Cape Town has long been on the maps of many well seasoned and adventurous kitesurfers. Famous for the gail force winds and large swell during the summer months, combined with a great
blend of diverse cultures, it is no wonder Cape Town has become such a popular kitesurf destination for riders of all skill levels.
Wind battery: the winding coastline. Photo – Kyle Cabano
There is however more to Cape Town than the West Coast which is known for its big air antics, world record jumps, and serious wave riding. If you take the road East, over the hills and through the valleys you will be rewarded with a great variety of conditions away from the masses.
Private access sorry boys and girls. Photo by Christopher Bodenstein
Beautiful landscapes. Photo by Chandre Bodenstein
Scattered along curves of an ever bending coastline you will find a sequence of beaches with the occasional river forming lagoons on the interface between the water bodies. With a bit of creativity and a little know-how you will be well on your way to riding clean winds in far warmer water temperatures than the frigid Atlantic ocean.
Oh yes did I mention the sunsets? Photo by Kyle Cabano
With each beach being angled slightly differently to the rest, you will see that it is possible to kite on all directions of wind. This makes the area unique in that on just about any given day of the year, within a 50km driving radius you are bound to find something rideable ranging from large waves to buttery lagoons over a large wind range, depending on the conditions.
Kyle clearly focusing on finding the flattest butter. Photo by Lize Kriel
Just passing through. Photo by Chandre Bodenstein
Although many of the spots in this area were only put on the maps as kite spots in recent seasons, the sport is quickly growing in the area and although there are only a handful of diehard local riders, there is a great influx of tourists venturing out this side to get a break from the busy city. Unfortunately for the masses, not all of the spots along our majestic coast are public access making the crowding of certain areas self regulating and sometimes private access is required in order to find the most buttery slick of them all.
Be friendly. Photo by Chandre Bodenstein. Be creative. Photo by Kyle Cabano
So go out there and get creative, be friendly and chat to the locals because they are the ones bearing the secrets of this untapped coastline.
Saffa Surf Tours specializes in kitesurfing holidays that are affordable, tailored & guided by experienced locals. They offer 2 standard kitesurfing holiday packages: A 7-day Beginners trip, and a 7-day Advanced trip. The 7-day Kiters Trip has been created for kitesurfers looking to tap into the lesser ridden spots that the Western Cape has to offer. With the unique geographics of their coastline, they have an abundance of spots which range from butter flat slicks, to fun sized waves for the wave riders, and nuclear winds for the big air specialists, all within a 60km radius of the newly renovated Saffa Surf house.
You can expect wind on each day of your stay in locations that are away from the crowds of the West Coast, and tailored to your exact preference in conditions. Check them out here:
Article by Kyle Rhett Cabano