Even by big wave surfing standards, the waves at Nazaré are especially menacing. 'A wave like Jaws in Hawaii is attractive to surfers because it's a perfect wave and there's less risk involved,' said Portugal-born big wave surfer Nic Von Rupp, who was part of the group of surfers who came to Nazaré in 2004 when he was 14. 'This is a monster, a freakshow. It's like looking up at a skyscraper or a mountain; the difference is it's coming in your direction and it's there to eat you alive. It doesn't have any pity.'