HONOLULU — Portugal's navy has honored Hawaii surfer Garrett McNamara for riding the gnarliest wave ever and highlighting the science that let him see it coming. The navy awarded the big-wave surfer its Medalha Naval de Vasco da Gama in a ceremony this week in Lisbon. The 45-year-old pro from Oahu's North Shore captured the world's attention in 2011 after catching a 78-foot wave at Portugal's Praia do Norte, near the town of Nazare. It was determined to be a record by the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards and certified by Guinness World Records. A commendation signed by the chief of Portuguese naval staff, Admiral Jose Carlos Torrado Saldanha Lopes, said McNamara worked with the navy's hydrography office to predict the giant waves. McNamara said receiving the award was an emotional moment, reminding him of how much his life has changed since his family's economic struggles in Hawaii during his childhood. "It was surreal, but it was real," he said. Man Rides 100-Foot Wave to Break World Record Brazilian Surfer Rides Record-Wave In Portugal WATCH: Brazilian surfer saves fellow rider, surfs biggest wave ever Surfers in Portugal ride towering waves whipped up by storm Brazilian surfer Burle may break big wave record Watch: Surfer may have broken big-wave record by 22 feet Surfer hailed after riding monster 100ft storm wave Nazare, Portugal: the unique combination that creates 100ft waves Surfers ride 'biggest ever' waves at Nazare during St Jude's Day storm VIDEO: Surfer Carlos Burle rides monster 80-foot waves in Portugal Video: Surfer may have broken world's largest wave record Big wave surfers ride giants in Nazaré Surfer takes on 'biggest wave ever ridden' Brazilian surfer may have set new big-wave record in Portugal Surfers in Portugal ride,Brazilian surfer record in Portugal,world's largest wave record,Video Brazilian surfer 100ft wave record,youtube Surfers ride 'biggest ever' waves, Video, 100 Foot Wave Portugal, Carlos Burle 100 Foot Wave, Carlos Burle 100-Foot Wave, Carlos Burle Biggest Wave, Carlos Burle Surfer, Biggest Wave Record, Biggest Wave Surfed, Biggest Wave Surfed Record, Carlos Burle, Carlos Burle Record, Largest Wave Record, World Record Biggest Wave Video, 100 Foot Wave Portugal, Carlos Burle 100 Foot Wave, Carlos Burle 100-Foot Wave, Carlos Burle Biggest Wave, Carlos Burle Surfer, Biggest Wave Record, Biggest Wave Surfed, Biggest Wave Surfed Record, Carlos Burle, Carlos Burle Record, Largest Wave Record, World Record Biggest Wave, Sports News Surfistas en paseo Portugal, registro surfista brasileña en Portugal, ficha ola más grande del mundo, Video brasileño surfista 100ft record onda, youtube paseo Surfers 'más grande jamás' olas, Video, 100 Foot Wave Portugal, Carlos Burle 100 Wave Pie, Carlos Burle 100-Foot Wave, Carlos Burle Biggest Wave, Carlos Burle Surfer, Biggest Wave Record, Biggest Wave hecho surf, Biggest Wave Record hecho surf, Carlos Burle, Carlos Burle Record, Record grande Wave, Record Mundial Biggest Wave ASSISTA: surfista brasileiro salva companheiro cavaleiro, surfa maior onda de sempre Surfers em Portugal surfar ondas gigantescas chicoteado pela tempestade Surfista brasileiro Burle pode quebrar o recorde de ondas grandes Assista: Surfista pode ter quebrado recorde de ondas grandes por 22 pés Surfista saudado depois de andar monstro onda tempestade 100 pés Nazare, Portugal: uma combinação única que cria 100 pés ondas 'Maiores ever' ondas de Surfers passeio em Nazaré durante a tempestade do dia do St Jude VÍDEO: Surfista Carlos Burle passeios monstro ondas de 80 pés em Portugal Vídeo: Surfista pode ter quebrado maior registro onda do mundo Big Wave surfistas montar gigantes em Nazaré Surfista assume 'maior onda já montado' Surfista brasileiro pode ter definido novo recorde de ondas grandes em Portugal Surfistas em passeio de Portugal, recorde surfista brasileiro em Portugal, o maior registro de ondas do mundo, Vídeo brasileiro surfista registro onda 100 pés, youtube passeio Surfers 'maior de sempre' ondas, Vídeo, 100 Foot Onda de Portugal, Carlos Burle 100 Foot Onda, Carlos Burle 100-Foot Onda, Carlos Burle Maior Onda, Carlos Burle Surfer, maior onda Record, Maior onda surfada, maior onda surfada Registro, Carlos Burle, Carlos Burle Record, maior onda Record, Registro Biggest Wave World

• published: 30 Oct 2013
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