Nuno “Stru” Figueiredo flies 80 meters above Nazaré

The kite surfer who set a World Guinness Record in 2017 for the world largest kitesurfing wave is now towed up in the skies of Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal.

Nazaré has proved not to be a surfers-only area once again as Nuno “Stru” flies above the waves in this area. This kite surfer is well known for his record breaking performance on November 8, 2017 when he wrote his name on the Guinness World Records for riding the largest ever kitesurfing wave. This was a Nazaré wave that was 19 meters high. 

"I guess I feared it when I was still looking at the waves from the outside. But when I got to the water, fear went away. You have to focus because your life's on the line," -Nuno Stru

You can watch him accomplish it in this video posted by Nuno Stru:

At the time, Stru was 41 and he became the first kite surfer to ride the giant waves of Praia do Norte. Before setting the record, in 2016 he sailed a 12 meter (39-foot) wave, but felt he could improve his performance and push even further. He proved to be right when kitesurfing a 19 meter (62 feet) wave. 

A new challenge

"It was a dream come true. But now I have other plans. They will involve big waves and Nazaré,"

The Portuguese kite surfer had already announced back in 2018 his big plans in Nazaré, and 4 years later he dived into Nazaré’s waters for a new dangerous challenge. His goal was to perform a tow-up session using his kite as a parachute. He wanted to reach 80 meters (262 feet) above the water with only the support of a jet ski. 

In a video posted by Mike Davis we can see Nuno “Stru” Figueiredo flying up in the sky with the iconic Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo and its lighthouse in the background.

"But you've got to be willing to do it. And you need years of training. I watched how Nazaré worked for a few years because, in kitesurfing, we need more than just big waves. You've got to know exactly how the wind is blowing and behaving”

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Kite surfing 80 meters above the ground

This task is dreamt by a few and achieved by only one. Nuno “Stru” Figueiredo risked falling on the cold waters of Praia do Norte. For instance, the world famous Golden Gate Bridge has a height of around 75m. From over 1600 people who have jumped, only 26 are known to survive. This accounts for 2%. Risking falling at such height could mean instant death. 

"It's a risky idea, but I've been thinking about it for some time. The conditions are all set up, and I think I'm ready," 

On the chosen day, the sun was out and the wind was strong. Slowly, Nuno climbed the skies and got his kite around the same level as the beautiful lighthouse in the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo. 

According to the kite surfer, this experience was nothing like he has experienced before. The northern wind kicked in at around 20 knots. He spent around 50 seconds floating in Nazare’s Praia do Norte. 

This is the video of his accomplishment:

Now, the kitesurfing world asks itself what will the Portuguese prodigy attempt to do next after defeating the biggest waves ever surfed. Nazaré might now become a new kitesurfing spot for challenging athletes who dare ride these monster waves. Apparently for Nuno, the sky is NOT the limit.