Kitesurfing Tips for Beginners

May 18, 2022/0 Comments/in Specials /by Clyde Thomas

Kitesurfing is one of the world’s fastest growing extreme water sport. It involves a combination of several sports skills, including surfing, wakeboarding, and kiteflying, making it a complex yet rewarding sport. It is relatively easy to learn, but learning to kitesurf can be exciting, overwhelming and daunting at the same time. Here are some kitesurfing tips for beginners:

Watch Instructional Kitesurfing Videos

Watching instructional kitesurfing videos before kitesurf lessons will definitely help you learn faster. In addition to learning tricks, watching the videos beforehand allows you to get an idea of what kitesurfing is like, what to expect and how to physically and mentally prepare for the challenge. However, it should be noted that these instructional videos are not intended to be as substitutes for professional kitesurfing lessons. They are merely intended to be supplementary sources in the learning process.

Don’t Go Kitesurfing by Yourself

Kitesurfing can be the most dangerous sport in the world if you don’t know what you’re doing. But it can also be the safest and most fun sport if you get a proper introduction and lessons. Simply put, find someone to teach you because learning kitesurfing requires the supervision of a qualified kitesurfing instructor who can demonstrate proper technique and help you understand all the other factors that relate to the activity. Sure, you can try to teach yourself to kitesurf but learning through an experienced and professional instructor is not only for your own safety but also for the safety of other innocent beachgoers and kitesurfers. Getting lessons from a qualified kitesurf instructor is undoubtedly the best way to progress quickly and safely.

Use Appropriate Equipment

The kite system consists of a kite, flying lines, a control bar, and a kite harness. You also need a wetsuit, aqua shoes, a helmet and a life jacket for added safety. Using the right equipment in kitesurfing is essential to ensure your safety. A kite that is too big can be dangerous, too small can be frustrating and a kite which is too old will not have sufficient or up to date safety systems. However, it is not enough that you use the correct equipment. You should also know how to set up your kite correctly.

Know the Rules

Know the safety rules and regulations on and off the water. Knowing the rules and regulations does not only keep you safe, it also enables you to properly conduct yourself in front of your fellow kitesurfers. Also, learn the universal hand signals because they come in handy when you are in the water.

Practice, Practice, Practice

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. You don’t become a good kitesurfer by simply using the right equipment and knowing the rules and regulations. Your progress depends on the most important factor— you. The more time you spend practicing, the faster you learn. Just remember that failed attempts are indispensable in the development of your skills as a kitesurfer.

Be Patient

It takes time to learn how to kitesurf proficiently. You won’t become a kitesurfer overnight. So, be patient as time is required to learn the sport. Though learning will vary according to the individual, most people pick it up after just a couple days of lessons. Just be patient and don’t give up, and you’ll get there before you even know it.

Be Confident

Kitesurfing is not all about physical fitness. One factor that affects your learning is your confidence. If you are not confident enough that you will progress, you are most likely to fail. Having the confidence that you can accomplish something, even as challenging as kitesurfing, makes a great difference. So, gather all your confidence before you start your kitesurfing lessons in Cape Town.

Have Fun

The last but never the least kitesurfing tip for beginners is to have fun. When you have fun, learning to kitesurf won’t be a very difficult task. When you have fun, you won’t be able to think of quitting even if you will have a hard time progressing at first.

Kitesurfing Spots in Cape Town

October 25, 2021/0 Comments/in Specials /by Clyde Thomas

Cape Town is one of the best kitesurfing destinations in the world because it has various kitesurfing spots along its coast. Whether you are a beginner or advanced kitesurfer, you will surely find the best kitesurfing spot suitable for your skills and preference. In fact, professionals from all over the globe come to Cape Town to train for kitesurfing events. Cape Town offers flat waters, downwind spots, small waves, high waves, warm and cool water. You just have to find the kitesurfing spot that works best for you. Here are the top kitesurfing spots in Cape Town:

Big Bay

Big bay is just about a 30-minute drive from the city center. It is one of the most popular kitesurfing spots in Cape Town. It is a favorite not just for kitesurfers, but also bodyboarders, surfers, windsurfers, SUP, and anybody who wants to spend a day at the beach. This is why Big bay can become very crowded, especially on the summer weekends. Big bay is also known for its strong winds and is popular with surfers of any level. There are also flat sections between the waves and great waves which are sheltered by the rocks. In addition, Big Bay is full of life and friendly locals. It is full of restaurants, supermarkets, and kitesurfing shops.

Scarborough

Scarborough is a stunning beach which is just 45 minutes away from the city center. This beach is bordering the Cape Point Nature Reserve. It has beautiful views and low levels of congestion making it a great place to surf away from the crowds. With its strong winds, the beach is an ideal spot for flying kites and kitesurfing. Scarborough has big waves so it is a good place to practice your wave riding skills. It is however not a kitesurfing spot for beginners. It is more suitable for intermediate to advanced kitesurfers.

Muizenberg

Muizenberg is considered to be the birthplace of surfing in South Africa and is a kitesurfer’s paradise. It is currently home to a surfing community. Muizenberg has over 20 km beach that stretches all the way around the top of False Bay to the Strand. It caters for all levels from beginner to advanced kitesurfers because of its excellent wave-riding, free-riding and freestyle conditions. During summer months, the water is warm with small waves and perfect wind conditions for beginners. The kitesurfers will surely enjoy kitesurfing spot.

