Ten Questions: Posito Martinez

Posito Martinez is a big air world champion who had an impressive run at the King Of The Air this year, find out what makes him tick right here!

Posito Martinez knows a thing or two when it comes to combining Big Air with high-powered-jaw-dropping Freestyle! In this feature, Jen Tyler got to know Posito a little better by asking him 10 questions. Find out how it all began for this Dominican talent, the struggles he overcame, and what his goals for 2020 are, right here!

Posito, it's great to meet you! Could you please tell us a little bit about growing up in Cabarete, your family and how you initially got introduced to kiteboarding?

Jen, it's my pleasure to meet and share my story with you guys! I honestly consider Cabarete one of the best places in the world to grow up in. It's warm, sunny and windy all year round, with plenty to do other than wind-oriented watersports!

Eleveight Kites | View in Mag

Flysurfer | View in Mag

Being the youngest sibling, growing up, all my brothers were kiteboarding instructors, and so, it only made sense that I followed in their footsteps. My mother was and still is a hard-working woman, and she sacrificed a lot to get me where I am today. She believed in me from the very start, and she always supported my decision to become a professional kiteboarder. My father drives a moto concho (local transportation) around the kiteboarding centres here in Cabarete, he's easy to spot as he's always wearing my CrazyFly and Prolimit branded clothes!

Since I was young, I used to go to the beach to help tourists set up their gear, and in return, they would give me some kiteboarding tips, or allow me to borrow their equipment for a session. Eventually, I started working at one of the kiteboarding schools, and they allowed me to train in my free time.

What is it about the kiteboarding scene in Cabarete that makes it so unique?

The people in Cabarete tend to be very welcoming, fun, crazy and up for having a good time! It's a cosy town with a diverse, expatriate community, so even though you might be miles from your country, chances are you'll feel right at home here!

You're an extremely talented rider when it comes to Big Air and Freestyle, could you share with us how that all started? When did you realise you wanted to become a professional kiteboarder?

Growing up, we lived right across from where my brothers worked as instructors. I wasn't allowed to go to the beach with them initially as I was too young, and they thought it might be too dangerous! I remember telling my mother when I was about eight years old that I was going to become a professional kiteboarder one day, travel the world and compete, and take her for her financially, and here I am today.

Have you ever been in a situation while you were kiteboarding that made you feel like you were out of your comfort zone? What happened?

The day Joselito and I got lost in the sea.

Duotone | View in Mag

Prolimit | View in Mag

There was a competition in Puerto Plata, which is roughly a 45-minute car ride from Cabarete. Joselito and I decided that we go for a downwinder straight to where the event was on our kites. About halfway there, we got caught up in a storm and lost sight of each other. I managed to stay close enough to the coastline before the wind died. I ended up paddling for hours before the coast guards came to the rescue, and they interrogated me, thinking I was illegally entering the country. Joselito spent the night out at sea, and he was only found the following morning. Talk about being out of my comfort zone; that was one of the worst experiences of my life.

You've been riding for CrazyFly for just over a year now; can you tell us a little about the brand and what your favourite set up is?

I'm thrilled to be riding for CrazyFly! They have their own factory, they pay attention to quality and detail, and that's why they are the only company on the market that offers a three-year warranty!

For Big Air competitions, I use the Hyper kite with the new Raptor Extreme board, that I designed with the CrazyFly team. For Freestyle, I use the Sculp kite with the bulldozer board.

Have you ever had any serious injuries while kiteboarding? What exercises do you do to prepare yourself for competitions, physically?

I've had quite a few injuries this year! During the 2019 King of the Air, I bruised my ribs (luckily, they weren't broken), but it caused me extreme discomfort during the first leg of the Freestyle tour. As soon as I recovered from that injury, I started training again and injured the ligaments on my right thumb while I was training in Mauritius. I managed to overcome the pain and perform well there as well as the following stop in Morocco, but when I got back home, my doctor recommended I rest for two weeks; that why I couldn't make it to Brazil.

To prepare for competitions, I mainly kiteboard and stretch a lot before and after my sessions, but I also surf often and play baseball.

Eleveight Kites | View in Mag

Mystic | View in Mag

Who is your main kiteboarding inspiration?

I grew up admiring local pro riders like Luciano Gonzalez Jose and Luis Ciriaco, and I watched a lot of Youri Zoon and Aaron Hadlow's videos!

What is the main challenge you face as a professional kiteboarder?

I think the main challenge we face here in Cabarete and many Latin American countries as kiteboarders are the lack of sponsorships. I have met many world-class riders that unfortunately never got the opportunity to make a name for themselves. It saddens me because, for some of us, it is the only way to get out of poverty.

How have your friends, family and sponsors supported and influenced your kiteboarding career?

I am who I am today because of my family. I remember my mother sold her bike so that I could make it to my first international competition in France. That year, I won the Big Air category, and I was able to repurchase the bike for her!

My main sponsor CrazyFly has given me full support, and now I can compete worldwide. They have supported me for every event I have entered since I joined them, which is incredible, as I can focus on riding without worrying about financially how I could get there!

What are your personal and professional goals for 2020? Do you have any exciting projects you can share with us?

For starters, I am opening a new kiteboarding school in Cabarete, and we aim to open our doors by the beginning of 2020. My vision for this project is to have people visit the school all year round by offering them something new and innovative. That way, the school's employees and instructors can have a steady income all year-round instead of it being seasonal. I know that one of the main reasons a lot of people don't get into kiteboarding is because it can be costly; I suffered that myself, and this is something we are working on doing differently here.

Duotone | View in Mag

Airwave Kiteboarding | View in Mag

Professionally, I want to head back to South Africa for the 2020 Red Bull King of the Air and make it to the Megaloop Challenge after that. I am also aiming to keep my Freestyle game ON for a chance to claim the 2020 world title!

Last but not least, I am currently working on a video for 2020 - plenty of Freestyle and Big Air, and some new stuff too, so stay tuned!

Thanks, Posito! We look forward to seeing you soon and best of luck for 2020!

Thank you, Jen! It is always a pleasure to talk to you!