The Team
“Surf Around Portugal” was created by a group of surfer friends in need to express their homeland’s surfing potential and promote their inspiring bright spots of Portugal to the world. After several trips around the globe pursuing waves and exploring surfing spots, we came to the conclusion that Portugal has some of the finest waves on the planet, offering a great variety of breaks, for all surfing levels, where you can surf all year round.
“Surf Around Portugal” wants you to discover Portugal and its waves on a local and authentic perspective by providing a skilled guide to join your surfing trip.
Diogo Baeta
Francisco Garcia
Age: 25
Surfed around: Portugal, Spain, France, Maldives, Morocco, California, and Indonesia.
"Surfing and travelling are the gear of my life, are part of my growth as a human being and where I find my best rewards. After graduating in Social Media and PR, the “Surf Around Portugal” project came up to fill the gap of sharing my passion of travelling and surfing in a place that I know and consider the best – Portugal.
There is nothing better than surfing on a white sandy beach or the perfectness of a reef break, discovering the enchanting culture and magical sites of Portugal and chilling through the evening while eating a grilled fresh fish. I’ve been surfing for ten years, competing on the Portuguese Pro Junior circuit, and working as a surf instructor for several international schools in the Lisbon area.
As far as I can remember surfing has always been with me when travelling, through countries such as: Spain, France, Morocco, US - California, Maldives and Indonesia, but the Portuguese coastline, along with Madeira and Azores, are the places that fascinate me most”.
Age: 25
Surfed around: Portugal, Spain, France, Morocco, Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Australia.
“I started surfing 10 years ago. It quickly assumed an important role in my life, not only as a sport, but also as a way of living. Surfing gave me an healthier lifestyle, gave me more opportunities to explore the world, turned me into a more competitive person with a stronger desire to overcome challenges, offered me great friendships, made me care more about the environment. It also taught me how to better enjoy the simplest moments of life. Moreover, several years working as a surf instructor at international surf schools, as well as, participating in surfing competitions has also allowed me to better understand some technical specificities of the sport.
After attending the two best economics and management universities in Portugal and completing in 2013 an international MBA and accomplishing one of my biggest dreams, to live in Australia, I realized that the next big step in my life was to share with the world the quality of Portugal.
My will to share some of the best moments of my life is my ultimate reason to believe in this project.”
José Maria d'Orey
Age: 26
Surfed around: Morocco, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, two interrails (train trips) around Europe
"I first tried surfing when I was 14 at a surf school in the south of Portugal (Amado beach), and I immediately became addicted to it. From that moment on I have put a lot of effort into surfing and it soon became an important part of my life.
Nothing pleases me more than travelling around Portugal with friends. In every single trip, quality waves, lots of fun and other exciting activities are guaranteed. I have shared this passion since a young age, working as an instructor in Sagres during the summer holidays and in Lisbon during the rest of the year, while I was studying arts’ restoration and conservation. The years have passed but the surfing addiction never faded, leading me into a search for different waves, new challenges, and distinct cultural experiences around the world. After many waves in many different countries, I am still convinced that Portugal offers some of the best quality waves and surfing consistency around world, as well as some of the most spectacular beaches and landscapes.
Nowadays I am working at a golf club, another sport that I fell in love with. This job has helped me develop some other skills connected with tourism, sports operations and events management. With all these experiences and knowledge, I felt that it was finally time to invest and dedicate myself to this passion, with two great friends of mine who share the will to show the world not only Portugal’s great surfing, but also its cuisine, culture, history, nature, and last but not least, its friendly and welcoming people."
