Photo: Carla Pires
At IBC, we’re excited to introduce you to an athlete born in Sagres, Algarve, Portugal. This 37-year-old rider is in the best shape of her life, showing off her skills both in competitions and free surfing at an incredibly high level.
She started surfing at 13 and hasn’t stopped since, racking up lots of professional achievements — including her world title, making her the first Portuguese world champion.
In this exclusive interview, she also shares her deep connection and respect for nature and ocean conservation, highlighting the values and projects we should all look up to.
We hope you enjoy this exclusive chat with JOANA SCHENKER!
- Tell us a bit about your childhood and what Algarve means to you.
I was born in the Algarve, to German parents and the oldest of four girls. We grew up in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere, most of my childhood was pretty wild and free, since we didn’t have any TV or internet, nature was where we would spend most time playing outside.
Looking back now, I feel really lucky for this way of growing up and also for being born in the most beautiful part of Portugal. The Algarve and specially the area around Sagres is my home and sure this place shaped my entire career as a bodyboarder.
Photo: Francisco Pinheiro
- You’re an idol and a role model in the bodyboarding world, plus you’re a world champion with a unique style and flow when you surf. What do you love most about this sport, and what does it bring to your life?
This sport is my life, it has given me everything and made me into who I am. The best moments of my life are directly or indirectly related to bodyboarding.
Photo: Francisco Pinheiro
To explain it the simplest way, bodyboarding makes me happy and that is what i most love about it. I a weird way it has always given me what I need when Im in a certain mindset, it is medicine when I need healing, fun when I am sad, its challenge when I feel stuck, it pushes my creativity, challenges my willpower and it humbles me too.
- What’s a day in the life of Joana Schenker like?
My rountine is that I have no routine. Finding the best waves obviously is the everyday goal. If its pumping I drop everything and spend the day surfing as much as I can. If it´s just average, I might go for a quick session and then head home to do all the other work my life requires. I have been really busy with lots of projects, collabs, shootings, travels and career related stuff that isn’t exactly being at the beach. Sometimes I´m so busy I don´t get to surf for many days straight, but I try to balance everything in a way I still have fun and enjoy the journey.
Photo: Bruno Norberto
- You kicked off this season strong, landing on the podium in Taghazout Bay, Morocco, and you’re currently ranked number 3 in the world. What are your goals for this season?
Morocco was really fun and I’m happy with how the season kicked off for me. My goal on tour is always to finish the best I can, I always have my eye on the world title, but that isn’t the only goal, I love the challenge of surfing the best I can, the way I love to surf. I want my surfing to reflect what I appreciate in a good bodyboarder. Sometimes doing that in competition isn’t easy, but I will always strive for it.
- You did an educational tour at many schools in Portugal, sharing your story and wisdom. Can you tell us a bit about that experience and what it brought to your life?
Its called the “Schenker School Tour” and its an educational project where I go into Portuguese schools to inspire the new generation to care about the ocean. Its a 1h talk where I share my journey as a professional athlete aligned to ocean awareness.
I have shared this message with 15 000 students over the last few years. I must admit its was a bit crazy for me to go trough with this project as I am very shy, not really someone who would want to do public speaking in front of thousand of teenagers, but I also couldn’t let my insecurity hold me back from delivering this important message to so many kids. I guess the experience also made me grow as a human and overcome a fear of mine.
- You’ve achieved a lot of titles and milestones in your career, but we know that 2017 was a really special year for you. How did it feel to be crowned world champion and the first Portuguese to do so?
2017 was the perfect year for me! Everything aligned perfectly, almost in a complete state of flow. In August I won the Portuguese national tour, in September I won the European Tour and in October I won the world tour. Pretty crazy! Becoming the first ever Portuguese world champ on a professional wave riding tour was something I never even thought of and it all happen in Nazare on home soil with the whole bodyboarding community to celebrate with. I felt like we all won. I felt extremely relieved it all worked out well and also very honored to add a little bit of bodyboarding history to Portugal.
- We know you care a lot about health and the environment. Can you share a bit about that, and if you’ve done any projects or have plans for the future?
I believe that caring for our self’s as humans and caring for our environment goes hand in hand as we are completely connected with nature. We might think there is a separation but that is an ilusion of our modern times. For me its about respect, respect for everything that surrounds us. Being educated and and aware about our impact, so we can move on this earth in a gentle way as much as possible. None of us is perfect, every single one of us is part of the problem and hopefully also part of the solution. I just try to live by what I preach and sometimes that is really hard to do! I don`t have any specific plans for the future right now, I will continue my school tour project, and always collaborate with any other project that aligns with my believes.
- How do you see the current level of bodyboarding, both in Portugal and around the world?
I see great level of bodyboarding here in Portugal and also around the world. I mean the boys and girls are ripping for sure. Bodyboarding is going great in terms of performance. Maybe we are lacking new heroes in the sport at the moment and specially on the World Tour, so the audience can relate better to the athletes.
This shouldn’t be too hard to change!
- In 2018, you received a pretty unique award, the International Barbie Award. What’s that award about, and how did you feel when you got it?
Ha, yes the Barbie Award definitely a highlight of my career. Barbie, as Mattel has this award were they distinguish inspiring women from different professional areas and make a personalized barbie for them. I was the first bodyboarding barbie with my board colors and all details matching ! I mean every girls want to have their own barbie, cant lie, it was awesome!
Photo: Barbie Awards 2018
- Is there a dream you’d like to achieve?
My head is full of dreams! I find new ones all the time. My dream is just to achieve as many as I can!
- Send a message to the young people who want to get into or improve in bodyboarding.
Hope they know how cool bodyboarding really is! Find a bodyboarding buddy, its a lot more fun with good company.
Photo: Booguie Chicks
- Here’s your space to say hi, thank anyone, or share whatever you want:
I have amazing sponsors, so big thats to them for the ongoing support all these years! Thanks to Chico for believing and pushing me always to surf better! Thanks for reading and being a boog fan!
+ info:
Instagram: joana_schenker