spot in intricate detail and tries his absolute best to bring crowds to the area
Madeira’s economy relies a lot on tourism. With just cruise ship passengers, I read Madeira had “597.818 passengers and over 300 cruise ship visits in 2019.”
And it is not an off the radar surf spot. It’s widely promoted. There are better surf areas to go to, but I reckon most Madeirans would appreciate NVR’S promotion of their beautiful island.
Whatever NVR is selling, I ain't buying...
Madeira has been well known as a big wave haven for decades. It was already busy in the winter season in 2000 when I was there, before the massive coastal works that wrecked several prime surfbreaks. I heard that even Jardim, the prime spot, was affected, albeit only on certain tides. Maybe the covid years have given it a respite from crowds. It does get a lot of swell, but then so do the other Atlantic island groups, and as noted, winds can be frustrating, blowing right around the island ruining waves on both N and S coasts. The place is remarkable though, and well worth a visit, if also a little way off the beaten track. Bill Finnegan's recollections of the majesty of the swell there do it justice. Pack an 8'0" or longer if you are serious and intend staying a while. You could ride the biggest waves of your life. Ps. my icon photo is from there.
We probably met :-)
Seems the locals are cashing in now, not just the mainlanders:
This bloke is a cock roach.
Beautiful waves and cloud inversions, what's not to like. Looks a lot easier than it is. NVR just doing what many others do in places that are much more fragile than Madeira which relies on tourism. Ry this is living Craike using the NW to flog anything from e bikes to boats comes to mind, but then apparently he's earned the right so it's ok.
Can’t see what everyone is worried about.Seems like he has friends and they like him too.Oh yeah I can see a big rush to Madeira!
Can’t see what everyone is worried about.Seems like he has friends and they like him too.Oh yeah I can see a big rush to Madeira!