Sunset Beach

The Sunset beach is a long, sandy, white beach that has exquisite views of Table Mountain, Robben Island with stunning sunsets over the ocean. It is the most consistently windy spot in Cape Town and produces the most unbelievable waves. Because of this, Sunset beach is a favorite for kitesurfers, kiteboarders, windsurfers, and boardsailors. However, it is not recommended for beginners. Riding the large waves is only for the skilled and the brave. There are also a number of shops and restaurants close by so it is easy to get what you need.

Dolphin Beach

The Dolphin Beach is known by locals as “kite beach“. It is known for its amazing kitesurfing and windsurfing opportunities. It is also a good place for beginners to start out downwind. Dolphin beach is not only for kitesurfing and windsurfing but is also great for dolphin and whale watching. It has spectacular views of Table Mountain, Robben Island and gorgeous sunsets making it perfect for long beach walks. The beach has a variety of restaurants and shops within walking distance. However, there are no public facilities or lifeguards.

Camps Bay

Camps Bay is a nice sandy beach with small waves and is perfect for kitesurfing of all levels. It is not just popular to kitesurfers, Camps Bay is also popular and quite frenetic with families, stylish singles, and tourists. The kitesurfing spot also offers a lot of good and luxurious restaurants and bars to grab something to eat and to drink.

Shit Foil Kiters Say

Check out this video from Tom Court. ‘Shit that kite foilers say’ – foiling, foils, foilers, hover boards, pole riders, speed demons, stick jockeys, shaft monkeys, racers, light wind warriors…

Cabrinha: The Kitesurfing Experts

March 17, 2015/0 Comments/in Gear, Kiteboarding /by Clyde Thomas

If you’re an avid kitesurfer then there is little doubt that you’ve heard of Cabrinha.

It’s more than likely that you have or currently are using their world-class gear and you’re not the only one.

Cabrinha is the leading kitesurfing brand in 40 countries worldwide and they’re showing no signs of giving up the top spot.

How much do you know about Cabrinha, though?

Read on to learn more about the brand that is inspired and driven by champion waterman, Pete Cabrinha.

The Man

Pete Cabrinha isn’t like everybody else.

His dedication to water sports has gained him both pioneer and master status in three of the most cutting edge water sports.

He has international titles in surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing – placing him at the top of a short list of world class watermen.

But he isn’t just a water sports guy.

For the past two decades he has also pursued the arts with vigour and curiosity.

Pete has paired his technical photography skills with his off centre painting techniques to capture the essence of a life lived above and below the Hawaiian waters.

Pete’s success and lifestyle as a professional water sports athlete and the founder of Cabrinha Kitesurfing enables him to travel the world.

The Gear

Like Pete, the Cabrinha kitesurfing brand is a world leader.

Since 2000, Cabrinha, a subsidiary of the Pryde Group, has climbed the ranks to take the position as the leading kitesurfing brand, selling in over 40 countries worldwide.

The company produces everything from kites to boards to accessories and it sponsors the top athletes in the sport.

The Cabrinha approach to kiteboarding is a reflection of the philosophy that Pete has applied to his many years of surfing.

By keeping an open mind to all styles of riding and embracing new technologies, Cabrinha has been able to lead kitesurfing into a new era of performance.

In South Africa

South Africa is one of the best locations in the world for kitesurfing and is the current home of the Red Bull King of the Air kitesurfing competition.

So, obviously Cabrinha had to expand their reach and become synonymous with kitesurfing in South Africa just as they have done worldwide.

Which they have achieved.

Cabrinha has ten dealers stretching along the entire coast of South Africa providing all of the gear that you love as well as lessons to anyone who is keen to join in on the fun of this adrenaline injection of a water sport.

And Cabrinha isn’t the only one stocking their gear. You can find the best Cabrinha kites, boards and accessories in all of the leading kitesurfing centres across South Africa.

Get hold of Cabinha today!

Cabrinha is now sold at Open Ocean in Big Bay as they expanded their offering beyond Cabrinha gear.

Kite Like a King of the Air

January 26, 2015/0 Comments/in Specials /by Clyde Thomas

Kite Like a King of the Air!

Five Absolute Must-Kite Hotspots in Cape Town

Between 31 January – 14 February 2015 twenty-four of the world’s best kiteboarders will battle it out in front of thousands of fans, and a panel of six esteemed judges, to find out who will be the new Red Bull King of the Air for 2015.

The battle ground for this world-famous event is chosen by an international panel of experts from the best spots around the world, like Hawaii, California and Brazil.

Big Bay, Cape Town wins every time.

The reason why top international kiteboarders keep choosing our windy waters above their own is simple: our consistent and reliable wind.

So why not kite where the pro’s do?

Here’s the low down on a few of their favourite locations:

Witsands Cape Point

Witsands beach is a firm favourite for pro kiters. This beautiful setting is not for beginners as it offers far more extreme and challenging conditions than other spots around Cape Town.

Riders can catch their highest kicks and swells coming in from the south with the help of wind blowing between 40-50 knots.

Langebaan

Quite a contrast to Witsands with its clean winds, warmer waters and long, flat stretches of ocean, Langebaan is an ideal spot for beginners and pros alike.

