Sara Leal

Girl from the big city, I was born and raised in the outskirts of Lisboa, more precisely in Odivelas, a region especially known for its “Marmelada Branca”, once cooked at the old Odivelas Monastery.
During childhood, we always have the need to reflect upon “what we want to be when we grow up”, and in my case the answer was always on the tip of my tongue: I dreamed about the day when I would become a Doctor, because then I would have the superpower of healing people. Of course that in the meantime, life took many turns and instead of Medicine, I found my way in Leisure Management and Tourism Entertainment.
Hooked on adrenaline, my interest in adventure and nature sports has been growing since I was 17 years old, firstly because of Trail Running and then by venturing into Rock Climbing, both testing my boundaries and strengthening my persistence and determination. Truth be told, it’s personally difficult to find words worthy of describing the feeling of reaching the end of a running race or getting to the top of a climbing route.
My entry into the world of Surfing came only later: a proposal in the middle of my university hall that convinced me to be part of SurfMilfontes in the mid-October of 2018. Since I joined the Team, every day is an opportunity not only to find something new alongside experienced friends and colleagues but also to learn more about the subject by reading books, latest news and articles.
As a rock climber instructor, it is absolutely rewarding to feel that the smiles of our students reflect an experience they will cherish for the rest of their lives, and the same can be felt after each surfing lesson! Therefore, despite of being in an environment completely different from the one I was used to, the Sea has been turning into my Haven, and even though it doesn’t replace the familiarity of the rock, it’s an energy booster, helping revitalising my spirit.
Although my superpower is not the one I idealize when I was still a kid, I like to believe that my cheerfulness and energy brighten the day of those around me. However, some people like to call me a workaholic, and the truth is that I would be a hypocrite if I disagreed with such statement, but if that is my biggest flaw, so be it, because if you run out of your will, you’ll never get tired!
By being involved in the Universe of Surfing and Climbing, I love challenging those who are driven by curiosity, trying to convince them to leave their comfort zone and take a leap at something different – life is built upon experiences, a truly carrousel of opportunities that undergoes several updates in the long run.