photo credit: © fuinga.com

Welcome to the RRD Kite Team Arsenio! Your wave riding and strapless freestyle is looking very promising. We are looking forward to see you evolve and work with you. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself

– Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Santa Maria at Ilha do sal Cabo verde islands.

photo credit: © fninga.com

– Tell us more about your background in kitesurfing, when did you start and how?
At first I started kitesurfing in Santa Maria Sal Cabo verde with a couple of friends, that is about 4 years ago! Luckily they borrowed me the kite equipment, since it was quite hard to purchase my own. Though, different kite schools supported me also with my gear!

photo credit: © fninga.com

– What other sports are you doing?
Since my childhood I was every day out surfing in Santa Maria. During the summer months, June-September we have south swell coming in with no wind! Then from October we have the North-east wind that start blowing, and from December the North-west swell hits us!

photo credit: © Gabriele Rumbolo photography

– Which kiters are inspiring you?
I used to work for the kite&windsurf school in Santa Maria. I learned how to Windsurf, SUP, and obviously kitesurfing. The advantage there was that multiple athletes from all disciplines were there; people like: Josh angulo, Matchu, Airton, Mito Djo, Luis, Elvis and a bunch more! In the last two years I have noticed that many friends of my age category fell in love with Kitesurfing. It is good to see that we train hard together, in this way we compete and motivate each other.

photo credit: © Gabriele Rumbolo photography

– What are your best results in kitesurfing and surf?
The last three years I have visited Sao Vincente island for the National Surf championships. In 2015 I was able to claim the 5th place! Unfortunately, last year the condition were not too good. Then in 2016 I became 1st at the Chupa Chupa national kitesurf championships.

– What is your favorite gear?
I absolutely love the RRD Religion in combination with the Cotan LTD! Next to that I have the RRD Celsius pro wetsuit and RRD Stark harness which are the most flexible, so I keep my maximum range in movement.

photo credit: © fninga.com

– What are your favorite tricks?
My favourite tricks within freestyle strapless are the front rotation, back rotation, cavallo pazzo, and the shove it. In the surf my favorite move is a 360.

photo credit: © Gabriele Rumbolo photography

– What is your favorite spot?
Usually I train a lot at the kitebeach, cabesas de salinas, close to Santa Maria. This is the perfect place to train for strapless freestyle tricks, and to surf in side on conditions!

photo credit: © Gabriele Rumbolo photography

– How does an average day look like in Cabo Verde?
I am always seeking to find the best places to train and catch waves, all the way from Alibaba beach, to secret spot, ponta preta and with south swell at ponta Leme bedje. The good thing about the island is that you usually see when there is a kite in the air from any place.

photo credit: © fninga.com

– What are your goals for 2017?
This year I will compete in the GKA kitesurf and surf freestyle championships and see what the results will be! I will go all the way!

photo credit: © fninga.com

-Anything else you want to add?
I used to use different kitebrands, but I am lucky enough to say that I signed a sponsorship with RRD for boards, kites and accessories!

photo credit: © fninga.com