Adventure Athletes Take on the Waves

Shannon Greenhill and wife, Paula Burks, took on challenge and adventure to inhale the flavors of the world with a carefully planned kayaking and hiking expedition across Portugal and Spain, which evolved into an unforgettable journey spanning three continents, towering Atlantic waves, ancient Moroccan cities, in some of the world’s most challenging ocean conditions. Their original itinerary called for flights in and out of Malaga, Spain. But nature had other plans.

Every winter, the pair closely monitor Atlantic Ocean swell forecasts aimed at the small Portuguese fishing village of Nazaré, home to some of the largest surfable waves. The region’s unique underwater canyon funnels massive ocean swells directly toward shore, creating legendary conditions for big-wave surfers.

Greenhill said, “One of those swells came up on the forecast, and we immediately changed our outbound flight to land in Lisbon. We jumped in a rental car and drove 90 minutes north to see the biggest waves we have ever seen in our lives.”
Jet skis towed elite surfers into towering walls of water, some reaching heights of 60 feet. “The highest recorded wave ever surfed is at Nazaré — the 100-foot wave,” they noted. Watching this firsthand gave a powerful reminder of nature’s raw force and beauty.”

After Nazaré, they continued south Portugal’s Algarve region, known for its rugged coastline, where they took on the renowned Seven Valleys Trail. Stretching nearly 20 kilometers between two towns along the Algarve coast, the route features breathtaking views of cliffs plunging hundreds of feet into the Atlantic Ocean.

Greenhill noted, “The coastal topography and expansive views are not for the faint of heart.”

Next, they crossed into Spain for a rainy stop in Seville before the drive to Tarifa, the southernmost point of continental Europe, where they boarded a ferry bound for Tangier. They stayed within Tangier’s historic Kasbah and spent days exploring the winding medina and bustling bazaars before heading into the Rif Mountains and the blue-painted city of Chefchaouen with narrow streets and vivid azure buildings contrasting the rugged mountain landscape.

Greenhill recalls fresh bread baked by Berber women in roadside ovens as, “the Moroccan cuisine was the best I have ever tasted. The spices and flavoring are out of this world.”

Traveling as three women, including two Jews, they felt it prudent to hire a male guide upon arriving in Morocco. Greenhill stated, “The Moroccans were lovely people, and we felt incredibly comfortable immediately stepping onto African soil.”

Following their Moroccan adventure, the group returned to Europe for the athletic centerpiece of the trip: an intensive surf-ski kayak training camp in Tarifa at the Strait of Gibraltar for the confluence of the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The region’s unique geography creates some of the world’s most demanding paddling conditions.

Burks stated, “The wind and currents off the southernmost tip of Europe create ocean conditions unlike anywhere else. Africa is just 15 kilometers south, and there are times when conditions create surf in the middle of the ocean.”

Training days followed a rigorous schedule. Mornings began at 9 a.m. until early afternoon, followed by lunch and Spanish siesta. Evening sessions resumed from 4 p.m. until sunset. The camp there was led by Boyan Zlatarev, a Bulgarian paddling expert and founder of Surfski Tarifa. With a background in lifesaving and experience navigating the Strait’s challenging waters, Zlatarev provided extensive safety support. With dangerous conditions, Boyan had GPS tracking and radio, and coast guard on alert each time they entered the water.

The couple’s dedication to training extends far beyond this trip. “Paula and I try to stay fit year-round so that if we pick a specific event, we’re conditioned enough going in that we only need a couple of months of targeted preparation,” said Greenhill. That will soon be tested on the world stage as they will compete in two national championships and two world championships. As members of Team USA’s masters racing squad, they will join 16 American athletes traveling to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the Sprint World Championships in June. In October, they will represent the United States again in Argentina at the Marathon World Championships and the Pan American Games.