Meet The Team
More than a school, SurfMilfontes is a family, filled with people who have a strong connection with the Village and gather two common characteristics: passion for the Sea and a willingness to share experiences that, ultimately, can be translated in the desire to teach any person who’s interested in venturing into the World of Surfing.
Pedro Piteira
Since I always lived by the seaside and was keen on nature and outdoor activities, Surf soon became a constant in my life. At the beginning, I must say it was only a meeting point among friends, but quickly turned out to be one of my passions and, ultimately, became a life project.
SurfMilfontes started as a small project between friends, but through persistence and by never stop believing that dreams could become a reality we were able to achieve a lot and become what we are today: a prestigious tourist entertainment company in Vila Nova de Milfontes. Having such recognition motivates us to think and develop new experiences and to improve our work, not only as professionals but also as a family.
I’m quite sociable and cheerful, always with a smile upon my face and ready to welcome anyone who decides to be a little adventurous. Apart from Surf, I enjoy travelling and spend time with my family, playing with my kids and sharing laughs, memories and moments.
Andreia Rosa
Since I grew up by the seaside, the sea became a key element in my life, something I find difficult to detach from my experience. I can honestly say that to live deeply I need to breathe in ocean.
It might sound a bit cheesy, but the truth is that SurfMilfontes was in my path all along, which was one of the reasons that brought me to Vila Nova de Milfontes, a land that became my home and haven. At the beginning, I only saw SurfMilfontes as my husband’s company, butafterwards, I started looking at it as my life project, where together we could accomplish so much more.
I can say that I’m rather optimistic and enjoy taking advantage of what life best has to offer. I have three children, who I love wholeheartedly, and being a mother is, indeed, a life-changing and rewarding experience. I also enjoy try out new things and reading a good book, preferably with the sea as the background story.
António Trueb
Since I was born and raised in Vila Nova de Milfontes, I ended up by creating a strong connection with this land. When I was eight years old, I joined SurfMilfontes where, apart from developing a strong connection with the sea, found out a sport that instantly became my great passion. Since then, I’ve been practising Surf every time I can, sometimes along with friends, others alone, always having my board as an old partner.
What fascinates me about surfing is the possibility to set out a direct relationship with Nature and the feeling of peacefulness conveyed by the sea. Surf is like a shelter from daily routine, an opportunity to chill-out and switch off from the outside World – more than a challenging sport, I accepted it as a lifestyle.
In 2018, I became the managing partner of SurfMilfontes, combining a childhood passion and a life project. The eagerness to make the difference and stimulate this town are the main points that had a great influence in the acceptance of such commitment.
Talkative and curious by nature, I enjoy travelling and making new friends. I feel particularly intrigued when meeting people from other parts of the World, with different experiences and who, just like me, are ready to listen and share a good story!
Tiago Trueb
Since the village where I live is near the sea in a place where it is possible to practice water sports regularly, I started surfing when I was 6 years old at SurfMilfontes.
I ended up developing a huge passion for the ocean and a strong connection withnatural environments. Thislocal Surf School, taught, inspired and motivated me to improve my surfing skills and even after 13 years I’m still in love with the sensation of going up on a surfboard as if it was my first time. After practising this sport for such a long time, I’mcertain that surfing is not just a hobby but rather a lifestyle.
I started surfing at the same time as my brother, so we have been pushing and motivating each other since the very beginning. We even went surfing with a group of friends that also took lessons in the same Surf School,and that is mostly why I’ve got used to have someone else in the water. Honestly, having the company of someone is part of the definition of surfing, despite being commonly considered an individual sport.
Over the years, after analysing and riding so many waves, get to know many surfers and different styles of surfing, I ended up by giving advice and tips to friends or other people for them to improve their surfing skills. After some time, I understood that it was something that I could do has a job, and since I’m rather sociable and attentive, I can easily detect sometechnical mistakes and help people improvetheir experience.
Tiago Coelho
I was born and grew up in Vila Nova de Milfontes so since I was little I’vedeveloped a strong relationship with nature. Most people in this town who practice sports or other activities were doing it outside, and not just that, in the water too, so it was easy to see what to expect. When I was twelve, I was introduced to skateboarding and soonrealisedits similarities with surfing. Back then, one of my best friends was already practising surf,soI ended up by having surf lessons as well at SurfMilfontes.Since then, I cannot spend too much time apart from the sea and without surfing. I’ve been practising surf for eleven years now and sometimes I even practice bodyboard.
SurfMilfontes taught me how to surf and was also the place where I not only met some of my bestfriends but also learned many life lessons which have been influencing me while growing up. Still today, SurfMilfontes is my second home.
I studied Languages and Humanities in Highschool but have always loved music.For this reason, I decided to take my degree in Production and Events Marketing and joined a band in Lisbon with which I recorded one EP and one album playing bass. Now, I try to spend my time giving surf lessons, play and record music, skateboarding and travel. Besides all of this, during my free time, I enjoy reading, go for a bikeride and hang out with friends.
João Vaz
Hey, I’m João. I had my first lesson here in this school when I was 12. After that, I was hooked! I’ve been practising surf and bodyboard ever since. I’m proud to say I have been part of SurfMilfontes team since 2016. I have always been amazed by the underwater. Fresh and saltwater. It’s such a peaceful but powerful part of nature, and I’m in love with the tranquillity it transmits.
I’m very passionate about aquascaping, fishkeeping in general, planted aquariums, tropical aquarium plants and invertebrates. Oh! And I can say I’m also a huge nerd when it comes to Turtles and Tortoises. I find them so fascinating and can tell what species is just by looking at them, sometimes even their Latin names!
Ivo Carmo
I started surfing when I was thirteen years old in Malhão Beach where today I’m a Surf instructor.
My passion for the sea goes way back: when I was a child, I used to go fishing with my grandad in the River, and the Atlantic Coast and then the passion for Surf came along. Practically since 1994, I’m an experienced surfer, although, I’ve started teaching only in 2013 in SurfMilfontes as I felt interest and willingness to be part of this project.
I’m a Surf teacher accredited by Lusófona University (1st degree) and teach all levels of Surf, from beginner to advanced.
I’m the President of Associação Foz do Mira which, in partnership with SurfMilfontes, promotes Surf classes among the host community, especially children and teenagers.
I’ve graduated in Philosophy in the University of Lisbon, and some of my literary work was already published and awarded by Associação Portuguesa de Escritores with an essay about Tourism (2012), also awarded by Associação de Escritores do Alentejo (2018) as a work of fiction.
I even lived for a while in Germany where, apart from learning German, worked as a gardener. Outside Surf, my main interests are literature and gardening.
