Rider Spotlight to @guanabokite

June 5, 2025

Meet the SUELTALABARRA community: Spotlight on @guanabokite

SUELTALABARRA Family! Today we travel to vibrant Cuba to introduce you to a rider who not only lives kitesurfing, but has turned it into a driving force for his community: Yasel Hugo Cabello Rivero , known on Instagram as @guanabokite . His story is a reflection of passion, resilience, and a deep love for the sea and freedom.

@guanabokite: Cuban Passion and the Founding of a Community

From the idyllic beaches of Guanabo, in Havana, Cuba , 35-year-old Yasel Hugo Cabello Rivero has been riding the waves for 12 years . His main spot is not only his training ground, but also the epicenter of his most personal project: GuanaboKite Club , a kitesurfing school he founded in 2017 in eastern Havana. This demonstrates his commitment not only to his sport, but also to the growth of the kite community in his country.

Yasel defines himself as a Freeride rider, which involves versatile riding adapted to the conditions, seeking to enjoy each session to the fullest. His kitesurfing skills are remarkable, especially in strong winds, where he also dares to try Big Air . Although he enjoys Freestyle, a previous injury leads him to practice it cautiously, prioritizing enjoyment and safety.

Its evolution and new challenges: Foil and Strapless

Yasel's curiosity knows no bounds. Always looking for new ways to glide across the water, her next goal is to learn how to foil surf . This discipline, which combines the essence of surfing with the efficiency of hydrofoiling, will open new doors and sensations for her.

Furthermore, his main current goal in kitesurfing is to continue practicing strapless surfboard tricks . He considers them to be the most difficult and most beautiful, which underscores his pursuit of elegance and technical challenge in bare-bones surfing, one of the purest facets of kitesurfing.

Your team: Combining trust and adaptability

Yasel Hugo's quiver is a reflection of his versatile style and approach to kitesurfing:

Kite: Trust the 2020 Naish Triad 9m , a kite known for its ease of use, stability and versatility, ideal for freeriding and for beginners in wave riding.
Surfboards: Your choice of directional boards includes the AIRUSH AMP 5.6 (28L) and the CABRINHA TRIGGER 5.8 . Both are models designed for wave performance, offering buoyancy, control, and maneuverability.
Twintip: For his more conventional freeride sessions, he uses the 2015 NAISH MONARCH 135x42 , a robust and reliable board.
Harness: For support, Yasel uses a RIDEENGINE RIGID CARBON Harness , which provides excellent support and a direct connection to the kite.
Bar: Its control is completed with a NORTH 2015 BAR .

Achievements, self-improvement, and vital advice

Yasel's career is marked by key moments:

In 2017 , he founded GuanaboKite Club , consolidating a space for kitesurfing in Havana.
On December 3, 2017 , he won the bronze medal in a local kitesurfing regatta, an achievement that demonstrates his competitive ability.
However, she has also faced challenges, such as a fibula injury in 2018 (currently with a screw in her right ankle), which highlights her resilience and ability to return to the water.

His advice is a life philosophy applicable to sports and beyond: "When you combine creativity with experience, you get really crazy ideas." A phrase that inspires experimentation and trust in the process.

For Yasel, and many of his friends, kitesurfing is more than a sport; it's "a way to escape from problems and this polluted society." A profound vision that connects us with the true essence of gliding over the water. It's an honor to have Yasel Hugo Cabello Rivero in our SUELTALABARRA community. His story of overcoming challenges and commitment inspire us all.

If you're also a rider and want to be the next in our Spotlight, don't hesitate to contact us through Instagram. We want to hear your story.