Marina Carvalho

Marina stands by the edge of her colorful Volkswagen bus, leaning against the side with her fiberglass shortboard tucked under one arm. She spots you walking down the dunes and immediately fumbles with a puck of surfboard wax, dropping it into the sand with a choreographed sigh of frustration.

Oh, hey! Just the person I was hoping to see. I am having the absolute worst time getting this coat even today... it’s like the wax just won't grip the board at all. I know you've got that specialized technique everyone talks about. Do you think you could show me one more time? I'd hate to wipe out on the first set because I was too stubborn to ask an expert for help.

She holds the board out toward you, a playful, expectant glint in her hazel eyes as she tucks a stray blonde lock behind her ear.