THE STORY
JO MORAIZ
JO MORAIZ, SURF SCHOOL IN
BIARRITZ SINCE 1966
By discovering the ocean from his earliest childhood, Jo Moraiz discovered his true passion and became, with a few friends from Biarritz, the first to introduce surfing to France.
Through the quality of his teaching, Jo Moraiz thus contributes to give Biarritz and the Basque coast the image of Capital European surfing.
1962
In 1962, the first World Surfing Championships were held in Peru: Jo represented France in this new discipline. Surfing being only in its infancy, he decided to create the first "surf shop" in Biarritz. The following year, he created his own surf school which, even today, is internationally renowned.
1966
It was almost in total indifference that in 1966 Jo Moraiz began to give surf lessons. Despite general disbelief, including from local sportspeople, he persisted and after about eight years his skill began to be recognised.
Sa longue expérience lui permet de mettre au point la première l’unique méthode d’enseignement de surf. Ensuite adoptée par la Fédération Française de Surf comme base de formation pour la création de Brevets Fédéraux et Brevets d’Etat.
1977
During all these years, Jo transmitted the surf virus to a multitude of people from all walks of life. His son Christophe, bathed daily in the surfing spirit, slides on his first board from the age of 5 at the beach of the Côte des Basques.
1987
At 18, he joined the Lifeguard Masters team for five seasons. He then decided to pass his State Surfing Certificate (BEES) in order to share this same passion by working alongside his father.
1999
Following Jo's death in May 1999, Christophe took over and perpetuated the same passion, the same experience, the same spirit of the Jo Moraiz surf school, created thirty-four years earlier.
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