Are Italian Waves Improving Thanks To Global Warming?

Just a few years ago Italy’s surf scene was nascent at best. But that’s all changing. There’s a Roman on the world tour, and from Sardinia to Sicily and all the little nooks and crannies up and down the boot-shaped country, a uniquely Italian surf culture has taken hold.

In more normal times we’d applaud the aspiring locals and shine a light on them because of what they’ve been able to overcome and accomplish, unfortunately, the rise of the Italian surf culture is coinciding with the effects of climate change. Warmer, more agitated oceans and seas means bigger, more consistent surf for places like Italy that lack significant swell exposure.

A new video drop by filmmaker Roberto D’Amico, entitled “Italian Storm,” captures this conundrum perfectly. Barreling, overhead surf isn’t something you see in Italy every day, and while it’s not Pipeline, it is certainly impressive. But it clearly comes with a price.  

“You will probably see the best waves ever scored in Italy,” D’Amico said in a message to Stab. “I want to use this opportunity to create awareness about the destruction and pollution along the Italian coastline.”

Pumping, short-interval storm surf is juxtaposed by scenes of beaches littered with plastic and other refuse. Italian surfers are stepping to the try and force some change locally, but it’s the same thing we’ve seen in Bali, Brazil, Hawaii, you name it. The ocean’s puking our trash back us and things clearly need to change, and fast, if there’s any hope of solving this ever-growing problem.

“This video is a message for all of us, to give a little help every time it’s possible,” D’Amico added.