Jed Graça
As a Parede Beach local, the mecca of stand paddle in Portugal, Jed is one of the most experienced and respected Portuguese SUP riders today. Carrying three different cultures in his DNA (he was born in Switzerland to an Italian mother and Portuguese father), Jed has an easy-going way of adapting to different people and situations, making new acquatainces wherever he goes. After moving to Cascais in the late 90’s, he craved for the ocean as a replacement for the Swiss mountains, got a surfboard and started surfing. Years later, he bought a stand-up paddleboard online, learnt how to ride it on YouTube and became one of the very first SUP wave riders in Portugal. He knows how to please the jury in SUP competitions but would rather chase perfect waves along the coast on every given day. The original SUP ambassadors worldwide, Dave Kalama and Laird Hamilton, are his main references.
Nickname: Jed
Birthday: 08-08-1970 - 54 years old
Surf Spot: Parede
Height: 1,72 m
Weight: 72 kg
Stance: Regular
Magic board: WANTED SUPBoard 7'5 by Luis Lacrau
Training spot: Parede, Bafureira, Carcavelos, Guincho, Costa
Favorite wave: Ribeira d'Ilhas
Favorite maneuver: Roller Frontside
Best quality: being positive
Worst flaw: being impatient
Heroes: Dalai Lama
One song: Baltimore – Nina Simone
One film: Endless Summer
Favorite activities: yoga
Secret talent: being creative
If I knew the World was going to end in 24 hours…I would go to the Maldives and ride my SUP board with my sons!
If I found a genie in a bottle… I would ask him to make me capable of flying!
I am the greatest at: dreaming
I totally suck at: cooking
I cannot resist to: chocolate
Life motto: Follow your dreams and don't quit!
Xhapeland in one sentence: Xhapeland gives you wings to surf