Based in Nazaré, Portugal, a new surf school is making its mark. Uprising isn’t just a surf school; it is a high-performance training ground founded by professional athletes from diverse disciplines, including wingsuiting, ski racing, and motorsports. Blending elite-level preparation with a deep respect for nature, Uprising trains surfers who wish to improve their surfing skills. With a strong focus on pushing physical and mental means, fostering community and offering exclusive, adventure-driven experiences, Uprising brings a fresh and fearless energy to the surf scene.
Unique location
Nazaré is well known for its record breaking high waves, and the location offers exceptional wave varieties and natural elements. It also offers access to different conditions, ranging from beginner-friendly waves to high performance surf. With some of the biggest surfable waves occurring there, Nazaré became a unique and special location. As a result, it makes for the perfect attraction for surfers wanting to improve their skills. Nevertheless, with great challenges comes great responsibility for safe surfing.
“Nazaré is a big attraction for a lot of people who surf,” says Martin Schricke, one of Uprising’s founders. “But even if you are a big wave surfer, you need to organise yourself with the right equipment and facilities. That’s what we do – we set up a team with a few surfers and put together our own safety set and facilities.”
The founders of Uprising are all elite athletes in extreme sports, with their background experiences including skiing and surfing. After spending over five years living and training in Nazaré, they became intimately familiar with its powerful waves and unique environment. This connection with the location led to the opening of the Surf Lab Nazaré. Their diverse sporting backgrounds have instilled in them the discipline and mental capacity needed to prepare fellow surfers for the ocean’s challenges. Equally important, they possess the ability to think clearly, anticipate changing conditions, and respond promptly to any situation that arises in the water.
Uprising has developed their own facilities with the proper equipment to support surfers. The team prioritises safety, ensuring all instructors are certified and all their equipment is high-quality and ready on-site. As Nazaré has special authorisation for tools such as jet skis, it allows the team to have access to big waves. All this combined guarantees that surfers can enjoy the sport as safely as possible, with the team ready and nearby to assist them. Moreover, it also allows for a teaching experience – each group rotates between surfing and driving the jet ski, taking care of each other’s safety. “Driving the jet ski is just as fun as surfing,” says Martin. “You’re anticipating, you’re looking, you try to bring your guy to the right spot. It’s quite a lot of excitement.”
Refining
Currently, Uprising is focused on refining their work – delivering high-quality, performance-driven surf training. Their ultimate goal is to help each team member and participant reach their personal peak. Their ski school remains mobile and active year-round, with operations in the French Alps and seasonal trips across the world. The Nazaré Surf Lab is set to follow a similar path of building strong global connections and training in world-class surf destinations such as Australia, Hawaii, and Tahiti. Their Nazaré location has already attracted top professional surfers, including Francisco Porcella, Tikanui Smith, Ned Hart, Zac Haynes, Pierre Caley and William Aliotti, making it a dynamic hub for elite performance and shared passion.
Uprising is all about providing a unique and exclusive experience. With their extensive experience, the team can truly understand the issues of professional athletes and, consequently, help them grow. Instead of providing just traditional classes, they give you a taste of what could be your next challenge. With a philosophy not centered entirely on performance, they teach about understanding nature and raising self awareness when in the ocean. Blending surf, mindset and respect for the environment, they provide a truly immersive experience.
Although Nazaré Surf Lab is currently dedicated exclusively to professional surfers, they plan to expand to include beginner training at a later stage. Meanwhile, their Les 3 Vallées ski school welcomes learners from all levels.