Windsurfing adventurer: “Every journey is a fresh start of sorts” – an interview with surf traveller Federico Morisio
Julian Wiemar
· 14.06.2026
At the age of 19, Maui was supposed to be his final trip before ‘real life’ began – instead, it marked the start of Federico Morisio’s professional windsurfing career. With no home spot, the sport was inextricably linked to travel for the Turin native right from the start; at the same time, he switched from studying engineering to business administration and built his independence through competitions, sponsors and remote work. Today, he commutes year-round between Chile, Hawaii and the Canary Islands, finding a certain stability there and creating space for strategy, training and visions. In conversation, he talks about taking risks outside his comfort zone, minimalist packing lists, respectful coexistence with locals and his “Windsurf Adventure Camps”. And, of course, about magical sessions between Topocalma, Pacasmayo and Cloudbreak – as well as a bucket list that continues to grow despite his life as a traveller.
Federico, how long have you been on the road now? When did you start travelling, and what made you decide to set off back then?
When I was 19, I started studying engineering at the University of Turin, and just before I began, I received this wonderful gift of a trip to Maui. It was actually meant to be my last trip before ‘real life’ began, so to speak, to bring that chapter to a close, but in fact it opened up a whole new chapter. During that trip, it dawned on me that this was really what I wanted to do with my life: I wanted to become a professional windsurfer. I convinced my family to invest in me and said, “Please, let me give it a go!” I didn’t have a proper home spot, so from the very start, windsurfing was 100 per cent linked to travelling for me. I thought to myself: if I’m going to do this, I’ll give it 110 per cent, because I’m 19, I’m from Turin and I have to compete against people who’ve been doing this for 15 years. I continued my studies remotely, but switched to economics and business administration.
That sounds like it’s going to be quite an exciting time…
Yes, at the start every trip was a huge adventure: Cape Town, the Canary Islands, Hawaii… It was fantastic, but at the same time it was often quite stressful. Those two-week trips I used to go on quite often: Baja California, Los Roques off the coast of Venezuela, Peru, Malibu… Going surfing there was fantastic, but of course I had to sacrifice a lot in return. Back then, every trip started from Turin. I’d set off from Italy, come back, study, sit several exams in a couple of weeks, and then set off again. I kept Turin as my base throughout. It was a tight schedule. And then, during COVID, I finished uni and stayed in one place for longer than six weeks for the first time – in Chile. There, I also had time to improve my social media presence and attract more sponsors. And I thought to myself: Oh, actually, it’s not so bad staying in one place for a while, having a sort of routine, a bit more, well, let’s say stability. And that got me thinking. Because when I travel that much, it’s all about survival. I call it Level 1. You only think about the basic things: where am I going to sleep, how am I going to get there, and what am I going to eat? Staying in one place for longer helps me sort these things out and move on to levels two and three: then it’s about strategy, plans, visions, how I want to improve as a windsurfer, what I want to become, and all the financial aspects. Once I’d finished uni, I no longer had to travel via Turin. And that’s when my even bigger dreams started to come true, and I simply began travelling from one good spot to the next without all those stopovers.
“For me, as someone from Turin, windsurfing has always gone hand in hand with travelling.”
So, for you, settling down and finding stability didn’t really mean finding one fixed place, but rather having various bases where you could stay for several months?
Exactly. Chile, Hawaii and the Canary Islands are definitely among the top three, if not the very best, surf spots in the world. I’ve been there, I’ve seen it, I’ve asked around. Those are facts. So if I can use these three places as my base depending on the season, I’m well set up. If I want to pop off on a trip in between, to a competition, then I can do that, but having these bases is fantastic. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing over the last few years. It’s still a crazy definition of ‘settling down’, because when someone asks me about it, I have to explain it, and it still sounds a bit odd, but to me it makes perfect sense. You know, my dad’s a keen windsurfer, and my mum worked in a travel agency for 20 years – so it was in my blood, really.
But let’s say you had to settle down somewhere – where would it be?
I feel like Chile is the right place. The community there is incredible. The locals are really passionate about windsurfing. Over the years, I’ve seen the community and the enthusiasm for the sport grow bigger and bigger. The standard is high, so it’s not as if I’m on my own; you’re constantly being pushed on the water. And besides, the scenery is simply beautiful.