Recognised for its excellent wind build-ups, pro riders know that Langebaan is the spot where they can get the height they’re looking for. Also a great spot for kiters to work on their surface technique, Langebaan makes a change from the hectic, sometimes terrifying conditions at other beaches.

Dolphin Beach

Dolphin Beach is known as one of the busiest kiting beaches in Cape Town during season, where anywhere between one hundred and one hundred and fifty kiters can be in the water at once.

This is thanks to consistent kite-friendly conditions, such as ample space to launch from the beach, two to three metres swells on windy days (which is almost every day in season), and of course, the great downwind kiting from the ever-present South Easter.

Haakgat

Located just a few kilometres outside of Big Bay, Haakgat is beloved for its four metres wave swells and excellent wave breaks.

The currents and waves are not suited to amateur kiters, however, and shouldn’t be taken on if you’re not confident and experienced.

Big Bay

Big Bay is acknowledged by the best as a beach with some of the cleanest waves and long flat areas of water, channelling some serious South Easters that allow riders to show off their more complex moves. The wind here is said to be lighter than in other parts of the coastline and creates perfect conditions for tricks and free styling.

“I’ve had some of my best surfs at Big Bay…with smooth nine metre winds and the most ridiculous kickers that curve in through the bay allowing you to pick the angle you want to hit them at.” – Aaron Hadlow, Five Time World Champion and Hadlow Pro by Flexifoil Gear Development.

Aaron Hadlow | Kolesky | Nikon | Red Bull Content Pool

Jaanus Ree | Red Bull Content Pool

Aside from ideal wind and water, it’s what you can do once you get out of the water that makes Big Bay a favourite for locals and internationals. Eden on the Bay on Big Bay has great restaurants right on the beachfront, plenty of safe underground parking, and shops, like Cabrinha Cape Town. Plus, the Big Bay Lifesaving Club is right at the water’s edge.

Eden on the Bay is also the host of the Red Bull King of the Air event for the third consecutive year.

The 2015 King of the Air competition promises to be bigger and better than ever. As always, we’re anticipating crowds of thousands to gather on the sandy shores of Big Bay beach to witness the crowning of the 2015 Red Bull King of the Air competition. We’ll see you there.

5 Reasons Why You Should Be Kitesurfing in Cape Town

January 12, 2015/0 Comments/in Cape Town, First Time Visitors, Kiteboarding /by Clyde Thomas

The popularity of kitesurfing is soaring all over the world and Cape Town is the sport’s favourite training ground.

Wind and even more wind, cheap accommodation and entertainment for tourists, and plenty of touristy things to do makes Cape Town the place to visit for Kitesurfers of all levels.

Here are five reasons why you should book your flight right now and start kitesurfing in Cape Town.

Wind…So much wind

Ask any Mother City local if Cape Town gets windy during Summer and they’ll laugh for two minutes straight.

Once they realise that you weren’t being ironic they’ll inform you that it’s pretty much always windy in Cape Town.

You may hear a few grumbles from locals that the wind gets a bit much, but the only thing you’ll hear from kitesurfers is a faint, distant “whoo-hoo”, because they’ll be out, killing it, on the water.

The Rand Ain’t The Strongest

Kitesurfing is a very expensive sport…if you’re earning South Africa Rands.

If you’re strolling along the Cape coastline with Dollars, Euros or Pound Sterling, well then, kitesurfing in Cape Town is a very inexpensive sport.

And everything else will be cheap for you too.

A dining experience at one of Cape Town’s finest restaurants, the type of restaurant most locals save up six months for, won’t cost you more than 100 of whatever currency of bucks you have lining your wallets.

Practice Where The Pro’s Do

The Red Bull King of the Air kitesurfing competition returns to Cape Town for a 3^rd time running.

Twelve thousand people gathered to watch the spectacle that is the adrenaline induced World Cup of kitesurfing last year which further increased the popularity of the sport in Cape Town.

So if you’re kitesurfing in Cape Town you’re kitesurfing where the pros do. Cool, hey?

Tons of Other Stuff To Do

Now, you won’t be kitesurfing 24 hours a day. You have to sleep, eat and do the touristy thing at some stage.

Cape Town has once again been voted the world’s favourite tourist destination, so you can be sure that there is plenty to do and see.

Click here and here to check out just some of what Cape Town has to offer.

Great Deals

There is no shortage of kitesurfing shops and instructors on Cape Town’s coastline.

We’re also a friendly generous people so a great deal can always be found in one of our many kitesurfing centres.

With lessons starting at R695 Cabrinha should be your first stop.

5 Things To Do In Cape Town (In The Water)

December 11, 2014/0 Comments/in Cape Town /by Clyde Thomas

It’s unsurprising that Cape Town has been voted the world’s best tourism spot by the British and Americans. With its wide array of attractions Cape Town is perfect for everyone.

There are so many things to do in Cape Town

You can sample some internationally renowned wines and cuisine, ride a cable car up one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World -Table Mountain, tickle a cheetah behind the ear, paraglide off of Lion’s head (it’s a tall hill, not an actual lion) and then dance the night way on vibrant Long Street.

What?

That doesn’t appeal to you?

Oh, you’re more of a water person, hey? That’s cool.

There are things to do in Cape Town for you as well.

