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The Algarve Surf & Ecological Association (ASEA) The Algarve Surf & Ecological Association was primarily formed in order to further highlight environmental awareness and actions throughout this area of natural beauty in the Costa Vicentina Natural Park. ASEA's three primary objectives are: Nature Conservation, Social Contribution and Environmental Awareness through its seasonal events. Asea is in its very early stages of develpment and growth. We currently liaise and work alongside community groups and individuals and aim to work with government bodies and the Parque Natural in order to sustain and protect the natural beauty of this protected region and to further promote movements towards sustainable and environmentally friendly living and tourism. We educate community members and tourists alike to understand the crucial import of living, working, sightseeing and development in a way that has minimal impact to the eco-systems yet providing real levels of positive social and finacial contribution. All Individuals contracted by ASEA to help coordinte its seasonal events and put together its prograames are required to be fiscally registered in accordace with Portuguese law. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Laurie Quirk- Founder Laurie
grew up surfing as a grommet in the mecca of Australian surfing locations,
the Gold Coast. Burleigh Heads, Kirra and the Super
Bank were all local breaks. At age 16 his wanderlust took him
on the classic Australian pilgrimage to Indonesia. In fact he was
one of the youngest surfers to surf G Land (Grajagan) back in ’85. Grajagan was the worlds first ' real' surf camp in its truest sense. Living in a tree house in the remote jungle of southern Sumatra, tiger prints in the sand, 8-10 ft perfect barrelling lefts peeling mindlessly down the reef. Life couldn't be better. He was hooked ! His wanderlust has remained strong ever since and he continues whenever possible to travel and surf the globe. He now works professionally in the maritime industry as a captain at the Marina de Lagos. Now if he is not in the water, he is on the water ! Laurie has practiced Yoga on and off since he was a teenager keen to incorporate the benefits into his surfing lifestyle. He completed his Yoga Teacher’s Training course in the Sivananda Ashram and it has now become his passion to promote Yoga and sustainable living. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralph Wakker- Yoga Teacher
Dutch born Ralph has had a love of travelling since an early age and he’s perhaps unsurprisingly mostly attracted to exotic and mountainous areas! Being a keen cyclist from his teens, his first independent trips brought him to several places around Europe where he enjoyed camping, cycling and being out in nature. In 2004 he embarked on his first world tour. Travelling remained one of his main interests and he was fortunate to combine his love for exploration with earning a living when he started working as a tour guide in India in 2007. Around that time he also became involved in the formal studies of Yoga at the Satyananda Yoga Academy in Australia where he completed the two year Diploma course in Yogic Studies. During this period he lived and worked in Australia, India, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam while still finding time to return to his native Holland every now and then! (but more often then !) Ralph has taught Yoga in retreats centres in Australia and New Zealand and he continues to be inspired to practice Yoga on a regular basis. Keen to put his knowledge and experience into action he is committed to promoting yoga as a lifestyle by developing awareness of moment-to-moment actions. Besides Yoga and travelling Ralph enjoys cooking, music and chilling out with a good book. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paula Penn Paula is the powerhouse behind the team ! The direct link to life outside "the valley". A tireless liason and in charge of all things administritive. Paula gives the sort of customer service that immediatly makes one feel at ease with the often dauntig prospect of foreign travel and logistics and schedualing. Paula hails from the uk and decided some years back to throw in the towel on the high pressuerd corparate world and lousy weather and relocate to sunnier climes and amongst other pursuits offer her talents in keeping our surf and yoga prograames running smoothly.
Paula.knowing why she,s here- Amoreira Beach -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pedro Barata Masseur see www. surfandmassage.com
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When he finally returned to Australia, the hunger for exotic waves and world travel had not wained and he went on to live 2 years in California,
1 year on Hawaii's North Shore, 2 years in Japan and over 3 in
South Africa and Zanzibar before venturing to Europe and settling
in Portugal. 
