The Big Ugly - Dramatic Rescue of a Fallen Big Wave Surfer - #Drone - Nazaré, Portugal
SportsMáquina Voadora•257.6K Views
Why This Video Went Viral
This video achieved moderate visibility primarily due to strong early engagement signals.
Content in the "Sports" category typically performs well when it triggers
immediate viewer interaction within the first 24–48 hours.
Audience & Engagement Insights
Based on historical trends, videos like this resonate strongly with viewers interested in
sports content, particularly audiences who engage through likes
and repeat watches rather than comments alone.
With 1.1K likes relative to 257.6K views,
this video demonstrates above-average engagement efficiency for its category.
Editorial Analysis
Brazilian professional surfer Pedro “Scooby” Vianna takes an epic spill from his board during a storm in Nazaré, Portugal. By February 28, Scooby was tearing down the tide at 45 miles an hour on his rattling surfboard. There was a 70-foot mountain of water avalanching behind him.\n\nThe seething spume nipped him from behind and sent him bombing into the fray in a violent back flop.\n\nScooby’s friend and fellow Brazilian, Lucas Chumbo Chianca, rode in on a jet ski to pick him up before the next monster set rolled in. Scooby grabbed ahold of a rear tow board latched to the jet ski, and they sped away in an attempt to outrun the next wave. Chumbo soon lost control in the choppy whitewater, and the jet ski capsized near some dangerous rocks. Another massive wave was right behind them. \nTwo people now needed a rescue. \nHow did Scooby and Chumbo finally escape the chaos? Everaldo Pato Teixeira, a veteran big wave surfer from Brazil, tore in on yet another jet ski. In a deft and coolheaded rescue bolstered by years of experience, Teixeira rescued Chumbo and Scooby, both of whom were relatively unscathed.\n\nThis episode ended well and became one of the main highlights of the Big Wave Season, the drone video went viral after it was used on a Red Bull Production and later licensed to National Geographic, reaching 20 million views in few days, dozens of media outlets picked up the story, the footage is currently being licensed for several feature documentaries across the globe, and is now perhaps the most viewed piece of footage of Nazaré.\n\n** The Big Ugly was an Official Nominee for the Los Angeles Drone Film Festival 2017 edition, featured on VICE/Motherboard.\n\n*** UPDATE (Dec 3, 2017): The Big Ugly is the Winner of the News & Documentary Award on the #LADFF Los Angeles Drone Film Festival 2017 edition\n----------\n\nCopyright © 2017, Máquina Voadora, all rights reserved\nFilmed and Edited by: Máquina Voadora\nFeatured Surfers: Pedro Scooby, Lucas Chumbo, Everaldo Pato Teixeira\nMusic: Drive by Ross Bugden (https://youtu.be/3pZdZiPnsGs) \nLocation: Praia do Norte, Nazaré - Portugal\n__________________________\nThe footage in this video is protected by copyright. To use or obtain a licence for the footage on this video for news articles, social networks, editorial pieces, TV broadcast or in a commercial player, please first Contact us directly or our Agent's Desk +44 (0) 8432 895 191.\n\nhttp://www.maquinavoadora.com\nhttp://fb.com/maqvoadora\n@maquinavoadora on Instagram\n\n*** Unauthorised Usage and Access will be Detected and Prosecuted ***