Tangled Lines: Pedro Matos

Noah Nicolas

How did your professional kite career start?

I always loved to surf and kitesurfing was my way to keep surfing when the wind got stronger. After doing it for a couple of years I started to feel that I had a talent for it and thought I could compete and try to make a career of it. My dad was a hang glider world champion and my sister was a jiu jitsu world champion and I told them that I wanted to be a world champion as well. And so it started.

Gabriele Steindl

When you look at the Pedro who first stepped onto the world tour and the Pedro who became World Champion in Taíba, what changed the most over those years?

I was very young when I started so my technique wasn’t that good and powerful… so over the years I developed strength and power but what really changed the game for me was my mindset.

TKM

There seems to be a great sense of friendship on the wave side of the tour with a lot of riders who have been on tour for a long time together. Do you always get on well with each other? And who is the funniest person on tour?!

I’m very close to my Brazilian mates, Sebastian and Gabriel – we travel the world together and we have so much fun, and also my Cape Verdean friends Matchu and Kelton Lopes who have become like brothers for me. The funniest for me is Kelton.

Tom Court

What are the best wave spots in Brazil for kiting?

For me the best wave spots in Brazil are Campeche, Ibiraquera and of course Postinho my hometown.

Lorenzo Casati

How is the feeling of being a World Champion?

It’s like a dream becoming reality, the best feeling I’ve had in my life so far.

Keanu Merten

Why didn’t you keep practicing Big Air?

Simple answer – I prefer waves!

Camille Losserand

Which part of your training made the biggest difference in achieving the World Champion title?

Mental training – it is super important.

TKM

What has been one of your most memorable or funniest kite trips?

My most memorable trip was last year in Taíba when I won the World Cup, and the funniest trip was in Australia in 2018 with the Duotone team.

Julia Castro

What would you tell your younger self now that you are World Champion?

Relax, you’re gonna make it.

Sebastian Ribeiro

Which pro surfer from all times inspired you the most?

Kelly Slater.

Camille Losserand

Sharing this victory with your family by your side on the day you became World Champion must have been unforgettable. What did it mean to you having them there?

It means everything. We can’t achieve anything alone so winning the title with the ones that I love and who helped me through my toughest times was the most perfect thing that could ever happen.

Gabriele Steindl

You’re an extremely good surfer. At what age did you start surfing? Did you ever compete in it? And how has your surfing influenced your kiting?

I started when I was three but never competed in it because I thought I wasn’t good enough. After started kiting I actually became a way better surfer than before. And yes surfing helped me a lot with kiting.

TKM

You’re also into foiling now. Would you consider competing in it?

If they do a strapless foil comp I would…

Matchu Lopes

I’ve had the opportunity to follow you since the very beginning of your world tour journey, and I know it was never easy. When you first arrived at the GKA, you only knew how to ride waves – you didn’t know much about strapless freestyle, and you basically hated it. Can you tell us about those moments when you felt like giving up, but also realized that quitting on your dream wasn’t the path you wanted to take? What kept you pushing year after year, even when the breakthrough didn’t come?

I know brother, thank you for all the love and support you gave me. Without you I wouldn’t have made it this far… I wanted to give up sooooo many times but my dream was bigger than any fear or obstacle in my way. So I kind of closed my eyes, believed in God with all my heart and fought for it. And hey, it worked out in the end!

Tom Court

You have always been one of the most stylish wave riders – what gives you your biggest inspiration?

Thanks for that, I appreciate it! Since being into surfing, John John Florence has been my biggest idol so pretty much my whole childhood I’ve been trying to be as stylish as him haha!

Noah Nicolas

What would you recommend to young riders that would like to follow your path?

First of all HAVE FUN, then if you have a dream work for it with all your heart, have faith in God, and do everything you can to achieve and you will make it.

TKM

Which has been the favorite spot that you have competed at?

Cape Verde. It’s a really hard spot but so perfect at the same time… I think Ponta Preta is like Pipeline is for surfing.

Camille Losserand

What’s the next challenge you want to take on?

I want to focus on my essence, be the best kiter I can ever be, help develop the sport, and why not get another title!