During his visit to Nazaré last winter, Shane Dorian was quoted as saying he didn’t think the barrel at Ericeira’s The Cave was worth the possible consequences – a good indication of how perilous Portugal’s heavy right-hand ledge can be.

A below-sea-level slab that few local surfers have been prepared to tackle up until now, the treacherous inside ledge has already inflicted injury on those audacious few to have surfed it, Tiago Pires and John John Florence included.

But with Portugal hosting such an significant series of prime and CT events the last few weeks, the world’s best were always going to paddle out if only just to get away from the crowds. Here John John, Matt Meola, Albee Layer, Alex Gray and local standout Gony Zubizarreta step up.