Draft:Miguel Blanco
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| Miguel Blanco | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | 27th November, 1995 Lisbon, Portugal |
| Surfing career | |
| Sponsors | Oxbow, Corona |
| Major achievements | 2011 – European Grom Search Title Winner
2015 – WSL European Pro-Junior Caparica Champion 2016 – Volcom Crustaceous European Tour Winner 2018 – Portuguese National Championship Title Winner 2018 – Surfer Magazine cover shot 2019 – Portuguese National Championship Title Winner |
| Surfing specifications | |
| Stance | Regular |
Miguel Blanco (27th November, 1995) is a Portuguese surfer from Lisbon. He is known for his progressive surfing style, big wave accolades and environmental activism.
Miguel is a two times Portuguese National Champion and has competed on both the World Surf League's (WSL) Championship Tour and its Qualifying Series. He has also been featured on a Surfer Magazine cover. Miguel's films "Tropical Popsicle", "The Passenger" and "The Passenger II" have received critical acclaim and garnered 10+ million views across Youtube[1] and Vimeo[2].
He's also an active member of the Save the Waves Coalition, Surfrider Foundation, Hope Zones Foundation, Seatrees and Sustainable Surf organisations. Miguel documents his commitment to environmentalism through his popular Youtube series IMPACT.
Early life
[edit]Miguel was born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal. At the age of 7 he moved to the coastal town of São Pedro do Estoril with his family.
It was there that he discovered his love for nature and the ocean, thanks to his mother's adventurous spirit. Miguel's mother, an avid skier and beach lover, introduced him to surfing when she enrolled him in a local surf school.
His main break, an iconic Portuguese surf spot called Praia de São Pedro do Estoril, became his training ground and inspired his passion for the outdoors. Miguel quickly showed an aptitude for surfing and at the age of 11 received his first sponsor from legacy surf brand Lightning Bolt[3].
Despite being given a board that was too big for him, Miguel's love for the sport only grew stronger. He was inspired by the iconic style of Gerry Lopez, who also rode for Lightning Bolt.
Competitive surfing career
[edit]After becoming the European Grom Search Title Winner in 2011[4], the WSL European Pro-Junior Caparica Champion in 2015 and the Volcom Crustaceous European Tour Winner in 2016[5], Miguel decided to fully dedicate his life to surfing and pursue it as a career.
In 2016 he moved to the Portuguese surfing hotspot of Ericeira where he became a fixture in the local community both for his surfing and his involvement in environmental initiatives.
That same year, Miguel surfed against John John Florence in the WSL event at the Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal[6], with the heat being controversially won by Florence. Florence would go on to claim his first world title in that same event.
2018 saw Miguel secure his first Portuguese National Championship title[7]. With the momentum from this achievement Miguel began to make his mark on the international surfing scene, competing in the Oi Hang Loose Pro competition in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, and coming up against then two time WSL World Champion Gabriel Medina.
He surfed against Gabriel Medina again in the ninth heat of the third round of the Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal[8], held at Supertubos, narrowly missing out on a spot in the quarter-finals.
Despite not making it through this heat, Miguel's performance was widely praised and caught the attention of surf fans and industry veterans alike. He further cemented his reputation as a progressive and savvy competitor by winning the Portuguese National Championship in 2019[9] for the second year in a row.
2020 brought seismic changes to the world of surfing with the cancellation of all 2020 WSL tour events due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite Miguel's life being turned upside down, he saw this as an opportunity for personal growth.
After a total of three WSL appearances and two national championships, Miguel quit professional surfing in 2022 to focus on free surfing and environmental activism, using his platform as a professional surfer to raise awareness about local and international ocean conservation issues.
Miguel has since dedicated himself to chasing perfect waves in some of the world’s most unique locations while also experimenting with new board designs and styles.
This has earned him invitations to renowned events such as Ripcurl’s Padang Padang Cup (2023)[10], the Single Fin Invitational (2023), the Capítulo Perfeito (2013-present)[11] and the Twin Fin Invitational (2024)[12] where he competed alongside iconic international surfers like Mason Ho, Rob Machado, Clay Marzo and Ozzie Wright.
