Tiago Pires "Saca", Joana Schenker, world bodyboarding champion (and the first Portuguese woman to win this title), and Samuel Januário "Quintino", Angolan national surfing champion, are the protagonists of "Virei", a documentary directed by Gustavo Imigrante, presented for the first time at the "Surf at Lisbon Film Fest", in November last year, and which has now premiered in Luanda.
Starting from the capital, the three athletes visited some of the most emblematic surfing spots in the country, such as the tourist resort of Cabo Ledo, passing through Catanas Point, a charity surf camp founded by Brazilian Sérgio Torres, until reaching the pristine nature of Namibe, in the south of Angola, crossing the waves among dolphins, on deserted beaches.
The film, which brings a new perspective on surfing in Angola in connection with local culture, goes beyond adventure and waves, showing Angolan hospitality, stunning landscapes and the local surfing community and their passion for the sport, despite the difficulties.
"How far has surfing brought us and where can it take us?" is the starting point of the documentary, which seeks to respond based on the discovery of Portuguese champions in Angola, through their travels and meetings with local surfers, addressing the country's tourist potential.
Tiago Pires, who was the first Portuguese to compete with the world's surfing elite, on the World Surf League (WSL) circuit, has already travelled the seas all over the world and was surprised by the quality of the waves and the natural beauty of the Angolan coast.
He visited Angola for the first time last year and described the experience as "unforgettable", highlighting the country as a destination "with a lot to offer", a territory of "beautiful landscapes", where he highlighted the unexplored side and the quality of the waves as the main attractions.
"I've traveled all over the world for over 20 years, I've been to the best waves on the planet, the most well-known and famous, and I've seen waves here that can really be compared to those popular destinations. But here it's all new, it's all unknown," he told Lusa.
As the surfer is "an adventurer by nature", Tiago Pires believes that in Angola it is a matter of time until surfing, which is growing globally, also develops in the country.
For Tiago Pires, the lack of knowledge about Angola is the reason why many Portuguese surfers have not yet discovered the country, which he associates with prejudice.
"I think there is still a bad image about Angola", he explains, adding that "Portugal is very mistaken".
"Angola is much safer than you might think. We lived in total freedom during these ten days, we met incredible people, they were incredibly friendly, super welcoming, great hosts. The ingredients are there. Now it's a question of telling the true story, coming here and reporting transparently what we see, without agendas", he invites.
For Tiago Pires, the film "Virei" can help promote Angola as a surfing destination, drawing more attention to this sport in the country.
Angolan champion Samuel Januário "Quintino", 19, started surfing seven years ago and believes the sport is not more widespread in Angola due to a lack of opportunities for practitioners.
He argues that more sponsors, support and encouragement for athletes are needed.
"But we already have several good surfers, with the potential to compete outside Angola", he says.
On the other hand, being a surfer can change the life of a young Angolan, allowing him to travel, get to know different places and cultures, concludes Quintino, with a big smile.
