Nazaré, Portugal.
Nazaré is not built for comfort; it's a proving ground. Home to the most powerful waves on earth, shaped by the unique Nazaré Canyon, Praiado Norte in Nazaré, Portugal, which funnels Atlantic swells into towering, record-breaking waves. This is where preparation gets tested and systems either perform or fail.
This season, Oobit is supporting a team of elite Brazilian big wave surfers in the ongoing Gigantes de Nazaré Big Wave Season through its new brand campaign, 'Built for the Next Wave.'
Nazaré is currently in the middle of its peak big-wave season, which normally runs from October to March. The athletes will compete in the 2026 “Gigantes de Nazare” tournament. This team of internationally recognized surfers and pilots includes:
- Ian Cosenza - 2024 Biggest Wave of The Year Pilot(M&F), 6x Gigantes de Nazaré champion (1xSurfer 5xPilot), featured in HBO’s 100 Foot Wave docuseries.
- Michelle Des Bouillons - Women's Biggest Wave award at the 2024 SURFER Big Wave Challenge, Brazilian Surf Champion 2024, featured in HBO’s 100 Foot Wave docuseries.
- Paulo Diego “Imbica” - World-renowned Professional rescue pilot.
The season-long collaboration is set to bring together Web3 technology and the high-stakes sport, with the surfers demonstrating through Oobit’s global payments technology, how athletes who travel, live and operate across countries can make practical, everyday payments without any friction.
“Big wave surfers operate without borders; they travel constantly, adapt quickly, and perform under extreme conditions,” said Amram Adar, CEO, Oobit. “That mindset mirrors how the world is moving. Oobit is built to support people who live globally, and Nazaré is the perfect place to show that in action.”
The initiative also coincides with a broader shift towards borderless lifestyles and an increase in international tourist arrivals in 2025. According to the latest figures from the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourism marked a new record arrival last year, with over 1.1 billion tourists travelling internationally between January and September.
In addition, Visa projects that total cross-border payments will reach $250 trillion by 2027. A figure that will likely be driven by the growing number of globally mobile professionals, including athletes. Movement is accelerating. Money has to keep up.
“Big wave surfing takes you all over the world, often on short notice. You need things to work simply and reliably, whether you’re traveling, training, or preparing for a swell. Having tools that support that global lifestyle makes a real difference.” commented Ian Cosenza.
Oobit x Nazaré. Built for the next wave.