NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic

Day 14: Catchup with Kauli Seadi who returns to the competition scene with a bang

Having broken his foot just before the 2014 Maui Aloha Classic — Kauli Seadi (99NoveNove / Hot Sails Maui / MFC) — hadn’t been seen at a PWA event for two years. However, the 3-time world champion has been a busy man over the past couple of years, travelling the globe in pursuit of perfect waves and producing his own TV program in Brazil called ‘Waterman’. 

Although Kauli may have been away for the competition scene since 2013, you wouldn’t know it from the way he seamlessly slotted back into the groove and lit up Ho’okipa with his iconic, fluid wave riding style, which deservedly saw the Brazilian earn second place at this year’s NoveNove Maui Aloha Classic. We recently caught up with Kauli to find out a bit more about what he’s been up to.

PWA: We last saw you competing in 2013 in Maui… you missed out last year through injury, how long did it take you to recover from your injury at Teahupo’o?

KS: “I broke my foot and it took me almost 3 months to start sailing again, it was serious injury and it had a chance to become something chronic if I did not take good care of it. That meant 2 months without stepping on the floor. But windsurfing that day in Teahupo’o was all worth it - just wish I had taken more waves that day before I broke my foot!!!”

PWA: What have you been up to since taking a back seat from the competition scene?

KS: “I have been doing a lot of work with an action sports TV channel in Brazil called OFF where I have a TV show named “Waterman” together with my wife we travel around the globe exploring beautiful places to practice watersports and discover different cultures. We also explore a lot of topics about oceanography. And I also combine this with staying at home in Sao Miguel do Gostoso on the northeast coast of Brazil and work on my windsurf club (clubekauliseadi.com) where we provide windsurf, kite and SUP rentals and classes. We also have a accommodation just next to the club so as you can imagine I can be very busy with all that besides my travels, but I’m super glad that I can work with what I love, but in a different perspective, and I love this feeling of receiving guests that are so passionate about the sport and to have the chance to go sail with them!”

PWA: What does an average day consist of for you when on one of your trips?

KS: “Basically explore every day new topics or new potential waves to be ridden or spots to be sailed, meeting local people to get a true feeling of the people, the place and their lifestyle.”

PWA: Out of the places you have visited do you have a favourite and if so why?

KS: “We have filmed almost half of our 2 seasons in the South Pacific, around the French Polynesia, there are so many incredible paradise Islands , with amazing water colour for diving, perfect waves to surf and awesome anchorages for boats. It’s a real paradise on earth!”

PWA: What are you plans for the remainder of the winter and the year ahead?

KS: “Now is high season for us in Brazil and I will go back to work on the club and hang with the guests until February and then I should start traveling again in March!”

PWA: You got married not too long ago - how is married life treating you?

KS: “Actually it’s been awesome, I know it is not what we hear from every married guy, but we get along super well and we are more than lovers, we are very good friends and we do

things together all the time.”

PWA: What’s it like returning to competition? And have you missed any aspects of it? If so what?

KS: “I always liked the adrenaline of competition, the challenge of it and when I make events like the Aloha Classic with great waves, I really feel like I would like to compete again on the World Tour, but nowadays it’s almost impossible to win a title if you don’t spend half of the year in the Canaries practicing jumping, and I don’t have the energy for that anymore! I wish that we could have a more balanced tour, with more wave stops in down-the-line spots to make it a fairer fight for the World Tour title to all the riders.”

PWA: You finished 3rd here in 2013 and you’ve guaranteed yourself another podium finish this time around - how do you feel after another epic Aloha Classic?

KS: “I’m extremely happy and honoured to have made a second podium here in Maui because this event to me, and probably to most of windsurfers around the world, is a trademark wave riding event, with the best sailors from all over the world trying to show their best performance in the arena of Ho’okipa Beach Park. Maui is the Mecca of windsurfing since so many years and where all the developments, testing and photoshoots from most brands are held, so it is a super special place for every pro windsurfer, and where I have spent a lot of time from my life training and it’s definitely amazing to achieve a great result against all the amazing talent on offer from the tour.”

PWA: Thanks, Kauli and congrats on your result here in Maui. Good luck with all of your future plans.

To stay up to date with all of Kauli Seadi’s latest news be sure to follow him via his Social Media Channels:

Instagram: @kauliseadi_253

Twitter: @KSeadi

If you’d like to check out the signature Kauli line by 99NoveNove be sure to check out their website @ http://www.99novenove.com

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