Snorkel With Seals

Seals are adorable. Who wouldn’t want to dive in and have a quick swim with them?

Animal Ocean allows you to do just that.

Animal Ocean facilitates a unique day trip experience that guarantees it’s snorkelling tourists won’t only get to spot some seals but will have the opportunity to plunge in and witness them swimming and darting all around you.

info@sealsnorkeling.com

Seal Snorkeling Cape Town

Shark Cage Diving

Maybe seals are too cute and cuddly for you. Well, Cape Town has Sharks as well.

The Great White Shark to be exact.

If it’s a thrill you’re after then shark cage diving in Gansbaai will give it to you.

Gansbaai is home to the highest concentration of Great White sharks in the world and where they filmed the famous Discovery Channel documentary Air Jaws.

sharkdiving-capetown.co.za

Swim With Penguins

Okay, back to cute and cuddly.

One of the most visited locations in Cape Town is Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town. Boulder’s Beach is home to a colony of over 1000 penguins and is one of only 28 world sites where penguins are found.

So arrive nice and early, before it gets too hot, find yourself a shady picnic spot and spend the day penguin watching.

They really are a weird and fascinating bunch.

Learn To Kitesurf

A trip to Cape Town wouldn’t be complete without a Kitesurfing lesson.

Kitesurfing’s popularity has soared recently and you’ll struggle to find someone who doesn’t want to give it a go – simply because it’s tons of fun.

You’re surfing then you’re flying, then you’re surfing again. It’s epic.

Several schools have opened up along the coast so you’ll have no problem finding the closest one to you.

Cape Coastline Kayak

If you’re looking for a water sport with less hang-time then give kayaking a go.

Cape Town has one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. One of the most popular spots along the coastline is Three Anchor Bay.

Explore Three Anchor Bay and Table Bay with a peaceful row beside the soft white sand beaches and uninterrupted views of Signal Hill, Lion’s Head and Table Mountain.

There’s also a chance that the odd penguin, seal or even dolphin will pay you a visit. No sharks, though. Phew.

Contact: +27 (021) 439 1134 for more information

Check out www.capetown-watersports.co.za for more exciting things to do in Cape Town.

Best Kiteboarding 2015 Pre-order special

July 10, 2014/0 Comments/in Specials and Sales /by Lanral

Pre-order and pay for a 2015 Best product and get 15% OFF…but only until 1 September 2014!!

Approximate arrival of the first 2015 Best shipment at our shop is in September 2014.

And how about trying one before buying one?
We have the following 2015 demos available right now for testing:
– TS 9m
– GP 9m
– Cabo 7m
– Kahoona+ 9.5m
– Admiral 135 kiteboard (new model)
– Spin 134 kiteboard (new model)

Get the latest technology in kiteboarding at great prices, before the Cape Town windy season kicks in!

For more details on this limited offer, go to our website:
http://www.bestkiteboardingafrica.com/Promotions.html

Contact us to order your 2015 Kite, Kiteboard or Bar before time runs out!

Due to the release of the 2015 Best gear, we have priced our remaining 2014 Best stock to go!
http://www.bestkiteboardingafrica.com/Sales-and-Specials.html

Come and grab a 2014 Kite, Kiteboard or Bar before they disappear!

The BEST Africa Team

+27(0)215562765
info@bestkiteboardingafrica.com

Best Kiteboarding Africa Webcam and Wind Meter

June 26, 2014/0 Comments/in Kiteboarding /by Lanral

We have upgraded our Webcam, which gives stunning views of Bloubergstrand and Table Mountain, and installed our new Windguru windmeter at the famous kitebeach! Keep an eye on the current conditions to know before you go!

Cheers

Best Kiteboarding Africa Team

http://www.bestkiteboardingafrica.com/Webcam.php

Blowfish Restaurant

March 12, 2014/0 Comments/in Cape Town /by Clyde Thomas

Positioned with an amazing view of Table Mountain and surrounds, Blowfish Restaurant (one of Cape Town’s best seafood and sushi restaurants) is a must for anybody who loves watersports. With windows all around the restaurant, you can enjoy the view and listen to the sound of the nearby Atlantic Ocean as you enjoy your meal.

Just about every seat in the restaurant provides a great view of Table Mountain (plus, all those windows allow you to watch all of the kitesurfing action going down at Kite Beach). To see Blowfish at its best, go between the afternoon and evening – you’ll get a chance to watch a beautiful sunset with a cocktail in hand (or local beer if that’s your fancy) before settling down for a meal.

The restaurant’s fish counter stocks between eight and twelve types of fish fresh. Besides your usual linefish and calamari, there is a huge variety of prawns, crayfish and langoustines on offer.

You can create your own platter or have a piece cut to order (this is all on the pay-per-gram system). In addition, they were among one of the first in Cape Town to be certified by the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI). So that means you can eat to your hearts content and still leave guilt-free, knowing they are doing their part to preserve the oceans we all enjoy.

For those who don’t enjoy seafood, Blowfish also provides classic dishes: juicy steaks, tasty pastas and chicken. In addition to generous portions, Head Chef Lee Cox makes sure that every dish in the restaurant is perfect. Try a bottle from their award-winning wine selection for a great finish to your meal.

