The Casati Family at GKA Mykonos: A Kiteboarding Dynasty in the Making

The Brazilian Brothers caught up with the Casati family on the beach at the GKA Kite World Cup in Mykonos. The Casatis have established themselves as an absolute powerhouse in the sport of kiteboarding. With Lorenzo already throwing down in the biggest competitions, his younger brother Leo is now stepping up with real odds of taking home a World Championship.

Renato Casati — the father and coach of Lorenzo and Leo — is incredibly proud to have two sons competing at the highest stage of kitesurfing. The family believed in this dream early on, leaving everything behind in Italy to move to the Canary Islands without knowing exactly what the future held. At the time, the focus wasn't even on becoming kite world champions; it was simply about improving their quality of life.

The boys were actually playing tennis at first, not kitesurfing. Little by little, they found their own passion for the sport. Renato emphasizes that he never forced them into it: it was entirely their choice, passion, and commitment. He had a dream, believed in it, worked hard, and the kids followed his aspirations to make it a reality.

Photo credit: GKA Kite World Tour

Renato's Coaching Methodology

Renato's coaching success comes from a deep background in the sport. He was a pioneer, starting to kitesurf back in 1994 and becoming one of the first instructors in Italy by 1996. Combining his master's in sports with his passion for kiteboarding, he developed a specific methodology and system for training his sons. He even jokes that he might write a book about his methods one day.

The Volcano Technique

To illustrate his coaching style, Renato shared a story about Lorenzo's early days on the water. Leo actually started three months after Lorenzo, simply because he was watching his older brother and asked his dad, "If Lorenzo can do it, can I do it better?"

Meanwhile, Lorenzo was struggling hard with back rotations. He was complaining, saying it was impossible and unfair, and that he'd never make a back rotation. While riding in El Medano, Renato gave him a specific cue to break through the mental block: put pressure on the rear foot to turn, and immediately look at the volcano with your head. The very first time Lorenzo tried this approach, he bypassed a single rotation entirely and immediately landed a double. For Renato, coaching is all about finding the right key to enter the athlete's mind.

Lorenzo Casati's Goals and Mykonos Conditions

Lorenzo Casati — part of the "trap" crew alongside Jeremy Burlando, Principi, and now Leo — has been training hard with his brother and father. His main goal for the Mykonos competition is simple: get the win. He acknowledges the level is super high, but he's ready to push his best tricks and go super hard.

Riding the Mykonos Spot

Lorenzo breaks down the conditions in Mykonos, noting that it's a pretty tricky spot:

• Water State: It gets super choppy.
• Wind Direction: The wind blows straight onshore, which means you have to jump far out, otherwise you risk landing right on the beach.
• Wind Quality: It can be gusty, but on the good days, it's amazing and really lofty. For the competition, they're expecting 30 to 45 knots.

When asked about his younger brother being on the cusp of a world title, Lorenzo says it's an amazing feeling. If someone has to win the World Championship after him, he wants it to be his brother so the title stays in the family. Since Lorenzo lost early in France, he doesn't have enough points to take the win himself, but he's fully backing Leo to get the job done.

Photo credit: GKA Kite World Tour

Leonardo Casati's World Title Strategy

Sitting in a prime position to take over the World Championship, Leonardo Casati admits that knowing he can win the title is a crazy feeling. His strategy for the competition is to go full-on and win every single heat possible. He isn't trying to play it safe or avoid certain riders.

To secure the title, Leo needs to win the final. That said, if Jamie gets second place, Leo won't win the title — because Jamie won round three in France. When it comes to gear, Leo's favorite sizes to ride are the 8m and 9m. He likes riding full power on the 8m and full power on the 9m, noting that he just wants good power regardless of which of those two sizes he's on.

Photo credit: GKA Kite World Tour

The Sibling Matchup

What happens if the two brothers face each other in a heat? Leo explains that if they meet in the final, it's every man for himself—they'll go full-on against each other. But if they meet in the semi-final and Leo is losing, Lorenzo might let him win to help him secure the world title, since Lorenzo is already out of the running for the championship.

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