Blast From The Past

Francesco Cappuzzo (RRD / RRD Sails / AL360) started windsurfing at the age of just 3-years-old and now at the age 23 the Italian has developed into one of the world’s top freestylers, while also being a talented wave sailor having been crowned the Italian champion in 2016. Cappuzzo is an all round waterman, who also competes in both freestyle and wave on the kite tour. The Italian is next up in ‘Blast From The Past’.

Hey Francesco, can you take us back to the memory of your very first windsurf experience… Where were you? 

I was in Kartibubbo, a small village close to Puzziteddu (Sicily) where I've been living now for 5 years.
 
When was it? 

It was August 2000, exactly when I was 3!
 
Who were you with? 

I was with my father and he is still my IDOL now. 
 
What do you remember from that very first ‘session’? 

I was the happiest kid in the world, I was doing what I was dreaming of for at least 1 year.
 
Who was your local hero? And why? 

My Father for sure. He was the best [sailor] from the whole island, he was the first one to do a forward loop back in the days and he was building his own boards!
 
What gear were you using? 

At that time there was no kids gear, or it was super heavy, so my father decided to cut one of his sails, then he built a super tiny aluminium boom and an aluminium mast. It was super light and I loved it!
 
Describe your feeling when you were planing for the first time…  

Since that summer I was addicted to windsurfing, but I was too young to do it during the winter. After 2 years, at the age of 5, during a family holiday on a boat, the wind was strong and I was crying because I wanted to go windsurfing and my father decided to put me on his board, but with a super tiny sail, and I jumped straight on it with my feet in the footstraps and straight to the beach full power planing! The best feeling ever!
 
How did you realise you were becoming a professional windsurfer? 

I realised when I started to travel alone without my family and it was awesome!
 
Give a tip for the next generation...

Believe it, achieve it!

Thanks, Francesco.