A surfboard made of agave. A workshop and an art form that become both stage and message. A narrative that flows like waves in a meaningful short film. From ‘Dust to Dream’ is a fleeting yet profound dive into the world of sustainable board shaping—a world that feels both distant and intimately familiar. Through this poetic lens, Nico, the cult shaper and creative mind behind Wavegliders, and filmmaker Pedro Scansetti, share a story imbued with quiet significance.

It’s about creating something that comes from the earth, rides the waves, and eventually returns—transformed into stories, and into rides worth remembering. This special Game Changers chapter invites us into a cinematic piece that never sought to educate the Skate and Surf Film Festival (SSFF) through didacticism, but rather to move it with thoughtful subtlety: the kind that stirs both mind and spirit. Much like a surfboard tends to do.

Let’s start from the beginning. What are your earliest memories of surfing? What drew you into this culture in the first place?

Nico (Wavegliders): “I started surfing in 1986, at a time when surfing in Portugal was still in its infancy. It wasn’t mainstream—there were no surf schools, no global competitions, no influencer culture. Back then, surfing was more of a lifestyle choice, almost a daily ritual. We’d just hang out on the beach, surf, and do nothing else. There was no industry around it yet—just a few surf shops, the first surfboards being made locally. I’d say I’m part of the second or third generation of Portuguese surfers. It felt raw and rebellious. The idea of a “surf school” back then was absurd to us. You couldn’t teach surfing—it was something you absorbed.”

Pedro Scansetti: “For me, it started with a photo. I have a picture of myself as a newborn—less than a month old—with a tiny surfboard that a friend of my dad’s made for me. I grew up just steps from the beach in Brazil, and I started surfing when I was about 8 or 9. From that point on, everything in my life revolved around surf: where I lived, what I studied, even why I moved to Portugal. I wanted to build a lifestyle that allowed me to surf more, to stay close to the sea, and to create around that.”

And now you both live in Portugal. How would you describe the surf culture there today? What sets it apart?

Pedro: “Portugal’s surf scene is incredibly rich. Compared to Brazil—which is vast but isolated—Portugal is a cultural crossroads. Here, you constantly interact with surfers, artists, and creatives from all over the world. The waves are incredible, world-class. It’s one of the reasons I moved to Peniche. There’s more access to the history of surfboards, to new ideas, to different techniques. It’s a small country, but very open and connected.”

Nico: “Totally agree. Portugal has become a meeting point. There’s this festival, Gliding Barnacles, that happens at the end of the summer. It brings together French shapers, American kids, artists… it’s like a stopover on the road to Biarritz. All these influences shape the local scene. Portugal is now part of a global dialogue in surf culture.”

You both went beyond just surfing—you’re actively shaping and filming it, literally and metaphorically. What led you to take this more creative, multidimensional path, and to the agave board? 

Nico: “Curiosity. I’ve always loved building surfboards, especially exploring how shape and materials interact. The idea for ‘From Dust to Dream’ actually started with a guy named Adrian, who brought me an agave blank from Africa. Agave has properties similar to balsa wood—light, flexible, strong. It immediately reminded me of the old “pig” boards, and I thought, why not try building one with this material? But then Adrian disappeared—for two years! When he finally came back, he showed up with a van full of blanks. I built the first board, and then challenged him to go further. That’s when Pedro and I said, Let’s document this—start to finish.”

Pedro: “Yeah, we weren’t planning on making a film at all. We were working on something else for Wavegliders when Nico said, “I’ve got this blank… what if we tell this story?” The film came about very organically. It’s not a “greenwashing” project—it’s not about lecturing people. It’s about showing Nico’s perspective: how to make a surfboard with care, with durability, and with purpose.”

That’s a powerful angle—crafting something real, not preachy. If the film isn’t about sending a “green” message, what is it about? What do you want people to take away from it?

Pedro: “It’s about starting conversations. Sustainability isn’t just about materials—it’s also about mindset. You can have “eco” materials and still make something disposable. Or you can build something that lasts 12 years and keeps bringing joy. That’s sustainable too. The film is about asking: What does sustainability mean to you? And how can we make better choices—personally, locally, creatively?”

Nico: “Exactly. At Wavegliders, our mission has always been to build high-quality boards. That’s our declaration of intent. Yes, surfboard-making is a dirty industry. We’re not hiding that. But we try to reduce our footprint by working with better materials and making boards that last. The agave board? It’s just another experiment in that mindset. It’s not the future of surfboards—we’re not saying everyone should ride agave. It’s just another way to think differently. One of our boards from 2012 is still being ridden—and loved—today. That’s sustainability.

Do you feel like these conversations about sustainability were missing in surf culture over the past 20 years?

Nico: “Surfing has changed a lot in the last 25 years. New shapes, new communities, new values. And yes, there have been lots of attempts to make boards greener—some successful, some not. The problem is, if the final product doesn’t perform, people won’t adopt it. It’s still a work in progress.”

Pedro: “For a long time, surfing was dominated by competition culture—lighter, cheaper, faster. That left little room for deeper conversations. But now, with climate change and everything going on, people are starting to rethink things. It’s not about having the answer—it’s about trying, experimenting, and questioning the status quo.”

What was the creative process of filming a shaper like? And what about being portrayed by a filmmaker, Nico?

Pedro:  “I knew Nico well by then—we’ve worked together for over three years. So I knew the details he loves: the motorcycles, the music, the way he touches boards. I wanted the film to reflect his identity, not just the board. That’s why the rhythm of the film changes when he shapes—it becomes rock’n’roll. That’s who he is. Speaking of music, we were lucky to have an original score provided by the talented Eric Borrelli, who is the creative force behind the film’s entire soundtrack.”

Nico: “And working with Pedro is easy. I just shape—he handles the story. I trust him. His edits, his soundtracks—they always surprise me. And I never interfere with his vision. The result is always something I’m proud to be part of.”

You’ve both mentioned the influence of surf cinema. What role did it play in your own lives?

Pedro: “Huge. Especially Thomas Campbell with The Seedling, Sprout, and The Present. But I also get inspired by all kinds of cinema, not just surf films. Now that I work in film, I watch fewer documentaries—I need to disconnect. But I always look for new ways to express myself through storytelling.”

Nico: “I’ve seen so many. The first time I watched Endless Summer on VHS, it was almost a spiritual experience. Later, One California Day really shaped my view. Films help you understand what’s happening in other parts of the world. They’re part of the culture. Surfing isn’t just performance—it’s art, music, photography, and storytelling. That’s always spoken to me.”

What was it like sharing ‘From Dust to Dream’ with an audience at the Skate and Surf Film Festival in Milan?

Pedro: “Honestly, I don’t care about prizes. What I care about is that people watch the film. That’s the real reward—seeing people connect with something you made with love.”

Nico: “Totally. It’s about sharing—creating something from the earth, riding it, and bringing it back to the earth. That’s the full cycle. And if we can inspire others to think about what they ride and how they ride, that’s enough for us.”