Get the pick of the week's stories and fascinating Devon history features direct to your inbox every Saturday morning in our exclusive Weekend Report newsletter Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A world-renowned Devon big wave surfer says he is “excited” by Hurricane Ophelia and has travelled to the coast of Portugal to ride 60 foot high waves this Monday.

“A hurricane in the Atlantic, that’s great news as far as I’m concerned. Lots of really big waves to surf,” Andrew Cotton told DevonLive today (Saturday October 14).

Andrew, 38, has travelled to Nazare on the Portuguese coast, a spot known for “picking up the biggest waves in Europe, in fact in the whole world,” he explained.

He has been preparing to surf the hurricane-sized waves with a safety crew and has a jetski to tow him out into the giant surf.

“There is a carnival atmosphere here,” he explained. “People come from all over the world – Australia, Hawaii, just to surf Nazare themselves or see the big wave surfers in action.”

Andrew grew up in Braunton, north Devon and first learned to surf at the age of seven on Saunton Sands beach. He still lives in north Devon but travels the world as a big wave surfer. His income comes from sponsorship, giving motivational speeches and running his own surf fitness camps to inspire others. He has been joined by his wife Katie and their children Honey (ten) and Ace (five).

“I’m completely comfortable with the risk,” he said. “To be honest I really don’t see it as dangerous. I’ve got a great support team, great equipment and I’m really looking forward to it.”

In 2012 Andrew acted as back-up to his friend and fellow big wave surfer Garrett McNamara in his world-record-breaking attempt to ride the biggest wave ever. “I towed him out using a jetski and was happy to be part of his world record,” says Andrew. “He’s repaid the favour 1,000 times over, though – and will probably be helping me out on Monday with a jetski.”