Son to a free surfer, Vasco was trying to stand up on a board shortly after learning how to walk. Born and raised in Vila Nova de Santo André, he moved to Lisbon when he was 14 years old, joining Rodrigo Sousa’s group of trainees. Becoming a professional surfer is a dream but not an obsession to this young fellow who prefers to live a day at a time. An out-of-the-box wave rider, Vasco has an appetite for bigger waves and you shouldn’t be surprise for seeing him cruising on a longboard at his local beach in Alentejo. His main references in surfing – Nic von Rupp and John John Florence – are in line with his conviction that a surfer has to live up to all occasions and not only those he faces in a 20-minute heat.

Magic board: every surfboard has its magic

Training spot: Cascais and Almada coastlines

Favorite wave: Coxos

Favorite maneuver: barrels

Best quality: I love to laugh

Worst flaw: being stubborn

Heroes: I don’t have any

One song: Deep over distance – Ben Howard

Favorite activities: surfing, watching movies, eating, sleeping and travelling

Secret talent: cooking

If I knew the World was going to end in 24 hours… I would go to Aivados with all my friends and family and spend the day surfing and laying in the sun

If I found a genie in a bottle… I would ask for a house in Indonesia for me to live in with my friends and family

I am the greatest at: eating

I totally suck at: singing

I cannot resist: perfect waves

Life motto: The three most important things in life are surf, surf and surf

Xhapeland in one setence: I found in Xhapeland the professionalism, inovation and diversity I had never seen in any surfboard factory in Europe