A Breath Beyond the Horizon: Interview with Alessandro Gattafoni

Alessandro Gattafoni (born in 1986, originally from Civitanova Marche) is an Italian kayak athlete and an ambassador for the Italian Cystic Fibrosis League (Lega Italiana Fibrosi Cistica – LIFC).
Living with cystic fibrosis, he is well known to the general public for his extreme sports feats at sea, organized to raise public awareness about this genetic disease and to demonstrate the benefits of sports and respiratory activity in managing the condition:
⚬    The Italy–Croatia crossing: With the "125 Miglia per un respiro" (125 Miles for a Breath) initiative, he completed a solo kayak crossing of the Adriatic Sea.
⚬    Other maritime feats: Among various challenges, he covered over 170 km by kayak in 24 hours and crossed the Strait of Messina.
⚬    Competitive activity: After past experiences in football and boxing, he dedicated himself to ocean racing (canoe/kayak), competing in international events including the ICF World Championships.
Through his athletic projects and public testimonies, he conveys a message of resilience and dedication to research and support for patients living with rare respiratory diseases.

[Gear and Surfski Choice] [fiorenzo.pizza@kayak.love] - Which surfski model do you currently own, and what led you to choose this specific hull? Stability vs. Speed: In transitioning toward competitive surfski or open-sea crossings, how did you strike the balance between primary/secondary stability and wave-riding glide? Paddle and setup: What type of paddle (length, feather angle, wing blade) do you typically use, and how much does this setup impact efficiency over long distances? Onboard safety: What technical equipment (leash, lifejacket/PFD, tracking devices, or VHF) do you consider essential when taking on demanding outings in the open sea?

[Alessandro Gattafoni] - RS600 Allwave, mid-sized Brača. A good compromise for me between speed and stability while I wait to improve enough to step up to an elite model.
Naturally, for ultra-distance crossings, I prefer a more stable model like the RS590... which allows me to keep going even as fatigue and, above all, sleep deprivation set in?!
I have used a Wave Design Wild 685 with a length of 2 m. For long distances, I prefer a higher cadence over a more power-driven stroke.
For racing, on the other hand, I went with a Brača XI 705 — also two meters long — both set at 60°.
Safety during crossings: I am always accompanied by a support boat (which is also legally required); in addition to the lifejacket (Vaikobi), I wear a Garmin inReach Mini tracker. It is a satellite device capable of sharing my location in real time with anyone following the event via a dedicated link.
Beyond that, it is vital in an emergency!!

[Athletic Training and Daily Routine (Day by Day)] [fiorenzo.pizza@kayak.love] - Weekly volume: How many kilometers do you cover on average per week on the water between base mileage and quality sessions? Workout structure: How do you alternate water sessions (downwind, intervals, aerobic endurance) with dry-land strength conditioning in the gym? Breath management: Living with cystic fibrosis, how do respiratory physiotherapy and daily therapies integrate with your most intense training loads? Recovery and nutrition: How do you handle muscular and energy recovery after long or particularly grueling sessions in rough seas?

[Alessandro Gattafoni]  - I train every day. (For me, daily training is essential, also for managing my condition). During the warmer months from March to October, I manage to get out on the water an average of 4 times a week, reaching up to 6 during peak preparation periods, while keeping up two weekly strength sessions in the gym.
On the water, I cover anywhere from a minimum of 30 km up to 100 km per week. Unfortunately, downwind conditions are rare in the Adriatic Sea.
Whenever they do occur, I transport the canoe by car (with a companion) 20 km out and paddle back downwind.
Unfortunately, this year I focused heavily on pace and technique, leaving intervals aside.
That is a detail I will work on more thoroughly in the near future. Cystic fibrosis does not mix easily with sports:
The lungs are compromised, there is a risk of dehydration, and managing carbohydrates is extremely difficult because I am glucose intolerant (a transitional stage toward actual diabetes).
And yet, exercise remains the best possible medicine!! My role as an LIFC ambassador is also about this: showing other patients that through intense physical activity, health improves significantly!! Recovery is naturally longer,
but I try to push through it in every way I can. My core principle is to close the gap that the disease imposes between me and other athletes through hard WORK!!

[Competitions, World Championships, and Future Goals] - [fiorenzo.pizza@kayak.love] - The experience at the Ocean Racing World Championships: What were the most formative moments when testing yourself against top international athletes in real ocean conditions? Crossings vs. Circuit Races: How do mental and energy demands differ when preparing for a solo crossing (like the Adriatic) compared to a competitive circuit or downwind race? Next goal: With the World Championships behind you, what new challenge is on the horizon — another major crossing, a new record, or a specific competitive milestone? Social impact of the new project: How will this next milestone continue to support the Italian Cystic Fibrosis League's mission and public scientific awareness?

[Alessandro Gattafoni] - The World Championships have just wrapped up, where I realized there is still plenty of room for improvement, but also that the path I’ve taken has brought me to a respectable level in competitive racing.
This has been an intense year between prepping for the Worlds and completing the Strait of Messina crossing (outbound by kayak, return by swimming).
Now it's time to pause and reflect (not a break from training, though) before diving into the next adventure!!

Between a 180 km crossing and a race under 20 km, everything changes completely, both physically and mentally. The challenge of a 20-to-24-hour crossing lies in enduring without ever letting your heart rate spike. Enduring everything: boredom, sleep deprivation, wear and tear, and being able to stay in the exact same position for hours on end.
Fighting the mind that constantly wants to quit. Navigating night and day — taking on pitch darkness just as much as the scorching sun... It is a battle against yourself!!
In competitions, you are racing against other athletes. The time on the water is definitely shorter, but the effort is maximal.
While on ultra-distances we burn complex carbs for fuel, during short bursts we rely on glucose, so the whole "engine" has to adapt.
In racing, technique is paramount; on long crossings, it can be somewhat more forgiving. You only have to look back at my first sea kayak crossing, which I took on virtually as a novice with very little technique under my belt.

Through my athletic feats, I try to shine a light on what is the most common fatal, degenerative genetic disease in the Caucasian population...
Sending a message of hope, especially to all those families who find themselves with a newborn diagnosed with this merciless verdict.