The professional team of friendly staff will give you a top class experience. They also offer the opportunity for you to leave your car keys with them while you hit the water. Whether you’re keen for a light lunch, want to grab some sushi or watch the sun go down while you enjoy your meal, Blowfish is a must try for anyone in Cape Town!

Kevin Langeree crowned Red Bull King of the Air

February 5, 2014/0 Comments/in Cape Town, Events, Kiteboarding /by Clyde Thomas

After a long day of massive extreme kiting, Kevin Langeree came out on top and claimed the title of Red Bull King of the Air 2014.

For the second year in a row, Cape Town played host to 24 of the world’s best kiteboarders the went head-to-head in the unique “flag-out” format the Red Bull King of the Air is known for.

It all came down to the final in which Dutchman Kevin Langeree managed to edge out his compatriots Ruben Lenten (second) and Steven Akkersdijk (third) as well as the last South African standing Andries Fourie (fourth) to become Red Bull King of the Air champion in front of a 12 000 strong crowd.

Kevin had this to say of the event:

Kevin Langeree PHOTO | Craig | Kolesky | Red Bull Content Pool

“The conditions picked up during the day and I couldn’t have hoped for anything better! The final was definitely tough and every one of us was so close to winning. I definitely had my best heat of the day in the final. This is the third Red Bull King of the Air I’ve competed in, and was a title that I didn’t have yet so I was hungry for it. I’m so stoked!”

Scored on height, creativity and style, the participants’ manoeuvres were judged by Alex Vliege (NED), William Bogaards (NED), Greg Thijsse (RSA), Arkadiusz Jerzelkowski (POL), Reinier Korstanje (NED), Ralf Bachsuster (GER) who had their work cut out for them.

Head judge Alex Vliege was pleased about how the event played out in the end:

“What an epic day! We had the best riders in the world here today with Cape Town and Mother-Nature delivering great conditions. We finally got what we were waiting for. Kevin was completely deserving of the title. He did the same moves as the others plus more, with variation and went higher than the others.”

The judging panel PHOTO | Jaanus Ree | Red Bull Content Pool

A nifty tool made available to the judges was Xensr technology. This application measures the height, speed, airtime, gravity loading, location and the 3D motion of the athlete with all data captured at 400 times a second and is accurate to within 3mm, as soon as they land a jump. All jump data is then immediately relayed to the judges and the live stream. Frenchman Tom Herbert recorded the highest jump of the day – a lofty 25.04m, while Blouberg local Andries Fourie landed the second highest jump of 23.37m.

Cape Town definitely came to the party, with 12 000 people coming to the idyllic Eden on the Bay. The competitors were able to feed off the crowd’s energy, with the jumps getting bigger as the wind intensity increased. All in all it was an amazing spectacle of kiteboarding with perfect conditions in an amazing setting.

Massive Cape Town crowd PHOTO | Jaanus Ree | Red Bull Content Pool

FINAL RESULTS

1. Kevin Langeree (NED)

2. Ruben Lenten (NED)

3. Steven Akkersdijk (NED)

4. Andries Fourie (RSA)

5. Aaron Hadlow (GBR)

5. Jesse Richman (USA)

7. Tom Herbert (FRA)

8. Billy Parker (USA)

Red Bull has just released the full video special of the King of the Air for two weeks before it goes to TV.Check out this awesome clip here

A Q&A with Jesse Richman

January 27, 2014/0 Comments/in Cape Town, Events, Kiteboarding, Profiles /by Clyde Thomas

Our last interview with Red Bull King of the Air riders is the winner of last year’s competition, Jesse Richman!

– What is the longest hang time you’ve ever accomplished?

“I had a really awesome jump in San Francisco in 2007 where I floated in the air for 22 seconds.”

– On days with little to no wind, what do you do in Cape Town?

“I don’t know yet, right now the no wind activities include coffee and some awesome fresh juice at Carlucci’s.”

– What tricks have you been working on leading up to the King of the Air?

“Big Tricks!”

– How have you found the local food?

“I just got here, but so far it has been f***ing fantastic!”

– Do you prefer megaloops or old school board offs and rotations?

“Megaloops with rotations and board offs and handlepasses…and all at the same time!”

– What is he vibe like non the water here in Cape Town?

“Windy and cold!”

– Who is your role model in kiting or in life?

“I like to take things from many people. Some of my inspiring figures include, Parks Bonnifay for his pure power, Shane Dorian for being a bad ass, Michaels Phelps for trying new things, and my brother for being rad!

-Have you had a chance to catch some night life? How was it?

“I don’t remember.”

-What makes the Red Bull King of the Air such a unique and exciting event?

“King of the Air takes all the bad ass, crazy aspects of the sport and combines it all into one ridiculous day”

A Q&A with Aaron Hadlow

January 27, 2014/0 Comments/in Cape Town, Events, Kiteboarding, Profiles /by Clyde Thomas

Our next interview with a rider from the Red Bull King of the Air is with none other than Aaron Hadlow!

– What is your favourite kite spot in Cape Town?

“I enjoy kiting in the location of the Red Bull King of the Air the most. Big Bay is not only ideal for launching big air but also for my discipline, freestyle and technical progression. The waves roll in and they are perfect for launching off axis rotations as you can pick the angle at which you take off due to the convex shape of the bay. When you ride in, the waves make flat, shallow water in between them, this area is great for other tricks.”

– What is the longest hang time you’ve ever accomplished?

