José Maria Pyrrait is a respected Portuguese surfer and coach from Ericeira, known for shaping the national surf scene. Born in Lisbon in 1965, Pyrrait moved with his family to Rio de Janeiro in 1975 after the Carnation Revolution. There, living near Arpoador beach, he discovered surfing and immersed himself in Brazil’s vibrant surf culture.

Returning to Portugal in 1982, Pyrrait settled in Ericeira—a now-iconic surf town. He opened a bar at Ribeira d’Ilhas beach, which became a gathering spot for the local surf community. His natural connection with young surfers soon led him to coaching, where he became a mentor to a new generation of Portuguese talent.

Pyrrait has trained numerous top surfers, including Ana Sarmento, Tomás Fernandes, Camila Kemp, Arran Strong, his son Henrique “Neco” Pyrrait, and Gony Zubizarreta, who won the Liga Meo Surf in 2016. His work has helped elevate Portuguese surfing to international levels.

In addition to coaching, Pyrrait has played key roles in organising national surf competitions, such as serving as competition director for the Liga Moche. He remains deeply involved in surf events like Surf Out Portugal, contributing to the sport’s development in and beyond Ericeira.