El Salvador is just a short flight away from Mexico and yet, I had never been before. With its breathtaking landscapes and incredible surf scene, this tropical destination had been on my bucket list for a few years now. Shooting a campaign there for Roxy with the talented longboarder Zoe Grospiron was my opportunity to finally visit this beautiful country. Packing up all of my camera gear, I hopped on a plane from Mexico City and just three hours later, I found myself in the land of Surf City.
Over the course of eight days, I had the privilege of capturing Zoe’s journey as she traveled to El Salvador with her family and Brazilian friend Chloe Calmon. I was filming the first episode of a series focusing on their time in this stunning country, where they connected with local communities and young surfer girls. Zoe has been coming to El Salvador with her family for the past seven years now.
The idea of this project was born out of her passion for travel, surfing and her desire to meet women from all over the world. After a set back last year, when she was injured and had to withdraw from surf competitions. she came up with the idea of starting a video series to share her experience and connect with women around the world. As the official photographer and videographer of this first episode, my job was to capture every moment of this trip. From the stunning landscapes to the beautiful waves and local culture, I documented every detail of every day.
We had the privilege of connecting with a group of talented local young women and learning about their goals and aspirations. Despite the challenges they face, they all share a common dream of becoming professional surfers and representing their country on the international stage.
It was truly inspiring to hear their stories and witness their dedication to the sport. Moreover, Zoe and Chloe were thrilled to share a surf session with them at sunset. We were absolutely blown away by their skills on the waves and the support between the girls.
The video will be out in April and I can’t wait to share it with you ! In the meantime, enjoy this series of photos from the trip.