Hanging out With Nicco – +351

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Jun 15, 2021 0 comments

Nicco - Italian Shaper and Surfer

Hanging Out With Nicco,

Italian Shaper and Surfer.

Born and raised in Bologna, Nicco is that kind of multi-passionate person. From DJing and producing in Italy to working as a chef in a 3 Michelin star restaurant in Spain, he has even started his own eco-friendly Juice kiosk in Lisbon. Nicco found himself in many different places in the last years, but he says that the surf has always been the main connection between all those things. At a certain moment, he started Collecting old boards and dreaming to make his own, until he did it! He started a surf brand and now he shapes boards inspired in the 60s, and soon will launch a new project where some of his bigger passions come together.

Get to know Nicco.

Can you tell us your story so far?

My name is Luísa, I was born and raised in Lisbon, and I love this city. I took a Design degree and I am extremely passionate about color and graphics. Music has always been a big part of my life, it helps me to focus on work and to never stand still. Ever since I was little I have experienced a lot of different genres of music. My mother was always listening to Fado at home, so it’s a genre that I keep very present.

Four years ago I received my first vinyl record, an album and ever since then I haven’t stopped buying music. After that I took some beginner lessons in Djing with a good friend of mine and have become more and more interested in this craft. New opportunities to play started coming up so I began to focus more on Djing, playing mostly in events and clubs. Nowadays I have a monthly program at an online radio - Collect Radio - where I play lounge and dance music.

I fell in love with Surfing couple of years before and had the idea of designing my own home in shipping containers, send them to Portugal and start my new life together with my girlfriend and daughter close to the sea.

Why Pt? Because I was travelling Portugal in my Van for more than 12 years and every time I was spending a couple of weeks at the coastline, first Zambujeira do mar, later I went South where I started to surf. The amazing nature, the Portuguese lifestyle and surfing, it was a dream for me to come there. So at the end I got things done and moved close to Budens / Vila do Bispo, where I enjoy my time, improve surfing day by day and working on my creative projects.

Can you tell us your story so far?

A scientific theory tells us that cells in the human body replace themselves every 7 years. For the last 7 years of my life I have found myself in many different dreams. First I was DJing and producing some weird electronic music in Italy. I had privilege to play in the same night as Martinez Brothers, Fritz Kalkbrenner, Satoshi Tomiie, DJ Ralf, and Alex Picone - some Italian underground names I admire. After that I was running a fresh pasta quiosque in Sydney where I was also surfing a lot in my spare time. The passion for cooking only grew at that time and I ended up working as a chef in a 3 Michelin start restaurant in Spain. From there I started my company Veggie Wave... thinking I could change the world with a sustainable initiative. For the latter part, I was working in a real estate investment fund and started a surf brand building handmade single fins. The main connection line between all those things, has always been surfing. Today all these passion are coming together in one clear project, in Lisbon.

Next steps for you?

The Aimara Collective, in Lisbon. Where F&B, Arts & entertainment, Holistic Wellness and Classic Vintage Surf come together.

Best spot in Portugal for you?

South wind - Peniche

North wind - Caparica/ Ericeira / Lisbon when massive

East wind - lonely paradise surf

What does style mean to you?

style to me means to be authentic, true... with what you have, on you and around you. Being on your purest form, whatever it is.

Where do you find inspiration?

My inspiration is in 50s & 60s, but I'm sure if I was born at that time I would probably regret I wasn't there in the 20s. Quite a nostalgic.

What motivated you to get started with Aimara?

Collecting old, chunky single fin boards and dreaming to make my own, until I met RyanLovelace. To me he's the master shaper/designer/craftman that you can find today. During a road trip in California, I had the chance to spend an afternoon with him in his shaping bay. He made me believe that I had the skill to do my own boards, gave me so many advices. Lighted my dream.