Shaper · Praia Grande
Portugal Surf Factory
A production factory near Sintra that builds boards for international shapers - Dylan Longbottom, John Carper, Gary Linden among them - plus big-wave boards and repairs.
Portugal Surf Factory is a contract manufacturer near Sintra rather than a retail brand. It builds boards to the specs of established international shapers - Dylan Longbottom, John Carper, Gary Linden and others - and has a name for big-wave boards, a lot of them heading to Nazaré.
For a buyer that means access to those shapes made in Portugal, and it also does repairs. Enquiries through the website.
Spots nearby
Praia Grande
A wide, consistent beach break under the Sintra hills, with a powerful right-hand reef at its northern end that has hosted world-tour surf and bodyboard events. Something here for every level, depending on the day and where you paddle out.
All levelsAutumn to spring; summer smaller and good for learningPraia das Maçãs
A beach break tucked under the cliffs at the end of the Sintra tram line, a few minutes north of Praia Grande. Punchy and fun at low tide, tight and dumpy on the push.
IntermediatesAutumn to spring; softer in summer
Praia do Magoito
A wide, cliff-backed beach on the wild northern stretch of the Sintra coast, picking up groundswell that misses the bays further south. Quieter than Praia Grande, with nothing to hide behind when the north wind blows.
IntermediatesWinter has the most clean days