'Culturally Speaking, Gliding Barnacles Is The Most Interesting Event In The World.”

Long before the Internet, events and contests were largely how surfers from afar inspired each other, exchanged ideas on board design, and overall grew as a community. While magazines and films served as gatekeepers that determined what was relevant, this was always a limited view that couldn’t compare to the depth of what was happening in real life.  It was years ago, through the photography of Xue Gil, that I got my first glimpse of the wildly named event and I instantly knew that someday I would have to go and see it for myself.

To give you a sense of the international nature of Gliding Barnacles, consider this: the organizers are Portuguese locals, the two main announcers are from New Zealand and Brazil, one of the photographers is Basque, the surfer, shapers, artists, musicians, and volunteers come from all over Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Hawaii. Best of all, there is a beloved French contingency affectionately known as the rats. Oh and there are several of Portugal's finest chefs, as in Michelin-rated, that come and each put on a daily meal for the guests.

After touring the sprawling seaside compound where the art, music, and culinary happenings were all coming to life, the main thing that caught my eye was the presence of some 60 or more old chairs and couches lined up along the jetty with a view to the waves below. No bleachers or grandstands, just old furniture that perfectly suits the artistic, do-it-yourself vibe of Gliding. 

At big events like this, expected to draw in 35,000 people over 5 days, arriving early is key to getting to know the crew before everything gets into full swing. Started in 2014 by Eurico Gonçalves with an emphasis on “getting back to the roots of surfing as an art form”, the festival has become one of Portugal’s largest surf spectacles, with only the giant waves of Nazaré, and the WSL event at Supertubos, drawing a larger crowd. 

“In my decades of touring the globe as a surfer and filmmaker, I have never encountered anything quite like this. Culturally speaking, Gliding Barnacles is the most interesting event in the world.”  

Vóvo

Regardless of attendance, Gliding goes far beyond what can be expected with typical surf events and has evolved over the years from a longboard competition into a full-blown festival with surfers participating in expression sessions rather than heats.

In contrast to many events where athletes may travel across the world and only surf in one fifteen minute heat, at Gliding, surfers are guaranteed at least two, one hour sessions, with finalists earning a spot into a two-hour long final. The groups are structured according to styles that promote the originality of each surfer rather than forcing everyone to adhere to a specific format. 

In an age where it is all too common to feel disconnected from each other as we are easily buried into the algorithmic distractions that allure us deeper and deeper into our phones, an event where “community is king” is medicine for the soul. As one organizer proudly told me, “there is no VIP, there is no hype, we are open to all art and participation, this is the real thing.” 

Stay tuned for more updates here, and on our Instagram, as the week unfolds. For more information check the Gliding Barnacles Instagram and website. Obrigado