Enjoy the pure feeling of surfing
stop and smell the ocean...
“I started surfing about 30 years ago in the North of Portugal. My parents always took me and my brother on holiday to Peniche where I saw people surfing for the first time and I got very curious. It’s now 9 years ago that I started Oporto Surf Camp. After working many years as a surf teacher and helping organizing surf championships in Portugal I wanted to show and share the great uncrowded waves in the North of Portugal with others. When you give surf lessons it’s great to see the happiness of the guests when they catch their first waves. It’s very gratifying when they make a good progress. At our Oporto Surf camp people from all over the world meet each other. It’s nice to hang out with everyone, sharing experiences, having parties and to feel the good vibes. Ever since I started to surf I never stopped loving it and I like to share this pure feeling of life, ‘a pura Vida’, and freedom that surfing gives.”
Favorite wave in the north: Esmoriz and Maceda. Good waves, no crowd! I have very good memories of Cavedelo, that used to be the Mentawai of Porto.
Surfed in: Portugal, Spain, France, Morocco, Cabo Verde, Maldives, South Africa, Costa Rica, Hawaii
“It sounds very cliché but surfing has changed my life. I’m from the Netherlands and I graduated as a film director and scriptwriter in Amsterdam. But after learning to surf on a holiday here in the north I never wanted to stop anymore. I kept dreaming of a life next to the beach. And fortunately that dream came true.
It’s now already 12 years ago that this surf holiday changed my life. I could not imagine doing this only once a year on holiday. So be careful when you come here on holiday. I kept on surfing and got my surf instructor and lifeguard certificate. I’m still teaching sometimes but nowadays I help out Pedro with the organization of Oporto Surf Camp, enjoy our 4 year old surfer boy ‘Tomas’ and of course catching waves with our guests.
I still go back to Holland in wintertime to work on movies but I always miss the ocean with it’s waves and a Super bock beer in the evening together with all our guests.
Favorite wave in the north: A long righthander at our secret homespot:)
Surfed in: The Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Hawaii, Morocco, Cabo Verde, Guadeloupe.
“I grew up in Esmoriz and started as a body boarder, tried skim boarding and started surfing in the last ten years. I got to know Pedro and Katrijn through a common friend who was working at that time at Oporto Surfcamp. Our friendship grew along the time we spent surfing together. It was then that I really started to improve my surfing. I studied graphic design and photography and helped out with this at the surf camp. I also liked to help out Pedro and Katrijn at the beach, in the lessons, giving company to the guests and show them Esmoriz. They asked me if I wanted to work with them, I took the ASI surf instructors and lifesaving course and since then I joined Oporto Surf Camp, now already for 7 years.
I really like the sensation of giving someone their first surf experience, but for me it’s not only about the surf lessons. I also like to show our beautiful beaches and getting them to know how it is to live in the north of Portugal, showing them Porto and making caipirinhas at the bbq’s.
I enjoy working with some of my best friends. It’s like working with family because we are a small and very close team. It’s so nice to see so many guests coming back every year that you really become friends.
Favorite wave in the North: Pretty much everywhere. In the North of Portugal we have so many places to choose from.
Surfed in: Portugal, Morocco, Guadeloupe, Costa Rica.
“I’m from Italy, nearby Torino in the north. So I’m very used to snowboarding.
I started to surf 5 years ago here at Oporto Surfcamp with some friends. We booked our holiday to have fun but after these 10 days I didn’t want to go back home. It was such a wonderful experience that I wanted to come back on the surfboard as soon as possible but with my job in Italy surfing was not really possible.
When we booked another holiday at Oporto Surfcamp I decided to ask Katrijn if she needed someone to help out for the season. It has been now already three seasons that i’m part of the team. I’m helping out Katrijn with the organisation and the Oporto Surf Lodge. I hope you will enjoy your stay as much as I did.”
Favorite wave her in the North: I never forget these massive waves in Cagalhotes beach with a big jump at the end. Also my first little tube was amazing.
Surfed in: Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands (brrr)
“I’m born in Figueira da Foz but have lived all along Portugal’s coastline.
I started surfing when i was around 13 years old. I saw people surfing in Lisbon and wanted that too. I started competing when i was 17 years old. I became 2nd at the regional competition and kept on competing and got sponsoring. I was 2nd at the national circuit of Portugal. I was lucky to start with the generation that put surf competitions on the map. Everyone that started competing at that time is still very involved in surfing, all surf like crazy, work for surfbrands or became coaches. I’m connected to surf association of Aveiro. I select the kids to train for the competitions.
I love to transmit my experience and my passion to our guests. To give them the knowledge you need for surfing, since it’s not just a sport, you also have to get to know the elements of nature, the currents, how the waves work, the beaches and to read the waves.
Besides that i like the life of Oporto Surf Camp. To be with the guests, enjoy the life at the camp, going for diner, a drink and party.”
Favorite wave in the north: Maceda and the beaches of Aveiro
Surfed in: Whole coast of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, Guatamala, Equador, Tenerife, Marocco.