“In the past kiteboarding was all about big air, as the years have pasted the style has changed but now with the King of the Air it is making its come back in a more extreme way. I don’t exactly know how long I have stayed up in the air for but would say one of my biggest jumps must have been around 9 or 10 questions.”

– On days with little to no wind, what do you do in Cape Town?

PHOTO [Kolesky | Nikon | Red Bull Content Pool]

“One of the reasons I have kept coming back to Cape Town for 12 years is the fact that I can stay active even if there is no wind. There is a cable park for wakeboarding, some amazing trails for mountain biking, good gyms and you are so close to the city but the fact is that in the summer the wind rarely stops blowing.”

– What tricks have you been working on leading up to the Red Bull King of the Air?

“I have been focusing on the PKRA World tour this season so the tricks I have been working only lately are very technical. During the last few weeks when the wind has kicked in strong I have been testing out my equipment, making sure all my gear is working perfectly and safe, then I focus on going big with some kite loops.”

– How have you found the local food?

“It is great to be able to eat nice and healthy here, the food is good.”

PHOTO [Rick Guest | Red Bull Content Pool]

– Do you prefer megaloops or old school board offs and rotations?

“Kiteloops are the way forward, old school board offs have been and gone, I went through this stage at 14 and took it to it’s limits back then. For me big air is all about creating a spectacle with extreme high risk riding. Massive kite loops where you get catapulted through the air and land full speed.”

– Have you had a chance to catch some night life here? How was it?

“I haven’t been out so much in the past couple of years but for sure have been out plenty of times over the years, almost every night through the summer there seems to be something good going on. There are some nice clubs and definitely good nights to be had.”

– What makes the Red Bull King of the Air such a unique and exciting event?

“I am usually competing in events that push the technical side of kiteboarding with innovation in powered tricks, they are lower but can be done in all conditions. The Red Bull King of the Air is an event pushing height in extreme conditions, for me it is all about the risk, a high jump is not necessarily extreme but when you see riders jumping as high as possible and throwing a kite loop in there too, then it gets crazy. They are high risk and spectacular to watch, if you can also throw a handle pass in there too then the risk is taken to the next level. That’s what I hope to see and help show the public. The best thing about this event is that at least half of the field are odds on to win this event, anyone can take home the win. There is no clear rider that stands above the rest because you never know what might get pulled out the bag on the day.”

A Q&A with Kevin Langeree

January 22, 2014/0 Comments/in Cape Town, Events, Kiteboarding, Profiles /by Clyde Thomas

We got an awesome Q&A with some of the top 12 riders from last year’s Red Bull King of the Year! Our first one was with Kevin Langeree.

-What is your favourite kite spot in Cape Town?

“There are a lot of great spots around. For jumping big and freestyle, Big Bay is the place to be and for riding wave 3de steen and Haakgat are awesome. I also like to go to the cape and ride places like the crayfish factory and White Sand.”

-What is the longest hang time you’ve ever accomplished?

“Always when you start timing jumps you never end up with a crazy record-breaking hang time. But every now and than you get lucky with a funky gust that gives you that hang time you always hope for. One of my longest jumps must have been around 18 sec.”

-On days with little to no wind, what do you do in Cape Town?

“Cape Town has so much to offer sometimes it’s hard to make up your mind what to do. But when there is no wind there are still some waves around so I love to get out my SUP or surf board and catch some waves.”

-What tricks have you been working on leading up to the Red Bull King of the Air?

“I’ve been trying to jump bigger and bigger, that’s what the Red Bull King of the Air is all about in my eyes. During the season I don’t get the chance to train big jumps very often. But I’m lucky that I can spend a couple months of the year here in Cape Town. It’s a great training ground.”

-How have you found the local food?

“I love great food. And great food is not very hard to find here in CT. I’ve been coming here for the last 9 years and it still amazes me how good the food is and how little you pay. Can’t wait to go for dinner, better hurry up with this interview.”

-Do you prefer megaloops or old school board offs and rotations?

“I don’t really prefer one different trick or style. But I like to see guys go BIG! The cool thing about kiteboarding is that there are so many styles and ways of riding. It will almost suit any kind of person. So the diversity is what I like most about our sport.”

PHOTO | Kolesky | Nikon | Red Bull Content Pool

-What is the vibe like on the water here in Cape Town?

“The vibe on the water is super cool especially during the event. In the high season it gets pretty crowded, but for the event you are pairing Big Bay with some of the best riders in the world. So you really want to push your limits.”

-Who is your biggest role model?

“Don’t really have one.”

-Have you had a chance to catch some nightlife here? How was it?

“The night life is pretty awesome! There are tons for cool bars and clubs and the girls are just smoking!”

-What makes the Red Bull King of the Air such a unique and exciting event?

“This event is so unique ‘cos it really showcases what kiteboarding is all about. In my eyes, it’s all about going as big as you can and giving the people a good show. There are no kiteboarding events where jumping big really counts so I’m super stoked the Red Bull King of the Air is back!”

BEST Fest Demo Day 18/19 January 2014

January 20, 2014/0 Comments/in Specials /by Clyde Thomas

Come and Ride with Us on the first windy day of the weekend, 18 or 19 January 2014! Take advantage of this unique gathering to test the full 2014 Best gear range, meet and chat to BEST Kiteboarding pro-riders, see them ride, get their autograph and party with the Best crew afterwards! All testers also qualify for 15% discount on 2014 Best gear purchased on these days!

