Co-Founder & Managing Director

Ricardo Leopoldo was born in 1973 and co-founded Peniche Surf Camp together with his brother Leo in 2004.

Born and raised in Peniche, Ricardo started surfing at the age of 13, began competing at 15, and gave his first surf lessons at 19. Since then, surfing has been a lifelong passion and a central part of both his personal and professional life.

Over the years, Ricardo has surfed extensively throughout Portugal and travelled the world in search of quality waves.

As a competitor, he achieved several notable results, including victories in local championships, a runner-up finish in the Portuguese University Surf Championship, and several years ranked among Portugal’s top surfers.

Ricardo obtained his Surf Instructor Certification from the Portuguese Surfing Federation in 1995 and has been teaching ever since. At just 19 years old, he founded his first surf school, later working with several surf camps before co-founding Peniche Surf Camp.

He was also one of the founders of the local surf club, contributing to the development of surfing in the Peniche region.

Beyond surfing, Ricardo holds a university degree in Education, making him a qualified high school teacher.

After more than 35 years surfing the waves of Peniche, Ricardo combines deep local knowledge, technical expertise, and a genuine passion for helping surfers of all levels progress and enjoy the ocean.

Today, he continues to oversee the surf operations at Peniche Surf Camp, working alongside an experienced team of local and international instructors who share his commitment to delivering unforgettable surf experiences.