STEFANO BELLOTTI / ENGLISH VERSION

STEFANO BELLOTTI / AFTER SCKS 2010

PROFILE:

Name: stefano bellotti
Age: 25
Occupation: student
Address: Recco, Italy

Competition records:
(13th place) 24th festival of santa cruz,
kayakpolo italian chapionship (7place1st division),
winner of second division kayakpolo championship in 2008,
2nd place under21 championship kayakpolo.

Paddling experience:
kayaksurf: portugal , california, Canary islands, italy, spain. kayakriver: I have paddled in many rivers in France, Italy, Slovenia and Corsica. Sea kayak experience: 7 days around Elba island, 5 lands (5 terre) 3 days tour, etc

Sponsors:

watertech.com / www.gravitazero.info / surfactivity.net

Personal Website: www.kayaksurfrecco.com facebook:kayaksurf recco
Favourite websites: kayaksurf.net :-)
Favourite surf spots: steamer lane california

Hello Stefano. You started in kayak polo and now... kayaksurf. We have some portuguese great surfkayakers that also have this curriculum. Do you still practice kayak polo?
yes I play kayakpolo in PROSCOGLI CHIAVARI that won the Italian 1st division championship in 2009 and placed 3rd in Champions League (Europens for clubs..)

And GZ Kayaksurf... present us this project...
Our first aim is to make sure that people get to know Kayaksurf here in Italy, partecipating to international competitions and expeditions around the world. This allows us to have a lot of attention and makes people curious about our activity.

Now, about your first kayaksurf international competition - Santa Cruz. When and how did you decided to go?
I really wanted to participate to an international kayaksurf competition and visiting your website I discovered this contest and decided I really had to go!

And your participation... are you satisfied? (Stefano was 13th just after Dave Speller, World Champion!!)
Yes. Both for the result and for the fact that I had the chance to see and learn from the best kayaksurfers in the world.

Describe us the Festival... you were the "Italian Guns"! An experience to repeat?
The festival was really well organized. Organizors were available for any problem we had and we met a lot of kind and nice people, in particular I would like to thanks Galen and Dennis who helped and hosted us!

I saw that a journalist asked you if the Mediterranean usually have waves... and I ask you the same. How often do you surf in the Mediterranean?
Unfortunately here waves are not so often, it's rare we can surf more than once a month. Only in wintertime there's more possibilty to have nice waves.

And about Watertech Kayaks?
I had the chance to try "Speedy" and "Lucifer". They are both excellent kayaks but Speedy, my actual one, is incredibly light, tecnichal and reactive. It's recomandable for advanced surfers I believe. Lucifer is easier but i'm to heavy for it so I can't give a correct judgment, anyway, it forgives more errors. Soon i'll try "Ona" and will give you my opinion!

You were in Portugal last year for surf trip. Best memories from Portugal...
My first real oceanic waves in a clear sea and the kindness of Portugese people.

And when do you come again?
For "Ocean Sprint" in the end of July.

How do you see the evolution of kayaksurf in Italy?
In this last year kayaksurf grew a lot here, also for our activity!

Last words for all the readers of this interview...
A big hug to my kayaksurfer friends from california and to all readers. Ciao!!

ALL THE PHOTOS & video HERE:
http://www.kayaksurf.net/StefanoBellotti.html