TEAM NEWS: INTERVIEW WITH AIRTON COZZOLINO
GONG team rider reflects on a major win in his pursuit of a seventh world title in kitesurfing.
The last kite-surf event in Morocco saw one of the all-time greats of the sport make a statement with a convincing victory. Now back on top of the rankings, a place he has occupied many times before, he’s more determined than ever to seal the deal in Brazil.
But the experienced rider from Cape Verde knows it won’t be a walk in the park. The 2025 field is packed with talent that won’t let anyone pass without bringing their absolute A-game to the heat. The smallest details will make the difference, meaning being fully prepared, with the perfect mindset, will be key.
That’s exactly how Airton approached the event in Morocco. He explains.
Kitesurfer: Airton, GONG team rider, on his Lethal PU, kite Elips and FeelX kite bar. Photo: GKA.
Hello Airton, huge congrats on your performance in Morocco. How did you prepare for this GKA stop?
I booked a flight to Portugal months before the event and trained full-on wave riding, non-stop. After that, I took two weeks off from kiting to focus on getting my mind and body ready for the event. I was at the gym day in and day out.
How were you feeling, especially with your knee injury?
I was feeling amazing, no pain anymore. It was really unfortunate to have to compete through the pain in Sylt. I couldn’t push as hard as I wanted. It might have looked like a bad result from the outside, but given the circumstances, it was actually a relief for me to leave Germany with some precious points in the bag. I recovered pretty quickly after that event, and from then on, I couldn’t wait to compete again.
What were the conditions like? Did they suit your riding style?
Pretty good, actually. It’s a very fun wave to surf. I love this place. The vibe here is great, and I always feel good energy when I’m in Morocco. It’s one of the events I want to win the most.
What kind of mindset were you in before and during the event? Did you feel any pressure, or were you confident?
I cleared my mind, took deep breaths, and stayed in the moment. There’s always some pressure, but I held on to this clear vision that kept me focused. I was really happy with my mindset.
Any strategy going into your heats?
There’s no second-guessing here. The level is too high. I’m going all in. My strategy is to take the win with all my heart.
When you realized you were heading to the final, what went through your mind?
I remembered who I was, and it was game on.
Lastly, how did you choose your gear for your heats?
I didn’t want to change gear a lot. I had pretty much all my training sessions with the Elips 9m, so I wanted to keep the same rhythm since it felt great all week long.
Kitesurfer: Airton, GONG team rider. Photo: GKA.
Kite Elips
Kite Bar FeelX
