Kauan Grubert Esmerino

Born in Preá, Ceará, Brazil, Kauan Grubert Esmerino was surrounded by kitesurfing from the very beginning. His mother’s love for the sport meant that kites were a familiar sight throughout his childhood. In fact, when Kauan cried at the beach as a baby, all it took was for his mom to point out the kites in the sky to calm him down. It was the start of a connection that would shape his future.

At eight years old, Kauan finally convinced his mom to take him to a kite school in Preá. From his first sessions on the water, he was hooked.

Soon after he began riding, a World Championship came to his hometown. Watching some of the world’s best riders compete, and experiencing the energy surrounding the event, sparked something in Kauan. He knew he wanted to compete himself and see how far he could take his riding.

Kauan initially focused on Freestyle, but growing up in the famously strong winds of Preá naturally pushed his progression in another direction. He joined the Cabrinha team in 2021 at just ten years old, and by 2023 had shifted his focus fully to Big Air.

Since then, Kauan has continued to push his riding and build an impressive competitive record, becoming a two-time Brazilian Big Air Champion in the U14 category.

Still at the beginning of his journey, Kauan’s focus is simple: keep progressing, keep pushing his limits, and represent Brazil and Cabrinha on the biggest stages in kiteboarding around the world.