Mitu recently returned to competition at his native Ponta Preta break just ahead of his 40th birthday next month. “I returned to competition after a four-year absence this year to commemorate the 15th anniversary of my return to Cape Verde as a kitesurf world champion in 2008,” says Monteiro. “It’s impossible to put into words what this meant to my people, but I still remember the image of people waiting for me at the airport. Is it true that I’m a legend? I’m not sure. But if my success helped others, I consider myself to have won.”