Big wave surfing career
[edit]As part of Portugal's new generation of big wave surfers, Miguel Blanco has also made a name for himself in the international XXL wave surfing community.
From Nazaré in Portugal to Jaws in Hawaii, Miguel has conquered some of the biggest and most dangerous waves in the world across 30 different countries. His reputation in big waves was solidified in 2018 when he appeared on the cover of Surfer Magazine during a massive XXL swell at Nias in Indonesia. The iconic photo captured Miguel getting barrelled with the title "This is Life Changing"[13].
It was indeed a life-changing moment for Miguel, and after years of training and experience in big wave surfing, he found himself in Hawaii in early 2023 for the now-legendary XXL Márcio Swell (named in memory of Jaws paddle pioneer Márcio Freire[14]).
December 2024 saw Miguel surfing another iconic swell event at Jaws, with media outlets and big wave surfers calling it the best five days of paddle waves on record and the biggest swell ever surfed at Jaws.
Environmental activism
[edit]Miguel's connection with the ocean goes beyond surfing, as he is a strong advocate for marine conservation and sustainability. In recent years, he's become an influential figure in the environmental movement within the surf community.
His first foray into environmental activism was in 2020 when he partnered with the World Wild Fund (WWF) on a campaign to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the ocean. This led him to become a representative for Ajudem a Limpar as Praias (Help Clean the Beaches)[15], an organisation dedicated to cleaning up Portugal's coastline.
The following year in 2021, Miguel joined the Save the Waves Coalition[16] on an expedition to the Azores, collaborating with other environmentalists to deepen their efforts in ocean conservation. During this trip he crafted a surfboard made from discarded COVID-19 masks as part of MEO's The Unwanted Shapes initiative[17], using it to highlight the environmental impact of pandemic-related waste.
In 2022, Miguel spoke at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, advocating for sustainable practices and ocean conservation. He also became an ambassador for The ECOBOARD Project, a movement that aims to reduce the environmental impact of surfboard production, as well as the announcement speaker for Ripcurl International's official B-Corp certification.
That same year Miguel began offsetting his climate impact by partnering with Seatrees[18] to support various restoration projects around the world. He also continues to work closely with Save the Waves Coalition to support World Surfing Reserves programs with a focus on Ericeira where he currently resides. Save the Waves's flagship program, World Surfing Reserves, was co-founded by former big wave surfer and environmentalist João de Macedo, who has since become a mentor to Miguel.
In collaboration with João de Macedo, Miguel is also a part of the Hope Zones Foundation[19], which aims to legally protect 30% of the world's oceans and land before 2030. This aligns with the United Nations programme[20] to protect biodiversity, reduce species extinction and maintain the planet's capacity to store CO2.
Miguel believes that surfers have a duty to protect and preserve the ocean and its ecosystem, seeing them as natural ambassadors. He has been involved in various environmental projects, including beach cleanups and awareness-raising speeches, to raise awareness about pollution in the ocean.
2024 was the year Miguel organised the Onda Limpa Tour[21], a surf tour focused on promoting sustainable practices and educating local communities about the importance of ocean conservation. The tour has been a success, with four stops across Portugal, 160 participants and over 670 kilograms of trash collected from beaches in partnership with various environmental organisations such as Hope Zones Foundation, Save the Waves Coalition, Sea Shepherd and Surfrider Foundation.
His IMPACT series continues into 2025 with an expanded series featuring new partnerships, a focus on environmental education and a celebration of culture and surfing. The series can be streamed on both Fuel TV and YouTube.
Media and surf films
[edit]Miguel's surf films and environmental work have brought him recognition in both the surfing and environmental communities. His focus on raising awareness about climate change through his YouTube and Fuel TV series IMPACT has gained a large following and sparked conversations about the social causes contributing to this issue.
In 2018, Miguel's short film "Here & Now" was featured at various film festivals around the world, winning multiple accolades and a coveted Staff Pick badge from Vimeo. This marked his first notable audiovisual project and showcased his skills as a producer and filmmaker.
