In the opening scene of episode two of Swell Diaries, we see a giant wave forming underneath the dark grey skies that are common at Mavericks. It’s a scene nothing like the classic surf dream of 6-foot waves, sunny skies, azure water, and palm trees on shore. It’s downright ominous and terrifying. On that wave is Miguel Blanco, who is no stranger to the giant waves of Nazaré, but this was his first time surfing Mavericks. He makes the huge drop and outruns the massive avalanche of whitewater as long as he can, until he’s finally swallowed and subjected to a washing machine-like spin cycle most of us will never know, nor could ever survive. His big wave training served him well as he was pushed to his limits with the initial shock and subsequent hold down that barely gave him enough time to catch a breath before the next wave violently rocked him again.…