February and March can be rough months in Europe.

Sure there’s usually some swell kicking around, but it’s cold, rainy, and often blown out. Accordingly, instead of coming back home to Portugal after his Hawaiian season, Portuguese ripper Miguel Blanco decided to fly to Tahiti and just wait for a swell. Not a bad gig if you can get it.

Miguel has been firmly on the radar for a few years now as one of Europe’s best up and coming surfers, particularly in throaty kegs, and this clip further cements it.

At just 22, he’s already got six Hawaiian seasons under his belt, as well as logging visits to Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, the Caribbean and Indo and the abundance of passport stamps shine through in his surfing, with big power wraps, new school flair and a nose for kegs.

Cover photo: Ge Czerm