Portugal announced the construction of seven High-Performance Surfing Centers.
The coastal cities of Peniche, Viana do Castelo, Aveiro, Nazaré, Costa da Caparica, Vila do Bispo, and Sintra will host facilities specially designed to host wave riders.
The Portuguese authorities will invest five million euros in the seven High-Performance Surfing Centers (Centros de Alto Rendimento de Surf).
Laurentino Dias, the Portuguese secretary of state for Youth and Sports, has laid the first stone for this ambitious project in Peniche.
The seven High-Performance Surfing Centers will be available and open to all surfers, kitesurfers, windsurfers, bodyboarders, and kayak surfers.
The structures will be fully equipped with a surf camp, renewable energy systems, formation and conference rooms, gyms, leisure areas, green fields, medical centers, and bedrooms.
"Sports like surfing are gaining momentum and respect. This is an unprecedented investment for wave sports in Portugal," Laurentino Dias said.
The High-Performance Surfing Centers will be mainly located in the south of Portugal, except for the Viana do Castelo unit.
Matosinhos, one of the most popular surf spots in Portugal, is out of the High-Performance Surfing Center revolution announced by the Portuguese government.
The seven surfing facilities will open to wave riders between 2010 and 2011.