Jacopo Cantini
Jacopo Cantini | |
|---|---|
 Photo credits: @catsharks | |
| Born | November 28, 1995 Bagno a Ripoli, Florence, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Citizenship | Italy |
| Occupation | Kite surfer & founder of JC Kite Schools |
| Organization | JC Kite Schools, Kenya (Africa) |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Sofia Cantini (sister) |
Jacopo Cantini (born 28 November 1995) is an Italian professional kite surfer and founder of JC Kite Schools, Kenya (Africa).
Early life and education
Jacopo started kiteboarding at 11 years-old in Italy. After returning from a kitesurfing trip in Brazil, his father, Roberto, decided to teach Jacopo how to kitesurf and they started traveling around the world together to experience different kitesurfing spots.
Career
He quickly made a name for himself in Italy and later down the line in Kenya as a pro rider who is always willing to push the sport hard with higher and more spectacular jumps.
For a number of years Jacopo has been competing on the freestyle world tours with a first position overall in 2021 as his best ranking. Jacopo was one of the few riders to try radical high-powered moves in gale force conditions, easily jumping over 20 m high in Cape Town, South Africa. He excels in the air time discipline, freestyle and big air. His dream would be to compete in the Red Bull King of the air in Cape Town, South Africa. One of his signature moves has become the old school trick “Dead man”, where the kiter hangs upside down during a jump, lets go of the control bar, and hangs their arms downward.
Four years ago, Jacopo opened his first kitesurfing school in Garoda beach, Kenya, Africa. A year later, he opened his second school in Jacaranda beach, Kenya. He also focuses on other projects, and creates and organizes new kiteboarding concepts and events like kitesurfing safaris/camps and downwind trips. He launched the first ever kitesurfing downwind trip of East Kenya in 2021.
Jacopo is currently sponsored by Duotone Kiteboarding & ION. He is also an IKO basic trained and advanced instructor.
Competition and Achievements
Jacopo has won many titles already.
- 2012, 2013, 2014: 1st place at the Italian Freestyle Championship (Italy)
- 2012: 1st place at the Red Bull Kite-O Champion. He won the race with epic weather conditions in an insidious and unknown course (Italy)
- 2017: 1st place at the Italian TTR Kitesurfing Championship (Marina di Grosseto)
- 2017: 1st place at the Abu Dhabi One Kitesurfing Cup (UAE)
- 2018: 2nd place at the Kitesurfing Italian Championship (Lake Idro)
- 2019, 2020, 2021: 1st place at the Freestyle Kenya Kite Cup (Diani, Kenya)
Personal life
Jacopo is a huge supporter of the local community of Kenya, he is passionate about helping the local residents and has created a up-cycling project which consists in helping them build they own kites with recycling material and fly these handmade kites on the beach by his kite spot on Garoda beach at JC Kite School.
What he has to say: “I have always dreamed of living in a tropical paradise and, in 2017, after eleven years of kiting between different spots and competitions around the world, at the age of 21 and I finally managed to fulfill my dream. My two kite schools “Garoda Beach” and “Jacaranda Beach” have all the ideal characteristics to practice this sport and have fun together with other kiters both on flat water and above the reef surfing the waves. Ever since I started kitesurfing, the passion and love for this sport has never changed.” Jacopo Cantini, Pro Kitesurfer and founder of JC Kite Schools, Kenya (Africa).
Gallery
Photo credits: @catsharks
Photo credits: @catsharks
