Alessandro Marcianò | From Italian Surf Pioneer to the Giant Waves of Nazaré

What makes a surfer, after decades in the ocean, decide to start again and enter an entirely different world?

In this episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, I sit down with Italian surfer and big-wave rider Alessandro Marcianò for a conversation about a remarkable life built around surfing.

Alessandro’s story begins far away from the giant waves of Nazaré.

Growing up in Rome and surfing the Italian coastline, he became part of a generation that helped establish and develop surf culture in a country where finding waves often requires patience, knowledge and an obsession with the ocean.

Competition became an important part of his journey. He travelled, surfed internationally and eventually created Italia Surf Expo, helping bring surfers, brands and different generations of the Italian surf community together.

But then came a meeting that changed everything.

In Portugal, Alessandro crossed paths with legendary big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara.

The destination was Nazaré.

And a completely new chapter began.

Alessandro entered the world of tow-in surfing and started learning what it really takes to face one of the most powerful and unpredictable waves on the planet.

In December 2015, he surfed an enormous wave at Nazaré estimated at around 18 metres, establishing an Italian big-wave benchmark and announcing his arrival on the international big-wave scene.

But this conversation isn't simply about numbers.

We explore what happens before those extraordinary moments.

The preparation.

The equipment.

The relationship with your tow partner and safety team.

The ability to read the ocean.

The decisions made in seconds.

And, inevitably, fear.

How do you control it when the consequences of a mistake can be enormous?

How does experience change the way you approach a giant wave?

And where is the line between courage and calculated risk?

We also look back at the evolution of Italian surfing, from its early days to the much larger community that exists today, and discuss how Alessandro has watched surfing itself transform throughout his life.

From the Mediterranean to Portugal, from traditional competition to tow-in surfing, his journey demonstrates how surfing can continue opening completely unexpected doors even after you think one chapter of your life in the ocean is coming to an end.

Because perhaps the most fascinating part of Alessandro Marcianò’s story isn't one giant wave.

It's the decision to keep evolving.

To remain curious.

To accept being a beginner again.

And to continue searching for what might be waiting beyond the next horizon.

This is a conversation about Italian surf history, Nazaré, big-wave surfing, fear, preparation, progression, longevity and a lifetime connected to the ocean.

🎙️ Listen to the full conversation with Alessandro Marcianò on The Temple of Surf Podcast.