HENRIQUE BALSEMÃO

PORTUGAL

Henrique is 48 years old and has been living since 1999 in Monte Velho, Carrapateira, in the Algarve. From an early age he felt the power of the ocean’s appeal on Guincho’s beach, where he spent his childhood and started surfing. Since then his mind was focused on searching waves. He went to Oahu’s North Shore, Hawaii, for the first time  in 1987. Then he brought back a story for the first issue of SURFPortugal magazine, where he was founding partner and Marketing Director, between 1987 and 1996. From being a special envoy in the North Shore of Hawaii to cover the Triple Crown of Surfing, to hosting and producing skate and surfing TV shows, as well as being a member of ASP on the television advisory board, he has consistently been a true sport devoted: He founded Adrenalina, organizing a Surfing National Championship and a World Championship of Surfing Tour, events in the early 90´s.

He travelled thru Morocco, Azores, Philippines, Bali, New Zealand, Tahiti, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Mentawai and Madeira. However, the Costa Vicentina’s attraction was stronger than anything else and he settled down in the region. He was creator and mentor of Centro Monte Velho Eco Retreats, which he manages since 1997, offering holistic retreats and workshops, yoga, mediation, music, shamanism and Chi Kong.

He lives there with his family, wife and three children and surfs every time the waves are good, now with the company of his daughter Concha.

KYLE DIORIO

USA

Kyle has spent the greater part of the last decade in the coastal regions of Southern Europe, immersing himself in the theory and practice of multimedia, communications and tourism.

The visual stoke associated with surfing and beach culture was an interest turned passion; from his teenage years working at the surf shop to his time interning at REEF’s Marketing Department.  It was during those years that he observed the stylistic changes from within the corporate atmosphere of the surf industry along with the changes within surf pop culture such as cinema and fashion.

Kyle also spent time on the road with Thomas Campbell during the premieres of his 2009 surf film 'The Present' an experience which inspired him to study image from a deeper perspective—spending the next years in Italy and Spain, taking up formal studies in Multimedia & Art Direction. During those years Kyle earned a degree in Media Design from Istituto Europeo di Design Barcelona while building a name as a designer, photographer and videographer.

He has been a featured artist, educator and producer for cultural events, panel's and exhibitions in some of Europe’s major cities.

Kyle recently completed his Masters Degree in Sustainable Tourism Management—and divides his time between the Iberian Peninsula and Central America. Finding the waves exactly to his liking!

ALENA EHRENBOLD

SWITZERLAND

I was born in Lucerne, Switzerland. After high school I completed a Masters Degree in Economics and a Diploma in Teaching at the

University of Zürich.

For 6 years I have been teaching law and economics at college in Switzerland before I quit my fix job to follow my passion.

Now I travel the world as a free surfer. Another big passion became writing film scripts and producing and directing surf films: I Wanna Surf (2014 / 1 international award) Blue Road (2017 / 5 international awards),TAN (2018 / 9 international awards) and Come With Me (2018).

I'm currently Vice Swiss Surfing Champion and I have the honor to represent Switzerland since more than 10 years on the Swiss National Surfing Team.