Miguel then embarked on an incredible surfing adventure in 2022, traveling to some of the world's top surf destinations, including Australia, Hawaii, Morocco, Fiji and Indonesia – footage of which would lead to the creation of the short film "Tropical Popsicle".
Miguel has fully produced and directed the following short films: "The Passenger" in 2022, "Tropical Popsicle" in 2023 and "The Passenger II" released in late 2024. These projects showcase not only his passion for surfing but also his talent and dedication as a filmmaker.
The culmination of his media work came with Miguel being featured in over 100 movie theaters around the world, as well as earning millions of views on YouTube and Vimeo.
His social media platforms have an estimated average of 10-15 million views across all of his audiovisual content, and he continues to amass a large, loyal following of likeminded eco-conscious surfers.
Miguel has collaborated extensively beyond his own films, working with major brands, fellow surfers and surf media companies.
He has been showcased in Ripcurl’s The Search film "An Nou Ay"[22], Nic Von Rupp’s series "Von Froth"[23], and international campaigns for KIA Motors[24]. His portfolio also includes appearances in Corona’s "Lay Days"[25] series alongside Filipe Toledo and Tatiana Weston-Webb, as well as Stab Magazine’s "STAB HIGHWAY Europe".
Awards and achievements
[edit]- 2011 – European Grom Search Title Winner
- 2015 – WSL European Pro-Junior Caparica Champion
- 2016 – Volcom Crustaceous European Tour Winner
- 2018 – Portuguese National Championship Title Winner
- 2018 – Surfer Magazine cover shot
- 2019 – Portuguese National Championship Title Winner
References
[edit]- ^ "Miguel Blanco". YouTube. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Miguel Blanco". Vimeo. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Miguel Blanco | Oxbow". www.oxbowshop.com. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Rip Curl Europe welcomes Miguel Blanco". GET WASHED. 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Volcom Totally Crustaceous Tour 15/16 EUROPE RECAP : Surfing Video". surfing-waves.com. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Results - MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2016". World Surf League. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Miguel Blanco". www.boardriding.com. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Results - MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2018". World Surf League. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Miguel Blanco". www.boardriding.com. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "24 Invitees Announced at Rip Curl Cup Opening Ceremony; Potential Contest Swell Friday". World Surf League. 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ GRT. "Miguel Blanco – Capitulo Perfeito". capituloperfeito.com (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Miguel Blanco". www.boardriding.com. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Meet Miguel Blanco, the Star of the New Film "Tropical Popsicle"". www.surfer.com. 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ Kopke, Maria. ""Marcio Swell" - Jaws esteve ao rubro na semana passada". surftotal.com (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-02-11.
- ^ Guincho. "MIGUEL BLANCO DEIXA IMPACTO NA COMUNIDADE DE SÃO TOMÉ ONDE FEZ A PRIMEIRA LIMPEZA DE PRAIA ORGANIZADA POR SURFISTAS". www.surftotal.com (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Ambassadors". Save The Waves. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Vamos surfar num mar de plástico?". blog.meo.pt. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Meet Our Newest Ambassador Miguel Blanco!". Seatrees. 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ Hopezones. "Who we are". www.hopezones.org. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "World must act faster to protect 30% of the planet by 2030". www.unep.org. 2024-10-28. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
- ^ matias. "Iniciativa Ambiental na Foz do Lizandro: Comunidade une esforços para limpar o Rio Lizandro". surftotal.com (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "An Nou Ay | The Search | NobodySurf". An Nou Ay | The Search | NobodySurf. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "VON FROTH EP 25 | Around the Waves". aroundthewaves.com (in French). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Miguel Blanco assina com KIA Motors". ONFIRE Surf | Portugal. 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ World Surf League (2023-06-25). Join Tatiana Weston-Webb, Filipe Toledo and Miguel Blanco for a Corona Lay Day in Portugal. Retrieved 2025-02-10 – via YouTube.