type of waves depends on wind, swell, tide. varies from beachbreak closeouts to pointlike peelers. just have to pay attention to the conditions. at high tide, use rip along inside left side along rocks to get out fast. accesses a nice peeling right with inside barreling reforms.
Overview
Atmosphere
usually not croweded, a decent option when thereºs swell because of itºs proximity to the city (10 min. from center). heavy pollution. outlet pipes right on the beach = highly sketchy health risks. floaties...yuck
General
only surf it if you have to, or when the conditions are good enough to outweigh the pollution problem.
Pollution problem much better..
Although i´m not a matosinhos fan (its good for longboard, shortboard days only when big...)in order to preserve Porto´s good image i send this message. I give surfing lessons everyday in matosinhos and the quality of the water has improved considerably in the last years. The tests preformed revealed "good" water quality, better than last year which was "aceptable". In relation to the direct discharges these have also stopped (couple of years ago you would see red patches of blood in the water coming from the slaughterhouse....) this does not happen any more and its quite frequent to see clear waters and in some spots cristal clear.... everyday hundreds of kids surf and bathe in these waters and the health risks are not as big as mentioned in this site. I´d also like to say that a new program is being implemented "Porto blue flag" which aims to eradicate all direct discharges to the sea improving the water and beach quality consequently recieving the blue flag for quality beach.
comment by Nuno, 2007-03-28 16:38:49
Crowded and polluted
The advantage is that is near the city, you can go surf just before go to work, the desadvantages are the pollution and the crowd at weekends or good surf days.
comment by Danny, 2006-08-06 22:17:36
f...you all
Matosinhos is a great beach to surf, maybe some days is not so good, with no power. But when the swell is good you can cath realy great waves, realy nice lefts and rights. so shut up.
comment by Zé Didje, 2007-07-19 18:49:29