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How
did you discover and how did you start practicing
windsurfing?
Bimba
had his first contact with windsurfing around
1982, when he was living in Santa Cruz de
Cabrália,
near Porto Seguro, south of Bahia (between
1981 and 1985). His father, André
Luis
Santos, bought himself some windsurfing
equipment to learn the sport and after sometime
started to take Bimba wind surfing with
him.
In
1992, when Bimba was living in Rio de Janeiro,
André,
after seven years away from the sport, started
to practice again, and met Boy, Fernando Ermel,
a windsurf teacher. After various
years of insistence on Bimba's part, André and
Regina (Bimba's mother) took him for his
first lesson. "I fell in love with
the sport on this very first lesson, I simply
loved it, and today, 13 years later, I realize
that since that day I have never spent
more than 20 days off a windsurf board".
Boy
always supported children to compete, and
he was greatly responsible for my fast development
as a windsurfer. Soon after Bimba's
first competition, at the age of 11, he
was already saying that Bimba had everything
that was needed to be the best, and to represent
Brasil in the Olympic Games in Sydney in
2000. With less than one year of windsurfing
behind him, Bimba got sponsorship from a
clothing shop and another from a windsurf
shop, the owner of the latter, Luis Conde,
was also very impressed with Bimba's development
and gave him first quality equipment for
his first Brasilian Championship (in Nov
1992).
Bimba
was the Brasilian Infant Champion and took
3rd place in a competition which had around
100 adult competitors. From that day
onwards, the will to compete and to train
was great. And the support from Regina,
André and his siblings Renato, Flavio
and Fernanda (the youngest) were essential
for him to stay in the sport.
Since
1996, after several Brasilian and South
American titles in the Infant and Junior
categories, Bimba began to win Adult titles.
He finished the year as Brasilian
General Vice-Champion and took 2nd place
in the selectives for the Olympic Games
in Atlanta in 1996. He nearly made
it!!!
In
1997 his life changed, he became Professional
within the sport. He joined the Faculty
of Communication and met the woman that
his wife today, Paula Newlands Infante Vieira
(one of the best women windsurfers in Brasil).
He took the first Brasilian Adult
title and was first in the Pre-Olympics
of Brasilian wind, and was (and still is)
the only Brasilian to be a World Youth Champion.
He closed his first Sponsorship deals to
cover his living costs.
Since
1998 the life of the athlete has been dedicated
to training, and as a consequence several
new titles for Brasilian windsurfing (see
section on titles) have come his way.
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When
and which was your first title?
Brasilian
Champion (Nov 1992), Búzios. I was
also the Brasilian Infant Champion.
When
and which was your last title?
World
Champion in June 2007. Pan-American Games
Champion in 2003 and July 2007.
Which
title was most important for your career?
The
2 categories abovep plus the Youth Championships
of 1997 and 1998, in Japan and South Africa
respectively.
How
did you come to stay in Sao Miguel do Gostoso?
I had always heard good things about Sao
Miguel do Gostoso so this time I took my
first holidays, after 10 years of training, and
came here with my friend Marcio, from Recife.
Marcio is a close friend and was one of
my main opponents at the beginning of my
career. I thought to stay here in Sao Miguel
do Gostoso for one week but ended up staying
for 3.
What
do you think about the wind conditions here
in Sao Miguel do Gostoso?
Simply
perfect to practice windsurfing, especially
in the categories of waves and freestyle.
The conditions here are also great for practicing
kite surfing.
Do
you think it is possible for Sao Miguel
do Gostoso to stage a national championship
level competition one day?
Not
only national but also to stage and international
competition of wind and kite surf.
What
would your advice be to a beginner of the
sport who dreams to become a champion?
Much
dedication to training, have faith that
hard training will bring results, great
discipline.
What
do you think is most Gostoso in Sao Miguel?
The
affection of the locals, the good winds,
Ponte do Santo Cristo, and the beautiful
pousadas and restaurants. The windsurf
storage space that Dr. Wind has set up is
great too.
Are
there any reference sources that you would
recommend for those who want to learn more
about windsurfing?
Specifically
about windsurfing there is not too much
hard copy to read in Brasil, but I think
that if you have any questions about the
sport you can find the answers on a few
Brasilian websites.
Apart
from your family, who are your Sponsors?
My
official Sponsors are Oi and Gol. I also
have support from Electric, Boom, Mormaii,
Osklen.
To
finish up our interview what you would like
to say to your fans?
Never
stop believing in your dreams. Work hard
and all will come true. And, never stop
practising a health activity, and exercise.
Hugs,
Bimba
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