Soul People | Vasco Monica

Where are you based?

Lisbon, Portugal 

Tell us about what you do

Currently, I’m a free surfer dividing my time between surfing, shaping boards, and making videos/documentaries for some brands. 

What inspires you in what you do? and what role does the ocean play in your work and life? 

I was born by the sea, in the countryside, and my life always was surf/ocean related, either surfing, spearfishing, or simply spending the day at the beach with my friends. Since surfing is what I’m doing for a living at the moment, the ocean means much more than just a playful environment, it’s also my main source of income, and for that reason, it’s very important to separate things and understand when I’m working or simply having fun and enjoying a good time with friends (sometimes that’s hard.) 

What do you think the benefits of travelling and exploring the world are? 

I think it’s very important to have a good balance between travelling and being home. While travelling, we open our horizons by meeting people and new cultures since we are exposed to such a different reality, it’s also nice to come back home to process all the information we collected while abroad and apply it to our routine. 

Where’s next on your own travel bucket list?

Always have a lot of trips on my mind…I just came back from Norway and was an amazing experience surfing in the snow for the first time. For the next trips I have Sri Lanka on my mind, hosting 2 longboard retreats, and who knows I’m going to Japan and New Zealand soon! 

Any books/music/films/podcasts you’d recommend? 

“The power of now” – Book 

“Fish People” – Documentary 

And finally – what does Soul mean to you?

Soul is the part of ourselves we can’t fake or simply avoid, it’s our pure self and what we truly are with no filters.

You can be a part of Vasco’s retreats by joining the Longboard or Fish, Singles and Mid Retreat here.