Presented at Kitebeach, check http://www.bestkiteboardingafrica.com/Demo-Days.html for further info.

Cheers!

http://ccair.org/online/

The BEST Africa Team

Cape Town voted Number ONE Destination for 2014

January 16, 2014/0 Comments/in Cape Town /by Clyde Thomas

The New York Times has selected Cape Town as the Number One destination in a list of “52 Places to Go in 2014″! And most Capetonians would undoubtedly agree!

The New York Times said that by November 2013 they already had a “strong sense that Cape Town would be our No. 1 destination, but the subsequent death of Nelson Mandela made the choice all the more meaningful; the South African leader spent years gazing at the city (and Table Mountain beyond) from his cell on Robben Island.

Of course much has changed since then, and that is what we look for in a top pick: a destination that has its own transformative story to tell. From Rio (2013) to Sri Lanka (2010) to Beirut (2009), the places that land at No. 1 are chosen because at this moment there is a defining reason to go.”

In the section on Cape Town, journalist Sarah Khan describes South Africa’s Mother City as “a place to meditate on freedom, and the creative life that followed.”

Her piece opens with Nelson Mandela’s oft-used quote about how Cape Town inspired him and the other prisoners during their incarceration on Robben Island, with Table Mountain representing “a beacon of hope”.

Acknowledging that South Africa “has transformed itself since Mandela’s imprisonment, but there’s still much to be done”, the article highlights many of the fabulous projects going on in Cape Town right now, including that the city is World Design Capital this year, the upcoming Design Indaba conference in February, the Maboneng Lalela Project, Foodpods and the Langa Quarter project.

The piece concludes that “Cape Town is again reinventing itself, and the world is invited to its renaissance.” So tell your overseas friends!

Contenders in the Top 5 included Christchurch, New Zealand; North Coast, California; Albanian coast, Europe and Downtown Los Angeles, USA. One of South African expats’ favourite destinations, Perth, also made it into the Top 10, listed at number nine.

According to the New York Times, they “aim for a selection of places that we expect to be particularly compelling in the coming year; reasons might include a museum opening, a new transportation option or a historical anniversary. So even though cities like Paris, London and Tokyo are always exciting, they didn’t make the cut this year (though all three have appeared on previous lists).”

The only other African destinations in the ’52 Places to Go in 2014′ list were Namibia which did well at number 6 (“Africa’s latest conservation success story is a boon for travellers”); Addis Ababa, Ethiopa at 13; Laikipia Plateau, Kenya at 19; the Seychelles at 27 (although it’s not quite on the continent); and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania at 39.

The reason the list contains 52 destinations is so that there is one per week…but maybe after people visit number one, they’ll never want to leave!

Robby Naish: A living legend

January 10, 2014/0 Comments/in Kiteboarding, Profiles, Windsurfing /by Clyde Thomas

When you think of windsurfing, kitesurfing or watersports in general, one name springs to mind: Robby Naish.

Robby has been a part of the watersports world since the very beginning and has seen the evolution of windsurfing as well as kitesurfing. He runs one of the most successful brands and has tons of World Titles under his belt. When he has something to say about the Red Bull King of the Air and what it means for kitesurfing, we take notice.

So here’s an interview with Robby when Red Bull flew him to Cape Town for last year’s King of the Air.

ROBBY: ON THE RETURN OF THE RED BULL KING OF THE AIR

To a certain degree the original King of the Air helped launch the sport in general, bringing money, awareness and prestige to the table. I’ve been in discussions with Red Bull for over a year about bringing back some kind of kiting event, but it had to be unique.

PHOTO | Craig Kolesky / Nikon / Red Bull Content Pool

The old King of the Air was let go because it had become a little same old-same old and Red Bull like to promote the unexpected.

The discussion had been fairly constant about whether to do a wave event or this, or that and we even discussed it before the Len10 Mega Loop Challenge last year.

More people were invited into the discussion early on and I’m glad they listened to the suggested adaptations.

The mega loop is very neat for a few people who can get excited about watching them all day, but I was pushing for them to bring back something that wasn’t so limited in terms of what the guys were doing.

I was still pushing for some sort of visual references in the background that could be added to the event to bring in more general public appeal and instant media response. Media likes things they can package in one picture with a headline, or can make a 20 second news reel clip from.

This came as close as any event we’ve ever seen in kiteboarding. As great as the PKRA riders are, the scope of what they are doing has got narrower and narrower, appealing to a smaller and smaller target audience. I think we needed a return of big air freestyle, not just kite loops – a giant board-off is still exciting and the kind of thing that can be packaged beyond the narrow scope of today’s competitive kiting scene.

I think the Red Bull King of the Air hit the nail right on the head: the venue, the conditions on the day with the level of riding and the way the guys grasped the concept. A few guys were just sticking to their guns and doing loops, but they weren’t the ones awing the crowd.

ROBBY: ON THE FORMAT

The flag out system was killer, exciting and it really worked well. For me, it was the best kiting event ever, because of everything. The level, conditions, the location, the format, the riders and picking just the right guys for the job and packaging it all in one day.

