Video of the Week: back in the water after weeks on the sidelines
You may have been there yourself: weeks sometimes even months stuck on the sidelines. You still check every swell, refresh the forecast, even though your body keeps telling you “not yet.” Frustrating, restless, and above all: you miss the water.
In this Video of the Week, Tim Elter heads to the Canary Islands after recovering from a back injury right as a powerful swell hits large parts of Europe. From the Iberian Peninsula deep into the Atlantic, it’s the same pulse of energy that brought iconic spots like Nazaré back to life.
👉 For more context on surfing in this region, see:
🔗 https://www.surf-escape.com/surfing-in-spain/fuerteventura/
A comeback with friends, on seriously solid waves
The forecast didn’t lie: powerful sets, long-period swell and real size. No crowded lineup — just an outer reef session shared with a small crew of friends. The hesitation is visible at first, which makes sense after six weeks out of the water and conditions like these. But as the session unfolds, motivation builds — and confidence follows.
The guns come out.
What makes this video stand out isn’t just the wave size or the edit itself, but the story behind it: returning after injury, listening to your body, and still choosing to go when everything lines up. Add to that a swell that lit up large parts of Europe, and you’re left with a raw, honest session — exactly the kind that sticks.
Want to understand just how exceptional this swell really was?
Take a look at what went down in Nazaré.
