Working as a Surfing Instructor in Portugal

Portugal… a small yet extraordinary country in the extreme south-west point of Europe, deeply connected to the ocean since the beginning of its existence. If you want to work in a place that truly offers you a unique, rich and fun experience, Portugal is where you need to be.

Well known for the people, food and climate, Portugal has an exceptional range of different landscapes just a short distance away, a great offer of leisure activities and a unique cultural heritage. The Portuguese cuisine is varied and rich, and it is possible to try the best sweets, to the freshest fish and seafood, to an immense variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as meats of all kinds, all accompanied by exquisite Portuguese wines.

But let’s talk about what truly matters. According to Turismo de Portugal (Portuguese tourism entity), Portugal counts with “[…] 3000 hours of sunshine per year and 850 kms of splendid beaches bathed by the Atlantic Ocean […]”; that makes this location the perfect place to explore surf locations, do some surfing sessions and also work as a surfing instructor. “The diversity of natural conditions and an exceptional climate provide memorable experiences within everyone’s reach, from beginners to pros. It’s even said that there’s no other coastline in the world with so many spots so close to each other. We have waves for every taste and discipline: from perfect tubes for surfing and bodyboarding, which are the setting for major international events, to giant waves, posing a challenge for the boldest surfers striving to ride their crests, and long waves that are among Europe’s longest.”

They also share with the public a website where people can find a guide to the best places to surf - www.portuguesewaves.com

Along the 850kms of the Portuguese mainland Coast, you can find some main spots to Surf and practice other waveriding sports, like Bodyboard, Windsurf, Kitesurf, SUP.

Up in the North, you can find, on the region of Viana do Castelo, several beaches to surf and also to windsurf and kitesurf. The wind there is strong, so the perfect conditions are gathered to practice that kind of sports. Matosinhos and Espinho are other locations that gather the perfect conditions during all year to catch some good waves (and also to eat some fantastic fish and seafood).

Going down, we must highlight Nazaré, Peniche and Ericeira, authentic surf towns, with a vibrant vibe and first-class waves. We must tell you that in Ericeira you can find a World Surfing Reserve, that includes seven-world class waves in a stretch of 4 kilometers. You absolutely can’t miss it.

In the capital (Lisbon), you can find the perfect combination: although the city offers a vivacious and sometimes very intense way of life, you can easily escape right to the coast and relax on the beach, catch some good waves and clear your mind while surfing, either in Carcavelos, Guincho or down on Costa da Caparica.

Finally, if you are searching for good weather all year long and beautiful beaches “painted” in warm colors, in the south of the country you will find Algarve. In locations such as Aljezur, Sagres and Lagos you will find everything that you need, good weather, loads of beaches with good surfing conditions, for every level of surf. You will have so many spots so close to each other that will be lost in road trips, trying to discover your favorite wave.

Now that we have caught your interest, maybe it’s time to give you some lights on what you need to know about working as a surfing instructor in Portugal.

One great thing is, in Portugal and specially in its surf locations, surf school and surf camp owners are used to receiving lots of foreign workers. So, it’s easy for you to find a job in one place, as a surfing instructor or even a cook, cleaner or guide, that also offers you a place to sleep and eat.

You can find several opportunities in surf camps all over Portugal.
 

If you are aiming to work as a surfing instructor in Portugal, here is what you need to know:

To teach in Portugal and be legal anywhere here, you will have to have the title “Título Profissional de Treinador de Desporto – Surfing Grau I”, that is issued by the IPDJ (Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth). In order to get that title, you will have to complete the course “Treinadores de Surfing Grau I” or get your professional and/or academic competences recognize by the IPDJ.

ASI is a training entity approved by the IPDJ to deliver this course.

The course is structured in 3 components: General Component, Specific Component and Internship. The General Component modules are completed online. We give access to our students to an e-learning platform and each student is responsible for organizing their time in order to study the entire material and complete the quizzes. The Specific Component modules are completed by participating in the Workshop week. It will be a face-to-face workshop, during 6 days, Monday to Saturday, where participants will be assessed through practical and/or written tests at the end of each module. Finally, the last step and once you are approved with success on the first two components, you will start your Internship. During 6 months, you will need to complete 550 hours of internship, in a surf school in Portugal. You will need to select the school and the tutor (with Grau II certificate) that will guide you through the internship period, and in case you can’t find a place, we can help you find them.

The only requirements to enter the course are: minimum age 18 years, have the minimum compulsory education according to the year that you were born and have an intermediate surfing level.

If you are interested in working in Portugal and need any help, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Portugal is waiting for you 😊

Email: pt@academyofsurfing.com

Bárbara Carvalho, ASI Portugal