Kapono Fukuda

My name is Kapono Fukuda, and I am currently 18 years old. I was born on Oahu in Hawaii and raised in Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. I am currently participating in the following sports: surfing (shortboard and longboard), SUP surfing, wing foil, Prone foil, SUP foil, Skiing and Snowboarding(Back Country). My father runs a surf shop, and I have been involved in surfing and SUP since I was little. I started competing in SUP surfing and won the All Japan Junior Championship in elementary school. As I entered middle school, I aimed for the overall victory in the All Japan SUP Surfing Championship.　In 2022 and 2023, I won the APP World Tour SUP Surfing Championship for the under-18 category for two consecutive years. In 2023, I was selected as a representative of Japan in the SUP surfing category for the ISA Surfing Championships and participated in the competition in France, where I achieved a 9th place finish. Furthermore, I won the All Japan SUP Surfing Championship in both 2023 and 2024.Around 2017, I began practicing hydrofoil prone foil and SUP foil at my father's suggestion. I started WING foil in 2022. In the 2024 season, I received a wildcard entry from GWA and participated in the WING Foil Wave competition in Morocco for the first time. Although I did not achieve a notable result, it was a valuable experience.　I usually practice freestyle and wave techniques, and in January 2025, I won the freestyle division at the All Japan Wing Foil Championship. Additionally, I finished 5th overall in the race division in my second race participation, which allowed me to strongly feel the joy of racing. This year, I am committed to participating in international competitions and continue my training.