Introducing ASI Surfing Instructor, Maria Balbo.

PORTUGAL. Introducing ASI Surfing Instructor, Maria Balbo. Originally from Brazil, Maria was born with a passion for water sports and was hugely influenced by her grandmother who taught her to water-ski at the age of 4. She is currently based in the Algarve in Portugal.

 

I was a professional water-skier before becoming a surf instructor, I grew up in the countryside of Brazil and started water-skiing at 4, my grandmother taught me and many of my cousins how to do it. 
 

When I was around 17, I moved to the city of Sao Paulo for my university studies and started competing in the national wakeboard tour, I have many trophies from those days but after a knee surgery I started dedicating more time to surf and become passionate about it. 

 

I went to live in Milan, Italy to get a Masters degree and worked in fashion during the time until I realised that I needed to be close to the ocean. So, myself, my partner and our 2 dogs went to live in Portugal in the West Algarve area, famous for surfing in Europe. Here I became a surf instructor and starting working more with photography and video.

 

I was born with a passion for water but my grandmother (who is a water sport person) had a huge influence on me and even when I stopped water skiing anymore, we would go travelling together for a beautiful surf spot in the northeast of Brazil. 

 

I am passionate about surfing and I want to empower more women and kids to feel the power of it. 

 

I have a guest house in West Algarve called Casa Tropical Algarve, I receive people from all over the world that want to come surfing and explore the region. Besides hosting them in our house, I help them to find the best way around here. We are now expanding and opening another house in the south of Italy in a beautiful national park in front of the ocean, it’s a beautiful region to be discovery called Cilento and you can even find some surf during winter and mid-seasons.

 

I am proud of being an ASI instructor and be able to help people to get the best out of the sport, it’s such a pleasure to see people smiling after their first wave

 

COVID-19 has brought a lot of uncertainties in the beginning but it has also given time and reason to rethink the habits of our lives and the impact our work has for the environment and for society. I notice all my guests are dealing with similar issues after COVID-19 and becoming very aware of their impact as humans in the world. Workwise we had a very good season with many guests from all over Europe escaping the big city chaos and coming to surf in this region.  

 

There has been many in my 4 years as a surf instructor here, but the nicest situation in when your students become your friends and you want to spend more time with them outside or inside the water. 

 

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About ASI

ASI is a professional membership organisation and international governing body for instructors, coaches and schools in the outdoor recreation industry for surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding.

We set the standards for education, accreditation, professional development and ongoing support for our members, offering pathways from entry level to elite level.

International Instructor and Coach Accreditation. You can travel the world with ASI.

ASI Accredited Schools abide by the high international standards for operations, training and safety.

 

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