Why I Surf: Journey to Portugal

Surfing has always fascinated the average person as an exotic sport, that only certain free spirited people do, for unknown reasons that can only be described as "a vibe". While there is a little truth to it, the reality is actually much closer to many of us, with the people more real and similar than what we imagine. This mini travel documentary to Peniche, Portugal, looks into the lives and decisions of four individuals who have taken up surfing - some since their childhood, others a little later in life, but all who were shaped by the sport one way or another. Surfing is not just for peak performance athletes. Its for normal people too, and is especially transformative for anyone who is taking up the sport for the first time.
This mini documentary is a personal project shot in Baleal and Lisbon. My heatful thanks to the friends and teams at Baleal Surf Camp and Lisbon Surf House and School for helping in this personal project. For the viewers, I hope you find your own inspiration in this video!
Final note: surfing is a tight but inclusive community. The final moments of this video are of a funeral at sea, where a well loved local who recently passed on, was celebrated by surfers who paddled out in his remembrance. We don't know who he was, but to this person we want to say - thank you for your contribution, for sharing your home and this amazing moment. It inspired us with your message, that even in death we continue living in others, if we choose to love them in our current days. It also inspired us to preserve our ocean home for those after us. I tried capturing this message and this video is dedicated to you and your family.

[@conchisanchez-g8r]

very nice Young, music, images.... amazing, congratulations!!!

[@life_in_documentaries]

Thank you!! I really appreciate it and glad you like it! 😀 Don't forget to also see the Azores & Nazaré ones too, the Azores is my best work & I'm working now on part 2.

[@fatimakay]

Good job Young. Love the quote in the beginning and the music sets the mood of the documentary. Looking forward to see more of this. Keep up the good work!

[@zuma3334]

Ah man sitting in Sri Lankan for part of a surf trip with an infected insert bite that has an open wound. Kinda depressing cause I cannot surf but watching this has inspired me. I will get better. I will surf agian soon

[@life_in_documentaries]

Hey man thanks! Comments like these really motivate filmmakers like us, and really appreciate it. I'm a surfer myself, and I'm sorry to hear about your wound and I know how it feels to miss out. Hope you recover well and can get back soon into the water! 💪🙂

[@mariiamakoeva1027]

What a lovely video 😍🥲
Sooooo beautiful colors and landscapes, and of course cool people

[@life_in_documentaries]

Thanks! It took me two trips on different seasons to capture different aspects of the place. 😅 But I'm glad it captured the vibe of surfing!

[@MollemStudios]

Nice meeting you in Boa Vista (Cabo Verde). We saw a couple of whales really close.
I wish you a lot of happiness making your new documentary about the whales.
Kind regards! Joost

[@life_in_documentaries]

Thanks Joost! Really happy that you and your family saw those whales, considering the bad weather experiences you had, and it's really a life moment! 😀 Thank you, I'll be sure to share here the upcoming videos and all the best too to your remix work (I listened to some already) 😉

[@digvijaypande]

great work .. the ocean and waves were captured perfectly :)

[@life_in_documentaries]

Thank you!! ☺️

[@JakinCho]

Thanks for good video, Cheers!!

[@life_in_documentaries]

Oh thank you! 😀

[@kelvin1007]

Man makes me want to surf now 😊

[@CypressJune]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@luciasmith7064]

Kudos 🎉 keep up the good work!!!

[@life_in_documentaries]

Thank you! 🙏☺️