But what could I possibly do to be as much as possible in contact with the true essence of that region? I then remembered about the jangadas, the extensive river deltas, the mangrove forests, the fishermen and I decided to devote my travel to a slow approach to windsurfing, savour the place, the people, the moment. Something pretty new to me, but also something that felt very important to me too. I guess that growing up also means achieving somehow a wider perspective over things. And that’s what was happening to my windsurfing. Travelling to a place to enjoy its great windsurfing conditions didn’t seem quite enough to me anymore. I would rather slow down a bit to enjoy the journey.
I later realized that what was changing in my approach to windsurfing was the experience brought by stand up paddling. After a few seasons spent competing in slalom, travelling around the world to compete in some PWA events, I got in touch with SUP. Immediately this new sport brought to my life a totally different perspective on my relationship with the ocean. Suddenly I was finding myself enjoying the ocean everyday, no matter what the conditions looked like. Any body of water suddenly became a playground for my little adventures. Besides the radical action, I learned how to enjoy simple things such as exploring new places, new bodies of water, cruising around, enjoying the landscape and just being on the water. When planning a trip that could suit this new approach to windsurfing, two things immediately came to my mind. The inflatable Windsup that the guys at Starboard showed to me during one of our last meetings and the North-East of Brazil’s endless beaches. I thought about all the opportunities of getting lost there, either with a sail in my hands or with a paddle. And then also the flexibility and the mobility I would gain by using an inflatable board paired with a Starboard Compact sail.