Hey hey! I’m Francisco, also known as Cisco. Originally from Portugal, I now live on the always-sunny island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. I’ve been working for Star Surf in Moliets for several years now – this year, I’m the head surf instructor for Moliets and I can’t wait for a fantastic summer in the waves!

All my life, I’ve been living side by side with the ocean. I’ve spent my time at the beach enjoying the sun, the waves, the beach, magical sunsets and the great company of my friends – most of them from Star Surf Camps. When I was a kid, going to the beach was as normal to me as playing in the playground was for others!

I had my first body boarding lesson at the age of 12. I remember getting myself into a “little big wave”, skidding and throwing me under water like a washing-machine. From that point onwards, I was a little afraid of having a board with me while playing in the waves. But when I started high school, one of my mates was a Bodyboarder and he encouraged me to try it out again – I absolutely loved it! And still love it! The thought of enjoying the fun of shore breaks while bodysurfing makes me smile every time!

I’ve been bodyboarding for the last 13 years of my life now. It’s been great and has taking me many different places. I’ve done Portugal, of course, went to Brazil, the Philippines, St. Miguel in the Azores, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Grand Canary in the Canary Islands. When I first came to Fuerteventura, one of my close friends started working for the Fuerteventura Star Surf School and, little by little, I starting getting into surfing on the school’s 8-foot softboards. Although I found it incredible difficult to stand up in the beginning, my background from bodyboarding helped me progressing fast. And in the last 3 years, I’ve started surfing with short boards and I’m loving it just as much as do bodysurfing!

For me, the greatest feeling is that of using waves in different ways which works perfectly in Moliets. When I can’t find the perfect, hollow barreling waves for bodyboarding, I love riding my twin-fin to just cruise down the line. Wave-riding, that’s what I do! Enjoying that moment when all that counts is the flow with nature, the pure energy that makes you glide over the water and feel like nothing else makes is important!

Besides bodyboarding and surfing, music also plays a big role in my life. I actually remember the day I started to love music. It was when my older sister gave me a tape (yes, it’s long ago) of Bob Marley songs she had recorded herself. I played it for hours, days and months – over and over again. When I got older, at the age of 13, I started drumming lessons and ended up studying drums for 5 years. At some point I switched to percussions as my neighbours didn’t quite enjoyed the sound (they called it noise) as much. I also love going to concerts, seeing live music gigs and to play music with friends around the Moliets campfire. For me, I think music is a little like surfing – it’s a way of freeing me from everything that’s negative and just immersing myself in the moment, bringing the good vibes and the positive energy that’s needed in this world!

I’ve been returning to Moliets and to the Star Surf summer camps for years now. I love the chilled atmosphere, the food, the people and the fantastic summer vibes of Moliets. Everybody is just so happy to be there and, for me, that’s a priceless feeling!

Well, that’s enough from me. Hang loose, amigos, and catch you in Moliets’ waves this summer!

Cisco

Find Out More About Moliets’ Great Summer Vibes!