Is there a place you would never go back to?
No, not really, I enjoyed every place. (Thinks for a long time). Although! I’m sorry to say this, but it’s the truth, and there’s an explanation for it. Last year was my first time in Japan. It was freezing cold, but the conditions were brilliant. The people were enthusiastic; communication was a bit tricky, but they were incredibly friendly. You can really feel the excitement. It’s just that I’d travelled all the way from Chile and hadn’t realised how far it was. So I flew nine hours to Houston and then 14 hours from Houston to Tokyo. When I got there, there was a twelve-hour time difference. Which I hadn’t expected, because normally that sort of thing is mentioned. I thought to myself: Come on, you look at the map and Chile is down here and Japan is up there… But that’s not right, my maps are wrong (laughs). I arrived there and I was completely knackered physically, and then there were the chilly temperatures. I’m not used to surfing in such cold weather – hood, gloves, shoes, and even then you’ve got no feeling in your fingers.
What’s your top tip for windsurfers at the airport?
Leave your board bags a bit further away from the check-in counter, or rather the scales (laughs). Sometimes the staff at the counter see the sports luggage further away and don’t want you to drag it right up to the front. And that’s a good thing. It’s a small victory. What I just can’t bring myself to do is hold my suitcase or my knee under the bag while it’s being weighed. I just feel too bad doing it and am somehow afraid of getting caught (laughs). It’s better to push it right to the back of the conveyor belt; that way, only 50–70 per cent of the board bag is on the scales, as it’s usually too long. That’s my travel hack!
What do you think is the best thing about travelling in general?
I love travelling because I feel that, in a way, it’s a bit like a fresh start every time I arrive somewhere. For me, flying is often a time for analysis and self-reflection, when I ask myself: OK, what am I doing right? What am I doing wrong? What can I do better in this next place when I arrive? So it’s lovely because you’re starting from scratch again. You arrive at a new place and you’re ready. I’ve got my routines in these places now, but you never get stuck in a rut because you always have a fresh start of sorts.
What would you say is the most important thing you’ve learnt along the way?
That you just have to take a chance on certain things and take a few risks. Like on my first trip to Maui, which I mentioned at the start – that was a real experience for me because I’d broken my ankle a few weeks beforehand. I didn’t know anyone in Maui and I wasn’t fully fit yet. What’s more, I couldn’t hire a car, so I had to negotiate a deal to buy the car and then sell it back to the same owner. It was complicated. But I’m so glad I just went for it. It was exactly the same on my last trip to Fiji; in theory, there were plenty of reasons not to go. And as all those ‘no’s’ went through my head, I knew: OK, I simply have to go there, because it’s completely outside my comfort zone. And that’s exactly when, I believe, some of life’s best moments happen, and you make the most progress and learn the most important lessons. And: make as many connections as possible with the locals. That’s the best thing and always helps you further. Try not to just stay in your bubble.
“In theory, there were plenty of reasons not to go – but I went anyway.”
Is there a must-have item in your suitcase or board bag that you simply have to take with you on every trip and couldn’t do without?
Hmm, not really. My advice is actually to travel light. When you’re on the move, less is often more. I used to travel with loads of clothes and all sorts of stuff, but I still ended up wearing the same five T-shirts all the time. I mean, apart from the windsurfing gear, of course – I like to take as many masts as possible with me – but apart from that, I don’t know, nothing really special, I have to say.
What are the downsides of this fantastic lifestyle you’re currently leading?
I don’t see my family very often. And that’s definitely a factor. My aim with my current setup is also that they can now visit me regularly and I can look after them, they can stay with me in lovely places, and we can enjoy our time together. But yes, I don’t see my family very often. And of course, my friends from my youth either. And even with all the friends I have in the different places – for which I’m incredibly grateful – it can feel a bit odd, because you arrive, stay for a while and then disappear for nine months. It has its pros and cons, but I’m grateful, because this is what I’ve always dreamed of. Getting out on the water almost every day, pushing myself and trying to get better, both in the water and out of it – that’s incredible and it’s my dream. So I’m willing to sacrifice other things.
How do you pay for all those trips?
