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For the fifth year in a row, the coast of Ceará state was once again painted by colorful kites driven by the region’s famous winds. Sol Sertões Kitesurf once more challenged kitesurfers from Brazil and abroad in a four-day rally that connected Fortim and Preá Beach, with Fortaleza, Trairi, and Amontada as the intermediate host cities.
The 2025 edition of Sol Sertões established a new milestone: no less than 186 men and women, from 9 to 73 years old, entered the rally. For the first time, the event was included in the official calendars of the Brazilian Sailing Federation (CBVela) and the Brazilian Kitesurf Association (ABK), with national Rally Cross titles at stake.
The Pro and Elite (Intermediate) classes had some upwind stretches and longer distances, while Adventure, Master, Gran Master, Pro Jr. and Wing Pro sailed only downwind legs, on shorter routes. From the very beginning, winds were strong and allowed the use of bigger kites. And once more the support and rescue team was ready to intervene when necessary with watercraft and seasoned kitesurfers to reach more complicated locations. Fortunately, incidents were few and without major consequences.
Pro, Elite and Open athletes had a different challenge to cross Pecém Harbour, near Fortaleza, on the day 2. They needed to land their kites and run for some 800 meters on the sand to continue their route, as the clock was ticking. And, on the penultimate day, in Icaraizinho de Amontada, the first two classes went back to the water, with an extra heat counting for Brazilian TT Race championship, on a 12-mile circuit.
The Pro peloton was stronger than last year’s, with the return of Alex Neto, winner in 2022 and 2023. Bruno Lobo, Brazilian athlete on Formula Kite olympic debut (seventh in Paris’2024), was also present. But neither of them, nor Leonardo Grangeiro, who was a pleasant surprise, were capable of preventing Yaron Moura from clinching his second title. The kitesurfer from Jijoca de Jericoacoara won four out of five starts – on the other, he was penalized for a jump start. Neto finished second, while Grangeiro was third.
Lobo gave up his fourth spot for a good reason: an orthopedist, he stopped to help Helamã Garrido, with whom he crossed lines on the final day. Only after confirming that his fellow competitor was all right did he continue to complete the event and finish fifth. His attitude was later strongly applauded by his peers. A São Paulo native, who now lives in Preá, Gabi Reynard (AKA Gabi Goodwinds) won for the second year in a row on Women Pro.
Kitesurfers from Ceará also shone in other classes, such as Mateus Dutra and Luana Saunier (Open). A five-time world freestyle champion, Carlos Mario “Bebê” traded tricks for long sailing distances and didn’t disappoint, finishing second in Open. Rafael “Fafá” Rodrigues won for the third time on Men’s Wing Pro. On the women’s side, argentinian Rocío Reigert took the victory.
Those who didn’t want to compete also had their space on Experience class. They made an 8-mile downwind on the last day to join the party on Preá. And party it was, with brazilian samba and dance to end in style four unforgettable days. Bring on Sol Sertões Kitesurf 2026.
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