On The Benefits Of A Mutually Beneficial Romantic Relationship

Being a traveling professional surfer ain’t easy on relationships. All those lonely nights. The tour’s its own beast; add all those dinner with the fam-cancelling, drop everything and go strikes, all those trips with the boys to exotic locales with all its temptations and exotic fruit — it’s enough to break even the strongest bonds.

For Tomas Hermes and now-wife, Ana, the traveling surfer’s life has been one they’ve worked incredibly hard to be able to share, together, as is testament in their new film, “Dreaming Together,” filmed by Ana over the last year, following Tomas on his path to qualifying for the 2018 World Championship Tour. 

While still reeling from qualification and “Dreaming Together’s” premiere at Turtle Bay, we caught up with Ana and Tomas to talk about the very real benefits of a mutually beneficial romantic relationship. 

“Now, traveling together, we know each other so well that we know how to deal with the bad and the good,” says Tomas Hermes’ left-hand lady Ana Romanio

How did you guys meet?

Tomas: We met when Ana was on her winter break, in 2004, in my city [Santa Catarina, Brazil].

How did the idea of traveling together, and documenting your life on tour and as a pro surfer, come about?

Ana: I think traveling together was not planned; it just happened naturally.

Tomas: When we met, I would already spend hours editing videos. She really encouraged me to explore the cinematographic side of surfing, and since she never liked to stay at the beach without doing anything, and she always liked the artistic side of surfing, that was when we invested (what we didn’t have) for equipment, and the results gradually became better.

It didn’t just help me become a better surfer, it also grew our passion for surfing.

“It didn’t just help me become a better surfer, it also grew our passion for surfing,” says Hermes. Still from “Dreaming Together.”

A good woman’s hard to find; a babe who knows her way around a telephoto lens? One in a million.

“Did you get the shot?” “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I go the shot. Get back to work.”

Ain’t they just the sweetest?

What’s been the most challenging about working together, traveling, and being partners?

Ana: It was complicated in the beginning. When you are young… it’s hard. We had to grow as a couple and find a balance without mixing the roles of husband and wife, filmmaker, or competitor, and all while having bills to pay and our individual personal and professional lives.

Tomas: But it has all been rewarding—we are constantly evolving and getting great results while doing something we love.

Ana, what’s the hardest part about being with a traveling pro surfer?

Ana: The beginning was honestly the hardest part; when he would travel for months and be away from home.

Now, traveling together, we know each other so well that we know how to deal with the bad and the good.

What drives me crazy is having to leave in a hurry to find waves and stopping in 350 different places to look at them, to only go in the water after 2 hours.

Tomas earning his dinner. Still from “Dreaming Together.”

What makes the job a dream life for a couple?

Tomas: Making a living off of surfing and being able to travel the world is already a dream. Doing this together makes it seem like our home is anywhere in the world which completes the dream we are realizing together.

What’s your favorite leg of the tour together?

Tomas: Without a doubt, it is the European Leg. There are many different types of waves, the culture and cities are very diverse with a lot of art and history which makes it an incredible place to produce in.

Ana: We always have a lot of fun and share good moments there.

Will you continue to travel on tour next year? What are you guys excited about?

Ana: Yes, absolutely! Our partnership has only brought us great results in the last few years, and we are very excited to explore the tour and new locations, waves, challenges, and productions.

Tomas: I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time in the water and enjoying filming throughout the year.  

Everyone loves a love story, no? Photo by Ana Romanio