”To resume, we were in Hossegor with my friends and a big storm was on the way so we escaped to Morocco and went on a strike mission to Safi, a wave that I’ve always dreamed of surfing. Luckily enough we were on a plane to surf that swell. We ended up only getting one surf with a proper swell then the swell died. But most surprising experience there was to be able to surf a beachbreak that was similar to home but in Morocco with only a few friends in the water. But other than surfing our time was mostly spent at the local snack 'Mc Dolido' to stay well fed in between surfs.” – Charly

Surfers: Charly Quivront, Paul Bayle

Film & edit: Andy Benetrix

The 170km long and 5km deep Nazaré canyon creates the largest and most fear-inducing waves on the planet.

Between November and March, Sítio da Nazaré and its iconic lighthouse has become a hotspot for eager observers hoping to witness the surf show of a lifetime.

As ‘the holy grail’ of big wave surfing, Nazaré attracts a community of intrepid surfers from across the world that dedicate their lives to riding it.

One of these big wave riders is North Devon local and dryrobe® Ambassador Andrew Cotton. Ditching plumbing to pursue his dream to be a professional big wave surfer, Cotty has ridden down the face of some of the most extreme waves recorded in the world. Even after breaking his back after an infamous wipeout, he returned to the big wave surf scene determined to ride the faces of these monstrous walls of water.

In dryrobe’s® latest film (shot by Johannes Hertel), Cotty talks about his big wave career, connection with Nazaré, what motivates him to keep chasing these colossal waves and why quitting isn’t an option.

“I always just wanted to be a surfer. Within surfing, everyone has strengths and weaknesses. And my weaknesses were “surfing” and my strengths were just going straight on bigger waves.”

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a big wave surfer, you’re about to find out.

Cotty wears the Black Camo Black dryrobe® Advance.
More on dryrobe at dryrobe.com.
More in Andrew Cotton at: @andrew_cotty

Australia's Gold Coast recently came alive with a never ending run of back-to-back swells. In late April, as the WSL's Championship Tour was doing business on Australia's southern and west coasts, the more northern Gold Coast came alive, and Simon "Shagga" Saffigna (legendary longtime friend and filmer to Mick Fanning), Joel Parkinson and Dean "Dingo" Morrison, was there to capture all of the action.

When the dusted had settled we needed to investigate, so we rang Mick to get the down low. After a marathon stint of waves you'd forgive a surfer for sounding a little low on energy but when Mick answered our call he was full of life and happy to have a chat. So happy, in fact, that we turned the conversation into the soundtrack for the edit above. We think you'll agree it explains the crazy visuals perfectly.

From the incredible waves to the wild wipeouts and the celebrated surfers in the water to the sheer volume of humans in general, Mick was candid and engaging.