How He Started a Successful Surf Camp at 23 With No Money or Experience… (& How You Can Too)

What happens when a 23-year-old, unemployed and fresh out of university during Portugal's worst financial crisis, decides to start his own surf camp anyway?

In this episode, David Moore shares the story of building Surf Cascais from the ground up into one of Portugal's most loved surf schools, surf camps, and surf villas. I had the absolute pleasure of staying at Surf Cascais while recording this conversation, and can say firsthand that the community David has created is truly something special.

David opens up about growing up in Lisbon completely obsessed with surfing, catching his first waves at 13, and how a lifelong passion for surfing slowly turned into a business he never set out to build. He shares the mentor who changed everything, the mindset that carried him through his early 20s with zero plan B, and why Cascais might be one of the most underrated surf towns in Europe.

We also talk about what it really takes to build a business rooted in connection rather than hustle. Now 13 years into running Surf Cascais, David spills the real secret to running a successful surf camp, the one belief that has driven every decision he's ever made, and his newest project taking the Surf Cascais community around the world.

This conversation is for anyone curious about starting a business from scratch, what it really takes to build a successful surf camp, or daring to leave the traditional path behind and build a life around the thing you love most.

Connect with David & Surf Cascais:

Book your stay → surfcascais.com

Instagram → @surf.cascais

Surf Atlas (small-group surf trips worldwide, via Surf Cascais) @surfatlas.co

David on LinkedIn → David Moore Rodrigues dos Santos

Surf Cascais Video Linked Here.

Follow along on other platforms:

KEYWORDS

surf cascais, david moore surf cascais, surf camp portugal, surf school cascais, how to start a surf camp, starting a business in your 20s, guincho beach surf, carcavelos surf, praia grande surf, surf villa portugal, surf atlas, maldives surf trip, lisbon surf camp, move to portugal, learn to surf portugal, solo travel portugal, kindred roads podcast, mary goggin podcast, unconventional life podcast, solo travel podcast

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