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Peniche
Peniche é uma cidade costeira e concelho no distrito de Leiria, Portugal, situada numa península rochosa que se projeta no oceano Atlântico. É conhecida pelas suas ondas de surf de classe mundial, indústria piscatória e património histórico ligado à navegação e defesa costeira.
Factos principais
- Distrito: Leiria
- Área: ~77 km²
- População: cerca de 27 000 habitantes
- Freguesias: 4
- Reconhecida por: surf, pesca e fortificações marítimas
História e património
Peniche foi originalmente uma ilha, unida ao continente por sedimentação ao longo dos séculos. Teve importância estratégica na defesa marítima portuguesa, visível na Fortaleza de Peniche, construída no século XVI. Durante o Estado Novo, a fortaleza serviu como prisão política, sendo hoje um museu da resistência antifascista.
Geografia e ambiente costeiro
A península de Peniche é marcada por falésias calcárias, grutas marinhas e praias extensas, como a Praia dos Supertubos, célebre pelas suas ondas potentes. Próximo da costa situa-se o Arquipélago das Berlengas, reserva natural e destino de mergulho, acessível por barco.
Surf e turismo
Peniche é um dos principais centros de surf da Europa. A Praia dos Supertubos acolhe etapas do World Surf League Championship Tour, atraindo atletas internacionais. O turismo também se apoia na pesca, gastronomia à base de peixe e atividades náuticas.
Economia e vida local
Além do turismo e da pesca, a cidade mantém tradições de rendas de bilros e pequenas indústrias ligadas ao mar. O porto de Peniche continua ativo na pesca e no transporte marítimo regional, enquanto a proximidade a Lisboa e Nazaré favorece o fluxo turístico constante.
Peniche
Peniche é provavelmente o melhor destino all-around para bodyboard em Portugal. Tens praias para todos os níveis e swell quase todos os dias.
Spots mais conhecidos:
- Supertubos
- Molhe Leste
- Cantinho da Baía
Porque os bodyboarders adoram:
- Tubos rápidos
- Muitas opções conforme o vento
- Ambiente 100% surf culture
Melhor altura:
Todo o ano. Daniel Fonseca campeão nacional e Laranja, os riders onfire e locais de Peniche.
News Interviews and tips
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Our next interviewee is Dora Gomes, the legendary pro bodyboarder from Portugal.
Dora Gomes had a very relevant career in international and national bodyboarding:
🥇 ISA World Bodyboard Champion (1998)
🏆 6 national titles
🌍 4 European titles
🥇 World Tour event victory (Reunion Island, 1995)
📊 Top-16 in the world rankings in some seasons
The Origin of Bodyboarding
Bodyboarding, as we know it today, was born in 1971 when Tom Morey, a Hawaiian surfer and inventor, created the first modern bodyboard. Frustrated with the wave conditions on a day in Honolulu, Tom cut a piece of polyethylene foam and experimented with sliding on the waves lying down. The result was surprising - the board was light, maneuverable, and fun.
Tom called his invention "Morey Boogie Board," and the sport quickly gained popularity on the beaches of Hawaii and California. The simplicity and accessibility of bodyboarding made it a democratic sport, within reach of anyone.
Technical Evolution
In the 1980s and 1990s, bodyboarding evolved dramatically. New materials such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) emerged, offering better performance in different water conditions. Boards became more sophisticated, with different tail shapes (crescent, bat tail) and core technologies.
Pioneering bodyboarders like Mike Stewart, considered the greatest of all time, revolutionized the sport with aerial maneuvers and impossible barrel rides. The technical level rose to the point where bodyboarding was recognized as a high-performance sport.
Bodyboarding in Portugal
Portugal has become one of the world's epicentres for bodyboarding, thanks to its world-class waves. Spots like Praia do Norte (Nazaré), Supertubos (Peniche), and the beaches of the Algarve attract bodyboarders from all over the world.
Portuguese athletes such as Manuel Centeno, Rui Ferreira, Nuno Leitão, Luis Pereira, Hugo Pinheiro, Dora Gomes, Rita Pires and Catarina Sousa, and Joana Schenker (world champion) have put Portugal on the international bodyboarding map, inspiring a new generation of practitioners.
Bodyboarding Today
Today, bodyboarding is practiced all over the world, from tropical beaches to giant waves. The sport continues to evolve with new board technologies, such as carbon fibre cores and aerodynamic designs.
International competitions like the APB World Tour and local events keep the competitive spirit alive, while millions of people bodyboard recreationally, enjoying the freedom and adrenaline the sport provides.
Choose Your Bodyboard
If the history of bodyboarding has inspired you to start or improve in the sport, at Inside Wear Shop we have a selection of quality bodyboards, from beginner models to high-performance boards from brands like Turbo Empire Vs GT Boards and 360.
Explore our collection and be part of this incredible story!
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