Manuel “Pirujinho” Couto is a talented surfer from São João do Estoril that has shown major progression in his technical surfing, backing it up with solid results and some standout titles along the way.

The 16-year-old is the current Portuguese Under 16 Champion and Under 18 National runner-up. He also claimed the Under 16 and Under 14 national titles in 2023. 

On the Liga MEO Surf, Portugal’s top national tour, Pirujinho now sits among the country’s Top 16 surfers, finishing the 2025 season ranked 15th. He also posted the best result of his young career on the national championship with an impressive 3rd place finish at the Santa Bárbara event in Ribeira Grande, Azores.

Part of Portugal’s new wave of surfing talent, Pirujinho’s work ethic, consistency, and steady progression earned him a spot on the Portuguese Junior National Team, representing the country at the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Games in Peru.

Looking ahead to the new season, his goals are clear: win the Under 18 national title, crack the Top 10 on the Liga MEO Surf, make noise on the global stage at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships, and stand out on the European Pro Junior tour.

Adding a cool twist to the story, Manuel Pirujinho is following his father footsteps, José “Pirujinho” Couto, who was part of Portugal’s legendary “Golden Generation” of surfing in the ’90s. For nearly a decade, José ranked the national Top 16 and was also a Semente team rider back in the day.

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