Any smaller breaks in Portugal recommended?

[Alchemist_uk]

Hi all,

Just to introduce myself first. I'm a beginner surfer who despite giving it a go every couple of years for the past 6 years, I've been trying to take it more seriously this year.

I went to a surfcamp on Lombok for two weeks in April where I saw my ability grow greatly to where I was getting up regularly on the face although not really nailing the bottom turn or cut back yet. I reduced board size to the low 7s and subsequently on return to the UK I bought a 7' 2" custard point LB. I've had two sessions on it so far and not had many great rides. Sandwiched in between the two sessions I had a great session on fistral with a longboard. I live a number of hours away from surf in the UK so i tend to get there once or twice per month. I may have gone too short on the Board but that's another story I guess.

Back to my main point of the post. I've just booked a flight to faro and the first five nights stay in sagres. I've stayed there before in the summer. I got quite excited seeing all the solid stars on msw but in reflection I'll clearly be way out of my depth at the two main beaches in sagres. I fly on Saturday and will look to book a flight back after a week or two. Please can you guys point me to some friendlier breaks in Portugal. I could potentially travel north for the second part of the trip. Recommendations for surf camps and hostels would be great too.

Cheers

Ryan

[nottyR6]

Hi Ryan

I just had a look at the forecast and it looks like we have a stormy sw low pressure coming through. Mareta at Sagres might be your smallest option then Beliche then Tonel. I'd expect Tonel to be too big for you. The west coast will be too big unless it's unusually small.

Working east along the south coast from Sagres you have Zavial, Barranco , then Porto do mos and finally Maia Praia in Lagos. You more or less work east the bigger the swell. Mareta in Sagres is Ok when it's pretty big though. There are other spots but these are the main ones.

Know your surf etiquette specially around Sagres.

[Alchemist_uk]

Thanks notty, I'll look for mareta. I don't think I'd want to be in the water with waves much over 6ft to be honest. I might look to work my way back towards Lagos then after a few days around sagres.