about | Surfrider Foundation Ericeira

About Us

Surfrider Foundation Ericeira is a nonprofit organization based in Ericeira, Portugal and dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people through CARE (conservation, activism, research and education).

It is an associated collective of passionate surfers that shares the same goals of protecting and providing sustainable growth through education and positive activity in the local environment. The organization seeks to protect the Ericeira coastline’s beautiful resources that are so often taken for granted.

Our Mission

Surfrider’s mission is to create awareness and unity around the idea of maintaining Ericeira as one of the last paradises on earth. Surfrider seeks to create a bridge to new ideas and sustainable growth that benefits everyone in the Ericeira community, travelers and residents alike.

C	Conservation through efforts like sand bagging, dune protection and water monitoring.
A	Activism through lobbying, letters to the community, and peaceful protests.
R	Research of new products as alternatives to pollutants, water testing results and effects on how construction on coastlines affects local ecosystems and foodchains.
E	Education through school programs, promotional materials and new market products.

Our Staff

While each of our staff members have a job outside of Surfrider, we take our jobs very seriously as keepers of one of Portugal’s greatest treasures. We love the Ericeira community and surfing. With the combined help of our staff, representatives, members and volunteers like you, we can help combat pollution of Ericeira’s beaches and waters.

Click through each of the sections below to learn more about the staff and representatives that make up Surfrider. If you have a beach issue you would like to report, find a representative for the beach you are referring to and let them know what’s going on with the contact information provided.

Core Members

Richard O'Sullivan
Responsible
Richard O’Sullivan studied Business Information Systems at the University of West England and like most staff at Surfrider, does a little bit of everything in the Ericeira community. He’s a project manager, operations director, personal trainer and surf coach. Richard loves all things surfing and is passionate about keeping the water he surfs in clean. His favorite surf spots are São Lourenço, Pedra Branca, and Ribeira d'Ilhas.

Gonçalo Osario
Co-Responsible
Gonçalo Osario is known for being incredibly creative, and has done all kinds of work ranging from jewelry making to film directing and production. He loves to surf, skate and dabbles in photography as well. His favorite surf spot in Ericeira is a secret, but you can sometimes catch him at Ribeira d'Ilhas.

Bruno Andrade
Treasurer
Bruno opened his own business and became manager of Ericeira’s own Amar Hostel and Suites. Bruno loves to surf at popular areas such as São Julião and Pedra Branca.

Bruno Lisboa
Volunteer Services Head
Bruno was born in the heart of Portugal, Lisboa, and studied journalism. Today he works as a logistics officer for Despomar, a local sports shop in Ericeira. He can usually be found at his favorite surf spots of São Julião and Pedra Branca.

Davide Troiani
Administrator
Davide is Surfrider’s resident tech geek. He has a background in Computer Science and works as an IT Supervisor in his dayjob. When he’s not at work or surfing, he loves play guitar. His top surf spot is Ribeira d’Ilhas.

Representatives

Beach Representatives help identify local problems at the beaches. They are the first point of contact for the general public or local people. When a problem is found or reported to them, they take it back to Surfrider’s core leadership. Beach representatives can also offer information on how to volunteer or become a member of Surfrider.

Calada/São Lourenço

Name: Pedro Gois
Telephone: 935528862
Email: pgois@live.com

Name: Andrea
Telephone: 913301274
Email: su_eta_gar@gmail.com

Coxos

Name: Filipe Henriques “Rastef”
Telephone: 914752219
Email:

Name: Diogo Sarmento VZ
Telephone: 917631152
Email: diogo@despomar.com

Ribeira d’Illhas

Name: José Pyraitt
Telephone: 918584280
Email: pyrraitsurf@hotmail.com

Name: Necko Pyrrait
Telephone: 910327903
Email: neckopadareko@hotmail.com

Name: Joao Tanga
Telephone:
Email:

Empa

Name: Tomas Fernandes
Telephone:
Email:

Name: Pedro Jacob
Telephone: 912122700
Email: pjacobprod@gmail.com

Matadouro/São Sebastião

Name: Papu
Telephone: 916706626
Email:

Name: Steve
Telephone:
Email: dorsethatter@hotmail.com

Praia Norte

Name: Mig
Telephone:
Email:

Name: Diogo Bsheep
Telephone: 916706626
Email:

Name: Vasco Dias
Telephone:
Email: vasco@xxssurf.pt

Pescadores

Name: Alexandre Barata “Xana”
Telephone: 918415970
Email:

Name: Samuel
Telephone:
Email:

Praia Sul

Name: Ricardo Lopes “Pastel”
Telephone: 962726900
Email:

São Julião

Name: Bruno Lisboa
Telephone: 966736320
Email:

Name: José Antonio Vicente
Telephone: 917043110
Email:

Volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of what Surfrider represents. Their giving spirit and willingness to work for the betterment of the community are essential to Surfrider carrying out its mission. Give back to Ericeira by becoming a member today!

Volunteer

Our Partners

Surfrider works with a number of different groups in the Ericeira community to help achieve its mission. Without their help, protecting the local coastlines would certainly be a more difficult task to tackle.

Ericeira City Hall grants Surfrider Ericeira the permission needed to be active in the community. It also aids in funding and collects taxes.

Coastwatch Portugal is an official partner with Surfrider and provides direct support with research, coast erosion and statistics for the area. Here you can find the questionaires we use to collect information for each 500mtrs of coastline in Portugal.

Surfrider also works with a number of sponsors, which can be found listed below:

Camara Municipal de Mafra
Cligeral LDA

Amar Hostel
AKI

Riviera Restaurant
Tik Tak
Prim
Ericeira Surf Clube

Sustainable Surfing

Though the action of riding a wave is environmentally friendly, there are ways the lifestyle and industry associated with it can be improved to have less negative impact on the environment. Here are some of Surfrider’s quick tips to surfing sustainably.

Purchase your equipment from companies that localize production. Despite how well a product may be made by a certain brand, the petroleum involved in transport can pose a significant threat to the health of the environment.
Choose to purchase from brands who place emphasis on using materials that are good for the environment. Manufacturers can reduce the toxicity of surfboard and wetsuit production by using alternative materials instead. By opting to support companies that do with your purchase, you help spur a small amount of change in the industry.
Shop locally from retailers who deal with waste and energy use responsibly. It’s great if a surfing business carries great products, but if it’s reckless in how it disposes of the waste that comes with those materials, you’re just contributing to more toxic waste from the surfing industry.
Seek out more ways to create less waste on your own. Be as wary of the impact you have on the environment as you can.

By following these tips, you can help make sure the waters you choose to surf in are clean and healthy for you, your friends and the rest of the surfing community.