On the windswept shores of Santa Bárbara, where the Atlantic writes its restless poetry against volcanic sand, a project born in 2022 is quietly reshaping the relationship between people and the sea. More than a surf school, Watergliders has emerged as a community-driven initiative rooted in a broader philosophy: to form not just surfers, but “watermen”—individuals who live with and for the ocean.

Founded by João Rodrigues, whose own journey into surfing began modestly and later deepened through experiences in Peniche and collaborations with leading figures in Portuguese wave sports, Watergliders reflects both personal resilience and collective ambition. “Surfing is our tool to pass on a message,” Rodrigues explains, positioning the project as a platform for education, empowerment, and connection rather than merely a commercial venture.

Operating in São Miguel, where the ocean offers both opportunity and unpredictability, the initiative faces structural challenges familiar to island economies: seasonality, shifting airline routes, and the complexities of staffing in harsh winter conditions. Yet these constraints have not dimmed its vision. Instead, they have reinforced a commitment to innovation and to the local community—particularly younger generations.

Through training programs and seasonal camps, Watergliders works closely with youth, including those with motor difficulties or low self-esteem, using surfing as a means to build confidence and autonomy. The goal, Rodrigues notes, is not simply technical proficiency, but personal transformation: “I want them to believe they are capable.”

The school’s approach is equally deliberate in matters of safety and sustainability. Equipment is carefully selected and frequently renewed, partnerships with Portuguese shapers are prioritized, and access to the ocean is managed with unusual rigor. In a region where the sea can be as unforgiving as it is beautiful, Watergliders has adopted a selective model—often turning away potential clients—to ensure that respect for the ocean remains paramount.

Tourism, particularly from North America and Central Europe, provides an essential economic base, but Rodrigues is clear-eyed about the balance required. Local engagement, he insists, is not optional but foundational. The long-term vision includes strengthening Azorean surf culture, fostering environmental awareness, and advocating for structural improvements—from year-round lifeguard presence to more effective coastal management policies.

At its core, Watergliders is also a quiet cultural intervention. In a region historically marked by a cautious, sometimes distant relationship with the sea, the project seeks to reframe that narrative. Rodrigues recalls encounters with longtime residents who had never entered the ocean—an absence he sees not as indifference, but as an opportunity for rediscovery.

“The Azores have everything,” he says. “People just need the courage to experience it.”

In that invitation lies the deeper current of Watergliders: a call not only to surf the waves, but to inhabit them—to reclaim the ocean as both inheritance and horizon.

Adpated and translated from an interview by Diogo Simões Peires, a journalist for the newspaper Atlântico Expresso-Natalino Viveiros, director.

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.