Close Call for Justine Dupont in Nazare Horrorshow

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

On Saturday, amid an extended run of large, yet not huge, Nazare swell, French surfer Justine Dupont found herself in a terrifying situation.

For all the talk about Nazare being an oversized beachbreak, it can break awfully close to the rocks, especially for those chasing the rights off First Peak. That was what Andrew Cotton was doing when he got washed through the cauldron earlier this year, and also what RCJ was doing when he got dashed on the rocks and had to climb the headland - a feat Justine references in her explanation of what went down.

That explanation is copied in full here. Spelling errors corrected as I have to put some effort into this story.

I AM OK.

During the last swell everything was going well. I had just ridden several good waves with Fred David, my board was amazing and Lucas Chumbo had just put me on a cool wave.

He then towed me on a huge one, I got down the face to the bottom, but once I wanted to start my bottom turn my board got stuck.

I then took a huge wipeout which brought me right in front of the cliff - the place where no-one wants to be.

Fred tried to get me but the timing was just too tight and he had to run along the cliff. I then got atomized by several waves until I was pushed close to the RCJ rocks all the way down the cliff. Lucas managed to rescue me right before I ended up like a seashell on the rocks. Sergio Cosme had also followed him behind

As he carried me to beach with the help of the lifeguards I waved to reassure everyone and say, "I am OK". I was very tired but conscious and OK. I'm happy with all the training that allowed me to stay conscious until the end and endure such violence.

In the evening looking at the pictures I am really grateful to see everybody who moved to get me out of there!

Thanks André Florência,Antoine Chicoye, and Strodjy Cordeiro for the help on the radio.

Thanks Lucas Chumbo, Fred David, and everyone, it was really scary but it's also part of the game when you do extreme sport.

Comments

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Wednesday, 12 Jan 2022 at 2:10pm

Wow.

"the RCJ rocks" - haha

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 12 Jan 2022 at 4:10pm

Intense.

Glad she's ok.

tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter Wednesday, 12 Jan 2022 at 5:02pm

What a hell woman . And such a composed attitude after a thrashing like that.

bluediamond's picture
bluediamond's picture
bluediamond Wednesday, 12 Jan 2022 at 5:12pm

She's a legend.

sean killen's picture
sean killen's picture
sean killen Wednesday, 12 Jan 2022 at 5:38pm

I struggle getting smashed in 5/6ft these days.. I can’t imagine what that feels like.. glad she’s ok

Roker's picture
Roker's picture
Roker Wednesday, 12 Jan 2022 at 7:53pm

Horrorshow certainly sums up those photos. Started playing spot the Justine but quickly gave up cos it was gonna for sure give me nightmares. What a lunatic! And that was a great little write up she did of her ordeal. Chapeau!

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Wednesday, 12 Jan 2022 at 8:13pm

Over the falls in second last photo? Wtf!

Cockee's picture
Cockee's picture
Cockee Wednesday, 12 Jan 2022 at 9:28pm

Sacre bleu, quelle horrible!

tango's picture
tango's picture
tango Wednesday, 12 Jan 2022 at 10:15pm

"Atomised".

Perfect description and no place I'd like to be in me old age.....10 points for composure and grit.

Remigogo's picture
Remigogo's picture
Remigogo Wednesday, 12 Jan 2022 at 10:32pm

Very good that she came out of that one.

I can't help a double, triple look at that first photo. That moment of apocalyptic madness of a half decent size going on just behind the shoulders of the jetski rider. Just that view and nothing else always moves me a little. That people can survive that shit.

But then.. Justine Dupont is in there somewhere. Holy shit!

blackers's picture
blackers's picture
blackers Thursday, 13 Jan 2022 at 7:16am

Agreed, amazing. And some serious cajones on the recovery crew, hanging around seemingly beyond the point of no return.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Thursday, 13 Jan 2022 at 9:59am

Feels like the rescues and close calls are, for spectators at least, more exciting than the waves ridden.

mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207 Saturday, 15 Jan 2022 at 11:31pm

Euro Scene Big wave rule # 1 " Did you get the shot? "
All for the glory and the exposure .
Exciting to watch for 30 seconds.

David Field's picture
David Field's picture
David Field Saturday, 15 Jan 2022 at 11:45am

‘For all the talk about Nazare being an oversized beachbreak…’

In my experience, once it gets over about 12 foot, beachbreaks are some of the scariest places to places to be. No channels, massive rips, nowhere to hide.

For mine, the fact that Nazare is a beachie makes it all the more horrifying.

Glad Justine got out ok!

batfink's picture
batfink's picture
batfink Saturday, 15 Jan 2022 at 3:00pm

Second that David. Beach breaks over 6’ can get seriously difficult to deal with, rips moving about, currents moving you out of position, irregular sand banks, water moving everywhere at once. Beach breaks are tough places to be in any size.