Maxime Castillo is a well known name to all of those who follow bodyboarding today. This young French Jedi, who has been making a living between France and Portugal, is one of the good assets of the European scene. Now with the help of the talented Antoine Chicoye from Palm Production, the person in charge for directing his last video, Max prepares the release of ‘Restart’, a 15 minute short film that is, according to his own words, “By far the best project I’ve ever done!”
First things first. What have you been doing lately?
In the last couple years I’ve been having fun to be honest. Traveling, training, free surfing, working as well, and mostly competing in the European and World Tour before Covid stopped everything. Was good to get back on track the last year! I’m super happy with the return of the world tour after the pandemic situation and really stoked with my results – a podium finish on the first contest (Arica) and ending up the year in the Top 10 was a great accomplishment!
The pandemic times were rough. How hard it was for you as your life is pretty much splitted between France and Portugal?
To be honest, wasn’t that bad. I will explain! (laughs) I had an authorization paper, so traveling between France and Portugal was not an issue for me. Since I was a kid I’ve been competing, traveling and working during the Summertime, but when the Covid arrived I just focused on new projects, more on myself and my surfing. I became a free surfer for two years and I really enjoy it. To be in the right spot at the right time become sort of an addiction… and is pretty much where the Restart project borned.
“In the last couple years I’ve been having fun”
How many Covid tests have you done so far?
(laughs) Can’t remember really, but to be honest I have fake a few as well on Photoshop. Don’t tell to the Police, please. (laughs)
Tell us a little bit more about Restart. We know the film has a cartoon in it. Why so?
Yes, there is a cartoon on the movie but I don’t want to be a spoiler! I guess I just wanted to do something different and refreshing. I mean did you ever saw something like that? I’m tired of watching the same things every time a story of someone is told – interview face cam or voice offs! I have a YouTube channel where I kind do that already, everybody does. So I was tired of that and wanted to do something different. Me and Antoine wanted a bodyboarding film but based on a real story. It happened not to have the footage of the whole story, so the idea of using cartoons come up and matched perfectly! It’s something new, fun and with a real story behind!
“I became a free surfer for two years and I really enjoy it”
What is the best segment of the film?
For me is the entire story! We made an amazing intro biography which is completely different of we’ve been seeing so far. It’s a movie about my life, since I started bodyboarding and then focused on the last two years of Covid, how I trained between two countries and waited everything to “Restart”. The idea was to link and innovate combined with a very powerful action pack of images! The project uses pretty much only exclusive content that nobody saw, the best waves and maneuvers of my life until now. Can’t wait to show you guys the final result.
Beside Portugal’s sessions, which other countries are we able to see?
As I told before, we are only using images collected in Portugal and France. That is the main idea of the film, so we haven’t use nothing more.
“A project like this – a short movie – is something else and in my eyes really cool to do even if it means a lot of work!”
You have a few premieres in April. When it will be the movie released on the Internet?
Let me tell you all the premieres are free (list here), people are welcome to watch and enjoy a good time. We had already two amazing premieres in Arcachon and Britanny, France, next Wednesday (12th) we’ll be in Hossegor, Thursday (13th) in Biarritz and Friday (14th) we’ll be heading to Spain’s Zumaia. The last premiere will occur Saturday (15th) in Lisbon, Portugal. The film will be available for free online around April, 20th. I’m not making any money with the movie, it’s just a personal project built with the support of my sponsors. For me, as an athlete, is not only about competing, the media part is also real important to work. I try to stay active on social media, sharing videos and photos, but a project like this – a short movie – is something else and in my eyes really cool to do even if it means a lot of work!
“We wanted a bodyboarding film but based on a real story”
What kind of boards are you using now?
I’m using my NMD Max Castillo pro model. In Portugal I use NRG+ Quadconcave or Alphaflex Quaconcave. I really like the reaction and maneuverability of that core in cold water. I’m using also the new NMD GripTech which is actually really good. For this year all my models are available with the NRG+ Quaconcave technology and the new grip. It’s the best board I’ve ever ride!
We just published an article with Tristan Roberts (here) who is 2x world champ at the young age of 25. Is he someone you look for and try to get a big roll of motivation?
Yeah, for sure! Tristan is really inspiring! Specially the way how focused he is! One funny thing is I won the world junior championship in 2012, right in front of him when he was only 15 years old, and look where he is today. It’s so crazy! He became a real competitive machine!
“I’ll just try to continue doing what I’ve been doing and living the dream”
What holds the future for you?
Well, to be honest, I dont’ know. I’ll just try to continue doing what I’ve been doing and living the dream. Surfing, competing, traveling, free surfing, the world tour, good trips and I hopefully releasing more and more projects like this one because it really makes me feel good.
“Restart is something new, fun and with a real story behind”
FULL MOVIE IS NOW AVAILABLE HERE. WATCH!
