He was just relaxing and surfing with some friends, as we noticed his really awesome skills out-there in the waves. But however he always was ready to answer our questions in a very patient and kind way! The Brazilian is 33 years old and it is his 5th time he is visiting Bali, but this time just to make holidays and meet some friends on our beautiful island.
His passion for the sport of surfing started when he was a small child, with only 8 years he started to surf. Soon it becomes clear that he has a certain talent, so it was just a question of time when he will be discovered by scouts. At the age of 15 years, Stephan becomes a professional surfer. As you can describe him as a multi talent, Stephan started to play kite surfing just four years ago. But he was so good that he become only three years later professional in kite surfing as well as in surfing.
Nevertheless of his talent, Stephan does not like it to take part in real competitions, he said, he just does not like the rivalry and seriousness in these competitions. So his sponsors, like MCD, Globe or Blade, allow him to travel the world and surf in every spot he wants to surf. What a kind of life! That day on Echo Beach he was playing a special kind of kite surfing, as he explained. He is using his normal surfboard; therefore his feet are not fixed on the board, as it is the case for normal kite-surfer. This fact makes all the tricks and stunts he is doing in the air and on the water even harder to do successfully!
Stephan also does not only use the wind to show all his skills, he is using the waves as well. As the wind is coming that day only from the left side looking on the ocean, he is traveling in a 45-degree angle to the wind behind its strongest zone that is close to the beach. From there, he comes back straight to the direction of the beach. If he sees a good wave coming, which usually are breaking with the wind from the left to the right side looking on the ocean, he comes with speed from the sea, catches the wave and either just rides it along or jumps and does tricks with the help of his kite and the top of the wave.
It was so impressing to see him doing all the tricks and stunts, grabbing the board with the one hand while holding the kite with his other hand in a 540° for example. Besides his passion surfing he also likes to go spearfishing or diving, and playing motocross or jeep tours. Luckily he can easily combine all these hobbies as you can practice them all in a paradise like Bali! But his fifth hobby snowboarding, he must travel to other places of the world to make it happen. He is a really interesting person and for sure worth to follow his actions and career. It was a great pleasure to meet him.
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