The Boys from Ponta Preta

This is a story about courage, the courage to pursue your dreams regardless of your circumstances in life. It is the story of a young man, Mitú, and his friends, Titik and Djo of Sal, Cape Verde. They all shared a dream to become windsurfers even though they did not have the resources to do so.

They watched the tourists windsurfing the world-class waves at Ponta Preta and determined that one day, they too would learn. They were quite resourceful. They began by helping the tourists, carrying their boards and getting up close to the action to observe and learn how things were done. Then they volunteered to work at one of the local kite and equipment rental shops so they could make a little money to rent and eventually buy their own equipment.

It's also the story of the passion that these young men had for the sport. One of them, Mitú (Oteniel Jorge Monteiro), would eventually go on to become a two-time Kitesurf World Champion almost sixteen years later starting in 2008 when he was 25 years old.

Yet, that is not where the story ends. It's also about entrepreneurship. You see, winning a world championship doesn't pay the bills. These childhood friends started their own kite surfing shop and slowly built it up to a thriving business serving the tourists who visit Sal with rentals and clinics aimed at the enjoyment of kite surfing activity on the island. They also mentor younger Cape Verdean boys who dream of one day becoming champions.

Click on the "more" link below to see the amazing documentary film, directed by Thierry Albert and produced by Sophie Ebrard & Pundersons Gardens, that tells the powerful story in the Boys own words!

You want water-sports?

If you're looking for water-sports, the surf off Cape Verde's islands is the place to enjoy it. Just ask Josh Angulo, former Windsurfing World Champion.



Visit Josh's Angulo Center in Sal for everything you'll need to enjoy surfing, including tuition. Of course, this is just one choice for water-sporting activities. You'll find a full range of options on each of the islands from swimming, scuba diving, surfing, wind-surfing, and sports-fishing to just lazing on the beach if that's your thing.

Most of the organized, scheduled activities are found on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista.

The local love affair with Soccer

For Cape Verdeans, there is only one sport that truly excites the nation, and it is soccer. Not just any soccer, but soccer in the Portuguese leagues. Forget soccer from any other nation on the planet, if it is not Portuguese soccer, it's not worth following.

So, if you want to make a several dozen new friends, and "enemies", in the space of 90 minutes ... just go sit in a local bar when one of the soccer games is on. But, to truly appreciate what is going on you will need a little background to bring you up to speed.

It is quite understandable that Cape Verdeans should particularly enjoy Portuguese soccer. Cape Verde was a colony of Portugal and is still very connected to Portugal, economically, financially and socially. There are many Cape Verdean expats living in Portugal today. Yet, it's also funny, because even though 90% of Cape Verdeans living in Cape Verde have never set foot in Portugal, and even though many of the expats migrated to various countries across the globe, it is only Portuguese soccer that is revered.