IKO’s Mitu Monteiros Wins 2nd KSP Champ
31 Jan 2013
“When I’m riding I feel myself a part of the sea and when I’m jumping high, a part of the sky. Then, when I kite in the waves, I discover another world as I join the sea,” expresses “Mitu” Oteniel Jorge Monteiros about how it feels to kiteboard. Perhaps you have heard his name before? If not, and you are anybody in kiteboarding, you need to know this name. Mitu, as they nicknamed him, is the two time 2nd place Champ of the Kitesurf Pro World Championship Tour (KSP) both in 2011 and in 2012. Mitu is no stranger to competition as he has been competing since 2007.
THE KSP CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR
World champion kite surfers Kristin Boese, Sky Solbach, Mitu Monteiross and Guilly Brandao established the KSP Tour to focus solely on riding waves with a kite. According to the KSP Facebook page, “The KSP's mission is to supply the world's top Kite SURFERS with a professional World Championship tour consisting of prime events in prime locations and conditions while promoting the surfing aspect of the sport and kiting to mainstream media. The KSP World Championship Tour is focused on wave discipline in the sport of Kiteboarding showcasing progressive kitesurfing in the best venues around the globe.”
In 2012, the KSP Tour premiered as its 2nd annual event with the top 10 male and top 5 female riders along with 2 wild card riders qualified to compete at the 4 selected prime locations. The first location was in Cascais, Portugal in June. The second was in Le Morne, Ile Maurice in September. The third was in Mayo, Ireland in October and finally the fourth location was in Maui, USA!
MITU’S KSP EXPERIENCE
Mitu feels that all the competitors were formidable saying, “The top riders do not compete for money but just for passion.” This competition for Mitu was a chance for him to test his level. While the spot for him was dream, the competition did have its challenges and it’s, “The worst when you have to stay all day sitting down waiting for conditions,” exclaims Monteiros. But, “the best is when we find good conditions in the first days of competitions, and then you have time to visit the place and surf around.”
Like a champ, Mitu makes breakfast a very important part of his routine. He eats “2 sandwiches with beef and cheese, 2 bananas, coffee and a plate of fresh fruit,” he says. “Our body is like a car, we have to put into it the best gasoline in order to have the best performance.” He does not however do any special workout routine except for “kiting when there is wind, surfing when there are waves, spearfishing, and of course relaxing.”
Monteiros the Champ is Also Monteiros the IKO Kite Instructor
Mitu Monteiros is not just a competitor or kiter at heart but is one who loves to share his passion and contribute to the larger part of the sport. By certification, Monteiros is an IKO Kiteboard Instructor at Level 2 who selected the IKO because of its international recognition. Monteiros is committed to the safe learning and practice of kiteboarding. He feels that the worst thing to observe is, “when people get into kiteboarding without the will to learn.” The best is, he says, “when people get excited.” He got into teaching kiteboarding because, “I guess that the best thing ever is to do as a job what you love to do. I love kiteboarding. I love to transmit my passion and my experience to those who share the same passion.” Mitu is an Instructor who loves to see his students succeed no matter how small the accomplishment. “I am so happy when I watch people manage to stand up for the first time on the board or do their first jump!”
Pulled Himself By His Boot Straps to be Accomplished Businessman
“When you start from nothing everything is difficult and everything is an immense goal. I was a nobody and little by little with a lot of work and training, I managed to be the owner of a school, become a world wave champion and help pioneer the strapless discipline,” says Monteiros. All this started 12 years ago with just his curiosity. Simple curiosity for kiteboarding got him started on the ride of his life and his career.
Mitu teaches now and owns his school in Sal in a perfect location for learning. For learning kiteboarding, you need conditions of wide-open beaches without wind gusts. At Mitu’s location, they have several spots. So, if the wind conditions are not good in one, they can take their students to a different one. Each of these spots is near the other.
Accomplishing His Life’s Dream
Next week, together with his partner, Mitu will have accomplished his long awaited dream which is to open a Kite Center that will be known as Kite Beach. The reason this is his dream is because of the location, Cabeça do Salina. It is a kiteboarder’s paradise as a well as a paradise for turtles so much so that they struggled seven years to earn permission to build the school at this location. This will be the first kite school ever to be located on the whole East Coast of Sal.
Monteiros Advices Aspiring Recreational Kiteboarders
“Think about your safety! Find a certificated school with qualified instructors.”
Monteiros Has This to Say to Aspiring Kiteboard Instructors
“Before getting into teaching you have to be sure that you have enough experience and don’t risk the safety of your students. The good thing of the IKO training is that you can test your level.”
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