TO THE MOON
“MY FAVOURITE COMPETITIONS HAVE STRONG WINDS AND IF THERE ARE BIG CROWDS ON THE BEACH THEN MY MIND GOES CRAZY. I JUST WANT TO DO THE SHOW, NOT TO SHOW OFF, BUT TO SHOW EVERYONE SOMETHING SPECIAL.”
Born in 1994, Airton is now 25, but was just nine when he first held a kite. When an Italian guy who owned a kite school in Cape Verde came into his life in 2004, Airton’s future pathway opportunities changed. Libero saw a kid rich with talent and energy but poor in opportunities. I can only imagine what Airton was like at that age, but having first met him in 2014 at a Red Bull event in Sardinia, three further world championship titles haven’t gone to his head since.
‘AI’ always seems so consistent in terms of his spirit and is aware that he was given an opportunity that few other island boys get. Luck isn’t the story here, though; he spends more time in the water than anyone I know.
Libero developed a trust from Airton’s mum and when Airton was 12 he legally adopted him and took him to Italy where he attended school from 2007 but, more importantly for Airton, he got to compete in his first national junior championship that same year. By 2009 he was Italian Junior Freestyle Champion.
The Cape Verdean riders have dominated the GKA Kite-Surf World Tour’s wave and strapless freestyle podiums since the tour began in 2016. Matchu Lopes won the inaugural season and since then Airton has claimed a hat-trick of back-to-back titles (including this year) adding to the KSP crown that he won in 2011.
Heading into this season’s final event in Brazil in November should be a parade lap for him, but Airton doesn’t look too far ahead. His next event means as much to him as his last... but not as much as putting on the best show he possibly can for the crowds... as anyone who has seen him ride in the flesh will tell you.
There must
