Pictures: Extreme surfers flock to Portugal’s Nazare to catch record waves

Brazilian surfer Lucas Chumbo rides a wave during a free surfing session in Nazare. After news broke out that a set of fearsome 20-metre waves were coming to the small town Nazare in Portugal's Atlantic coast, big wave surfers have been frequenting the town to ride these waves.

A surfer drops in on a large wave at Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal. The monster waves have always crashed at the town's beach, but surfers had previously ignored Portugal and gravitated towards beaches in California and Hawaii.

A surfer drops in on a large wave at Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal. Nazare was put on the surfing map in 2010 when the town's mayor launched an initiative to attract surfers during the winter.

Frances'surfer Justine Dupont gets herself ready before a big wave surfing session in Nazare. Dupont has spent four winters chasing the extreme waves in Nazare.

Frances' surfer Justine Dupont rides a big wave during a free surfing session in Nazare. She said the seaside town with a population of 15,000 has become a surf haven over the last few years.

52 years old American (Hawaii) legend of big waves surfer Garrett McNamara poses before a free surfing session in Nazare. "No surfer considered Portugal a great surfing destination, but I was looking for a 30-metre wave," McNamara said.

Brasil Lucas Chumbo rides a wave with and "Air reverse" during a free surfing session in Nazare

Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa rides a wave during a free surfing session in Nazare

A surfer rides a wave during a free surfing session in Nazare

A surfer is retrieved by his teammate on a jet ski after following down surfing a wave during a big wave surfing session at the Praia do Norte, or North beach, in Nazare, Portugal

Frances'surfer Justine Dupont and and her jetski and safety driver Fred David debrief the journey after a big wave surfing session in Nazare

A surfer rides a wave during a free surfing session in Nazare

Frances' surfer Justine Dupont rides a big wave during a free surfing session in Nazare

A surfer rides off the lip of a wave during a big wave surfing session at the Praia do Norte, or North beach, in Nazare, Portugal

Frances'surfer Justine Dupont adjusts her wetsuit on the way to big wave surfing session in Nazare

A surfer drops in on a large wave at Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal

Spectators watch waves break on the cliff during a free surfing session in Nazare

A surfer drops in on a large wave at Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal

British surfer Andrew Cotton rides a wave during a free surfing session in Nazare

A surfer rides a wave during a free surfing session in Nazare

A surfer rides a big wave during a free surfing session in Nazare