In the early years, I was completely dependent on my family. It was the only option. When I won my first competition in Pacasmayo in 2017 – just two years after I’d started training and travelling – I secured my first sponsor. I was able to slowly work my way up financially from nothing. A key factor was that, following my knee injury, I started working as a social media manager for Severne, as I’d graduated with a degree in business administration specialising in marketing. I became independent and was able to manage everything myself from then on, having found a balance between my sponsors and my job at Severne.
So you’re offering camps and coaching sessions now as well?
Yes, after a few years as a social media manager, it really took a toll on me mentally. I was ready for something new, so I started offering one-to-one coaching sessions, and later group coaching sessions as well. That’s how I ended up founding my “Windsurfing Adventure Camps“. I remember the first time in Chile, only one person turned up, and I thought: Oh man, this is a flop. But actually, he was staying at my place, we went out together, and it was absolutely brilliant. He loved it. A few months later I organised another camp, and this time two people turned up, and so on. In the first year I gave the whole thing a go, and people loved it – they improved quickly and had a lot of fun. It worked and is now a good source of extra income.
What sort of surfers sign up, and what is the focus?
It’s a mixed bunch, but mostly advanced wave surfers – partly because the spots I’ve included in the programme offer fantastic waves. So I usually have people who already have some experience with waves and want to improve. I think it’s brilliant and it gives me an incredible sense of satisfaction. Because it’s lovely to see when someone starts paddling out and catches their first waves. The learning process is particularly rapid in side- to side-offshore conditions. Starting with the equipment, knowledge of the spot, safety, getting into the water, the currents. Then the wave itself, positioning, wave selection, timing – the list is endless. And of course, I can also inspire the participants. After we’ve been out together for about two weeks, they realise what the next level is. Chile and Fuerte are a bit more challenging, I’d say. Peru is fantastic even for beginners. That’s why I’m running two camps there this year, in May and August.
Have you ever had any issues with locals when you turn up at a top surf spot with a group of tourists? And how do you, as a traveller, generally deal with this issue?
I always try to approach this with respect, because although I’ve been visiting places like Chile for many years, I’m not a local and I want to respect the local community. That’s why I always try to check in advance whether it’s okay. For example, if you arrive at Topocalma, where there are usually two or three people surfing – or perhaps five to ten on busy days – and you turn up with a group of people, it can be disruptive. That’s also one of the reasons why I limit my camps to a maximum of five people. That’s still manageable. In a way, I feel that I’ve seen and experienced both sides, because I grew up in a city far from the sea. Nothing gives me the right to go somewhere and act like the boss, or do whatever I want. But at the same time, I’ve been living at these amazing spots for several months a year for many years now, and I can tell when someone from outside comes along and behaves disrespectfully. So I understand both sides and try to find a middle ground. I’m just trying to help my people get better and create incredible memories of the most beautiful places in the world. I think we can all enjoy and share that in some way. I think it’s great when they make contact with the locals and get to know them. And I like that connection. You know, we’re not just there to take. We’re there to share and enjoy.
“Although I’ve been visiting the same places for years, I’m not a local and I respect the locals.”
What was the best session of your life?
One of my first sessions at Topocalma. You usually head out there in the morning, but on that day we stayed until sunset. And at some point – I don’t know why, it was an unusual winter – the wind picked up again. My friend Philippe said, “We’re staying!” And that was the right decision. Oh my God, I can still remember exactly what it was like: just four or five perfect turns down the wave, gliding out and on to the next one… But also the big days in Pacasmayo It was mad – two minutes on a single wave, that’s something else. And then, of course, Cloudbreak – I’m telling you! The wave starts off slowly; it feels almost like a side-onshore at the peak, but then it turns in and you pick up speed on a side-off, you see that clean, steep section where you can carve turns, and at the end it gets hollow, almost like a cave. The water is like glass. You can hear the rail of the board cutting through the water. So I can’t decide and pick out just one session. There were a few special ones.
Which places are still on your bucket list?
Australia, Cape Verde, Mauritius, Diamond Head on Oahu. I’ve travelled a lot, but as you can see, the list is still long.
Federico, thank you for talking to us!
Julian Wiemar
Editor surf
