I started kitesurfing when I was ten years old, but at the beginning it wasn’t really “my” sport. I used to stand between my dad Renato’s legs while he was riding, just following along, watching and feeling the wind without fully understanding it.
Before kiteboarding, I tried many different sports. As a kid I practiced artistic gymnastics, tennis, and skiing. Those years were fundamental. They gave me body awareness, balance, coordination, and control, things that later became essential in the air. At that time, kitesurfing still felt like something adults did. The real switch happened when I saw Jeremy Burlando riding. He was my age, and that changed everything in my head. I remember telling my dad, “If Jeremy, who is my age, can do it, then I can do it too.” From that moment on, kitesurfing stopped being something I was around and became something I truly wanted.
Growing up kitesurfing with my brother has shaped who I am, but none of it would exist without my father, Renato. He has always been both my dad and my coach, and from the beginning we built an extremely professional approach to what we do. Every training session was planned, filmed, and analyzed. Nothing was left to chance. At the same time, he taught us how to enjoy the process and respect the ocean.
Training with my brother every day pushed us constantly. Some days I was better, other days he was, and my dad knew exactly how to turn that rivalry into motivation, never pressure. Training never felt like a sacrifice. It felt like curiosity, commitment, and a shared vision. Growing up in this environment taught me that progression is never individual. It comes from structure, trust, and from having people around you who truly understand what you are trying to achieve, both in sport and in life.
The sport has changed a lot since I started. Big Air today is much more technical, demanding, and precise. The margins are smaller and the level keeps rising every year.
People often ask me what the trick is to jump higher than my competitors. For me, there is no single secret. It’s about preparation, timing, and understanding the conditions better than anyone else. The foundation I built through gymnastics and other sports helps me control my body in the air. I focus heavily on kite control and repetition, most importantly I stay calm. I visualize everything before I ride, and by the time I perform a trick in competition, it’s something I’ve already done countless times in training. That confidence allows me to push without panic.
Now that I’ve completed the trilogy, winning the World Title, the Megaloop, and the King of the Air, I don’t feel like I’ve reached the end of something. I feel like I’m at the beginning. My goal has never been just one discipline or one title. I want to become a complete waterman, competitive across Big Air, Strapless, Foil, and Wave riding.
More than results, I want to inspire people to spend more time in the elements and to chase what truly makes them feel alive.
For me, kitesurfing is not just a sport. It’s a way of living, and I know there is still so much more to explore.
