About 50 surf teaching operators and special guests were gathered via videoconference at the National Meeting of Surf Schools and Coaches, which took place over the 26th and 27th of March. The Portuguese Surf School Association highlights the success of a “unique event”, in which operators defined strategies for the future after COVID19, as well as for the licensing and regulation of the activity.
There were five virtual sessions promoted by the Portuguese Surf School Association (AESDP) over two days and with the participation of around 50 members. In the first session, the members of Costa da Caparica met to define the strategy for creating an AESDP Local Nucleus in the region. The remaining four sessions, over the two days, served to present the results of a questionnaire carried out by the Association with surfing schools and to debate the future of the surf teaching activity in view of the challenges it faces.
See quiz results:
According to the President of AESDP, João Diogo Pinto dos Santos, “the success of this unique event was even greater than we expected, the involvement and active participation of all was exceptional and we achieved exactly what we wanted, which was to put the association's future in the hands of associates. I would also like to reinforce our thanks to the guests Miguel Pedreira, João Valente, Pedro Almendra and Nuno Jonet, who contributed with an impartial and out-of-the-bubble vision of the Surf Schools regarding what the future of our activity should be”.
For now, interested parties can expect more initiatives of this kind in the near future. “The digital format was a novelty and a test for us, so we were a little apprehensive, but given the success achieved, we are already preparing new debates”, concluded João Diogo Pinto dos Santos.
The Portuguese Surf Schools Association is an entity that brings together and represents surf education operators in Portugal, with over 150 associated members.