The WORD with Raphael Castro

 

Raphael Castro, better known as "Raphi," lives in the moment, and makes sure to live every moment to the fullest. The ocean has been his playground from as early as he can remember, essentially raised surfing with his dad on the Mentawai Islands. A talented surfer, a creative musician, and a joyful spirit for living life, he is an inspiration to anyone looking to express themselves through their passions. We recently sat down with Raphi to pick his brain on all things surf, travel, food, and music.

 

You grew up surfing some of the best waves in the world. Looking back now, how do you think that shaped the surfer and person you are today?

Yea I’m extremely grateful I grew up surfing perfect waves. I think that helped me really see the art in surfing, and how each surfer has they’re unique style and way of expressing themselves… I feel like there is no better surfer just different personalities…

Traveling from a very young age with your family, how has that influenced the way you think about your own life?

Traveling from a young age with my family definitely made me understand from a young age how every different culture is beautiful and we can take lessons and learn new things from everywhere we go, points of views really varies from different places. Traveling to really remote spots from a young age, really showed me what’s really important and what really matters in life, sometimes the most simple people are the richest in life.

 

Who was your biggest surfing influence/inspiration growing up? 

Growing up my biggest Inspo were definitely my dad and uncle, they also travel a lot for surfing. I would see videos/phots of them in places like the Mentawais on a small fishing canoe surfing some of the best waves before they were even named… that really inspired me a lot to surf perfect waves and want to get barreled! Also I can’t forget the surfers I watched the most growing up was for sure Andy Irons and Dane Reynolds… those two were who I was always trying to copy while I surfed, best styles and super raw and unexpected… and put them on the heavy ones too, they do it with elegance.

What is the relationship with competition surfing? Do you see yourself making a push in that arena? 

Yea I had my first competition when I was 7 years old. I got pretty much hooked on it, the travels, the friends, and it’s nice to get rewarded from a good wave. Sometimes I just get kinda tripped out from the whole Ego trip around competing… I feel like competing sometimes kinda mutes the essence of surfing if you let it consume you too much, that’s why in between contests I have to do some free surfing and scoring around Indo. I see Surfing as an Art form and way of expressing yourself, so everybody does it different but it doesn’t mean one is better then the other. I definitely love competing since I first started competing and want to keep competing, but nothing beats sharing perfect waves with your best friends all day and then hanging out after with that post surf “I just scored with my friends” vibe 🫡

 

The current state of pro surfing is complicated — follower counts can matter more than actual surfing. How do you navigate that reality without letting it affect your love for the sport? 

Yea I feel like followers should never count more then the actual surfing, but social media can be a great tool to market yourself, I see it as your own magazine but it’s open for everyone to see, we just need to put some work in and learn how to work with it, and that way also you can really make your own branding and make something original from that, people like that too. We could complain about the way social media works, or we can work with it. 

The whole crew at Electric loves the “Saga” edit you created - Are you working on any new films or YouTube edits? 

Yea thank you so much! Saga was made from my time working in the Mentawais, scoring non stop. This past year I’ve been traveling for competition a lot, haven’t had the time to stop and make a new edit. This year I’ve  been traveling around Indo before the contest season, and have been stacking some clips for a new edit. I love looking back and having those sessions recorded and made into a edit, I’m lucky enough to have some really talented friends who help me edit them really well and make it look nice.

 

What does the Mentawais mean to you?

For me the Mentawais is like a dream, but it’s really there, when you see the lines coming down the reefs and the waves just barreling non stop it makes me psych out a lot, it makes me really appreciate Mother Nature and how perfect she is. I’m sure the creator of the universe, surfed too and he might’ve lived in the Mentawais haha

 

How long have you been playing guitar? Does music inspire your surfing and vice versa? 

I started playing guitar when I was around 12 years old, I got my guitar as a Christmas present. From then on I haven’t been able to get off it, music for me is in everything, and it’s really inside of everyone, when I listen to a good song I always get goosebumps, and it makes me want to go surfing immediately. Songs can change your mood can make you really happy and so can surfing.

What was your first experience hearing about Electric shades? 

I’ve always been a fan of Electric shades, I first knew of the brand I was a grom in Cali, and I think as a little kid what really drew me in was the logo haha. Electric logo on the surfboard looked so cool and so powerful. Electric was always for sure my favorite and the style too was always the style I leaned towards. I’m extremely grateful to be a part of the family, is a dream come true for sure. 🙏🏽 

 

Which Electric frames have become part of your everyday life?

I love all of them and I try to really vary from one model to another, but my favorite one is for sure the Bolsa model, I love the wrap around it just fits super comfy on the face, and crazy polarized lenses make me see every rock and reef underwater when I’m driving the boat and dodging the rocks. Crazy style too I’ve had many people try to get those shades from me, everyone loves the old school core style.

 

What’s coming up next for you? 

I have a few contests coming up that I’m very excited about, and also planning some trips around Indo. I’m also very excited about this completely new project I’m doing this year. Me 3 other friends started a band, and we already have about 3 albums to release in a matter of a month we started playing together, we call ourselves The Waviers and I really like what we talk about in our music, we have some inspirational songs for surfing and mostly universal truths that are just beautiful. 

 

Bonus Questions

 

Favorite hole in the wall restaurant? 

That’s a tough question there’s so many around the world. There’s a really good local Indonesian food spot here in Uluwatu next to my house that might be in the top of the list. Maybe for 3 dollars you can get a big plate of local Indonesian food, explosion of flavors in your mouth!

 

Dream surf break that you have yet to travel too? 

That question made me immediately think of Cloudbreak, I’ve been dreaming about that wave since I can remember. That wave is insane from 6ft to 20ft… it almost looks more perfect the bigger it gets, perfect place to get some huge and long tubes, and I live for the barrels hahaa

 

Would you rather be able to speak every language or play all of the instruments? 

Yea I would rather know how to play every instrument, there’s so many ways to express yourself through music that I’m pretty sure you can’t put that into words… maybe if we use some ancient language that we forgot haha.