AIRTON
PHOTOGRAPHER: AXEL REESE
LOCATION: PONTA PRETA, CAPE VERDE
“Airton loves to give kitesurfers a show on his home island of Sal in Cape Verde. He likes to jump one or two floors higher than his direct competitors. No one jumps a strapless board higher than Airton. When he saw me sitting in Ponta Preta with my camera equipment, he was motivated to jump higher and higher. Normal down-the-line waveriding is great to shoot at the world class wavespot Ponta Preta, but to get jumps like this not-grabbed huge Backroll? Only Airton Cozzolino.
The 24-year-old strapless professional loves the power and risk factor in strapless riding. The conditions during those days in Ponta Preta were incredible. The wind was blowing 25 knots side offshore and no one spends more time on the water in good conditions than Airton. With low wind conditions he grabbed this SUP waveboard and scored waves like no one else. Airton is in a class of his own.”—Axel Reese
