THE SET-UP

Gigi Madeddu arrived in Praia Do Maceio for the first time in 2013 and was taken aback by the sanctitude and beauty of the place. He’d heard of Maceiò’s conditions through the grapevine and decided to take a taxi there from Camocim, where he was visiting on a windsurfing trip. On arrival the conditions were firing and Gigi immediately fell in love with the small village. A year later, he opened a kite, surf, SUP and windsurf school and, since then, the place has blossomed.

From August to January, Sa Barra can guarantee you wind almost every day. Located in north-east Brazil, Maceiò is close to the famous location of Jericoacoara. As a result, the wind is similar; stronger than that of the more southern freestyle lagoons in Brazil. At low tide the waves are smaller and sometimes flat with relatively shallow stretches between the waves making for a perfect freestyle playground. High tide is where the spot really shines as the kickers ramp up, lofting you into the air - it’s also ideal for any budding strapless riders who want some wave faces to nail their turns. Just a buggy ride away is Jeri - perfect if you want to shake things up and ride in strong wind, flat conditions or to enjoy the buzzing town and its vibrant nightlife.

Caption: GKA Kite World Tour star, Australian James Carew, enjoyed his training here in late 2019 / Photo: Axel Reese