Since I’m 5 years old I’ve been going to Viana to watch my dad kiting and to learn from him. It’s a place I’ve always enjoyed, I could be in the ocean doing what I love – Kitesurfing.
Throughout the years I’ve gotten more into sailing because I could do It closer to home on the weekends and weekdays and little by little I’ve disconnected from Kiting. Sailing is a big part of my life and I’m very thankful to have done it at a professional level achieving some top results such as 4 podiums in European and World Championships.
I still maintained a healthy habit of kiting every summer but unfortunately it was only when I had time off from sailing competitions.
It all changed in 2021 – Kitesurfing got into the Olympics for 2024 as one of the sailing categories in the form of Formula Kite Racing.
I made a quick decision to learn how to Kitefoil in record time and set a goal on my mind – qualify for the Olympic Games. I knew the racing on the kite would be a big challenge for me because my kiting level was not high enough, but I was confident my sailing experience was going to help me get through it.
Fast forward to June 2024. I didn’t manage to qualify for the Olympics. I knew the 3 short years of preparation I had were going to make it hard for me. But it wasn’t everything bad news. I managed to get into the top 35 of the World out of hundreds (only 20 go to the Olympics), and every competition I made steady progress.
The prospect of qualifying for the next Olympic Games is realistic and I have a strong experience platform to work on. Plus, I helped my sister achieve her dream of qualifying for the Games.
Being out of the Olympics meant I was going to have a free summer and needed to work to afford new equipment for the next season.
Since 2021 Viana had become my “home spot” because it was close enough from where I live, and it offered amazing conditions to progress in lighter breeze in the morning or in the strong winds of the afternoon.
The beach, nature around it and the “home” vibes I get from the city made it an obvious decision to stay in Viana for the summer and try to get a job there.
I decided I wanted to work as a Kite Instructor for the summer because this allowed me to still train in my free time. So, I started texting every kite school in the area. It was June and the season had already started, no one was looking for instructors anymore.
A few weeks later Carlos (Modo Experto Owner) texted me saying he was looking for someone to work as a Kite Instructor at his school. I obviously said yes, and we arranged a meeting.
I met Carlos through my older brother Salvador who is a Kite Instructor a few years ago. I didn’t know a lot about him or his school, but I’ve always noticed how happy everyone seemed around there.
So, I went to this meeting. I was nervous, it was my first job. I arrived at the coffee shop and saw Carlos, first thing he did was hugging me and asking how me and my family was doing. It made me feel welcome and calmer.
Carlos showed me a completely different perspective on life and water sports industry in general. He’s an easy-going person, always with a smile on his face and ready to help the next. He demonstrated that there is no “my school” but a “our school” and that all of us involved in Modo Experto were equal.
From the first minute I thought “this is where I need to be”. The hug and “Welcome to the Family” will always stay engraved in my head.
Fast forward to September
Summer season is over. I was able to achieve the goals I had at the beginning of the summer, I worked a lot and trained a lot.
But I achieved things I wasn’t expecting to. Thanks to my Modo Experto Family I’ve learned new skills in Kiting and Wing Foiling, I’ve improved my teaching skills, worked on my French but above all I have learned that to receive we have to give first and I’ve learned how to dream. To dream bigger than ever before.
Carlos, Licha, Franco, Gonza, Julie. This team has motivated me throughout all summer to keep pushing on my trainings and supporting me even on the more tiring days.
This experience has been fulfilling, I’ve met so many new faces and with each single one of them I have learned something. Thanks to Modo Experto I am a more complete athlete, professional and person.
Obrigado Família!
