Puerto Rico ‘24-25: Healing, Wind, and Lessons from the Island
Landing in Paradise
When Cabrinha rider Steven Pelissier landed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the island’s warmth felt like a new beginning. After months of recovery from Lyme disease and whiplash, he was finally ready to reconnect with the ocean.
He set up base at Playa Montones, Isabela, overlooking turquoise water and constant trade winds, a dream spot for kitesurfing and wing foiling. Friends would join throughout the season, and the five-month stay promised endless water time under the Caribbean sun.
The early December forecast looked perfect: steady wind, chest-high surf, and the kind of stoke that fuels every rider’s soul.
Easing Back into the Flow
Steven knew this trip wasn’t about pushing limits but about healing through motion. His sessions were shorter than usual, just two hours instead of four, but each one was progress.
Despite lingering fatigue and muscle stiffness, the Puerto Rico kitesurfing conditions offered gentle strength: warm water, smooth waves, and constant energy from the trade winds. Balanced with yoga, clean eating, and rest, he started to feel his body and mind realign with the rhythm of the sea.
Testing the Tow Boogie
Earlier that year, Steven had ordered a Tow Boogie from Australia, the ultimate toy for high-speed tow foiling. The first sessions were thrilling but demanding; controlling it while recovering wasn’t easy.
One close call reminded him how quickly things can change: a mis-squeezed throttle, a near miss, and a moment of gratitude that his board took the impact.
Launching and landing the Boogie in Puerto Rico’s rugged coastline added another layer of challenge. Most shores are rocky shelves filled with sea urchins, with only a few sandy breaks. Still, the successful sessions revealed incredible potential.
Cabrinha Crew in Puerto Rico
When the Cabrinha team arrived on the island, Steven captured it all. Sunrise tow-foil sessions with The Anada Experience, blue skies, and perfect wind made Puerto Rico deliver once again.
But his health dipped again. Intense headaches, joint pain, and inflammation forced him to swap his board for his drone controller, documenting his teammates instead of riding alongside them.
Those drone shots became part of the Cabrinha 2025 marketing campaign, showcasing Puerto Rico’s raw beauty, from golden sunrises over Jobos Beach to glassy turquoise swells breaking along the reef.
Finding Healing
By March, after more flare-ups, Steven returned to the States seeking answers. A clear MRI left him puzzled until he discovered Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR), a treatment that unlocked his recovery.
From the first session, he could feel tension and inflammation dissolve. Over time, his flexibility and strength returned, proving that true performance comes from balance, not just training.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Steven may have left Puerto Rico earlier than planned, but he left behind the spirit of the trip: four surfboards, three kites, three foil boards, a wing, and his Tow Boogie waiting for the next season.
He’s planning to return between January and April 2026, ready to ride harder, capture new content, and continue sharing his story through the lens of Cabrinha’s passion for innovation and freedom on the water.
Because every setback is just another way the ocean teaches patience, and every return is a reminder of why we ride.