There was no anti-climax, it was built and it built, it got windier and windier; it just couldn’t have been better. There are only a few places in the world this event could be held, and Big Bay was a perfect spot.

I had a group of kids come from a Laureus Sport for Good foundation in South Africa – a group of skaters and surfers from two local Cape Town projects. They were blown away. I’ve been to a lot of events in my life, and that was up there on the same level. Maybe only the indoor windsurfing events have been a better ‘show’, but you’d have to really nitpick to find things that should have been better about this event.

ROBBY: ON RED BULL
They are smart. They grab the organisation that already exists and use it alongside their back-end organisation, especially now with the Red Bull Media House. For the original Red Bull King of the Air they used local riders Mike Waltz and Joe Cool, they didn’t just truck in a bunch of Austrians; they get the right people. Having Sergio Cantagalli here organising this event, Susi Mai as a spokesperson and bringing me in for insight just balances things out.

PHOTO | Kolesky / Nikon / Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull are all about broadening horizons. They take a concept and say, ‘Let’s put some fertilizer on this and see what we can make happen.’ In the beginning they were exclusively about promoting and being involved with off-the-radar sports.

No advertising, no football, nothing like that which helped establish the company and in turn they helped establish a lot of sports and athletes that otherwise wouldn’t have had the money to follow their dreams and push things.

Honestly kiteboarding needed that as it has mojo on the competitive side and struggled to remain relevant to most riders. Most kiteboarders aren’t 17, and this event can be built upon and is easily followed.

The names of the riders will become more recognisable, which they’re honestly not right now and the guy that’s out there kiting on the weekend will become more interested, so it’s fricking cool that they’ve brought it back.

ROBBY: ON CAPE TOWN
I’ve never been to South Africa. In the early days of windsurfing competition the GTI cup came here and was a huge success but South Africa was very political and I just didn’t want to get involved in the whole apartheid thing. Through my whole career I’ve tried to stay politically correct and in the 80s it was pretty gnarly.

It’s not like I did it as a statement, it wasn’t a big thing, I just didn’t go. I travelled so much during the competition days that all I really did was the world cup and then an occasional PR trip if my sponsor really wanted me to, but the rest of the time I didn’t go travel for fun.

I went to events. When I stopped competing and started travelling for fun, our winter at home on the North Shore of Maui and Oahu is a really key time for getting the conditions that we like to ride. I wanted to come to South Africa, but to travel that far in that season, wear a wetsuit and probably miss something at home? So I never did.

PHOTO | Ydwer van der Heide / Red Bull Content Pool

I’ve missed two Jaws days already this week at home, not really big ones, but I’m finally at a point in my life and my career that I don’t mind missing Jaws days.

It’s not gonna rip my spine out the way it used to. So I decided I would come to South Africa, kite frontside and not lose sleep over it. I’m not chasing my ego so much anymore and I’m not worried about who is getting their picture taken when I’m not.

I’ve heard about this place forever and I’ve only been here six days, but I’ve had so much fun. I really have.

With the 2014 Red Bull King of the Air coming up soon, you can expect to see Robby Naish, as well as some insane big air action back in Cape Town.

For the full interview click here.

SAKA’s Successful 2013

December 11, 2013/0 Comments/in Cape Town, Kiteboarding /by Clyde Thomas

SAKA has been extremely busy this year, and the future of kitesurfing in Cape Town is looking brighter by the minute.

In the past year SAKA has secured 3rd part liability insurance for its members. This means that they have managed to get insurance cover for all SAKA approved competitions through the events company MOBE. This is just another step towards moving kitesurfing to a higher level of professionalism in SA.

They have also announced that MOBE events will be running the 2013 SAKA Championships from the end of November 2013 to the end of March 2014. MOBE, who have been running kitesurfing events since 2005, will be in charge of the tour of five events.

There are five event stops for the Championships.

Four of the stops will be a three-day weekend event along the Western Cape:-

MOBE Xtreme Opens: 29 Nove 2013 – 01 Dec 2013 (Yzerfontein)
MOBEUltimate X: 20 Dec 2013 – 22 Dec 2013 (Strand)
MOBE X Wave classic: 21 Feb 2014 – 23 Feb 2014 (Big Bay)
MOBE Xtreme Pro: 21 March 2014 – 23 March 2014 (Dolphin Beach

And the main five-star competition will run at two different venues over seven days!

MOBE Xtreme Challenge: 06 Jan – 13 Jan 2014 (Langebaan & Big Bay)

While Monday and Tuesday’s events were called off due to bad weather (06 & 07 Jan) The remaining contest days will still be happening featuring all of the freestyle and wave riding.

There will be different event rankings for each leg and the overall combined results will decide who the new South African kitesurfing champion is. The three disciplines for the tour will be freestyle, wave and slalom racing. Each discipline will have novice and open categories. With all the options for competing, and a full week of entertainment, this is set to be the biggest kiting event South Africa has ever seen!

Keeping our C Clean

December 5, 2013/0 Comments/in Specials /by Clyde Thomas

CLEAN C has been running beach cleanups for 3 years. In that time they have helped remove over 8 tons of rubbish.

WHO THEY ARE

Clean C is an NPO that is passionate about South Africa and the people in it. Along with the myriad of projects focused on improving life for all those who live in our beautiful country, they also run monthly beach cleanups all over Cape Town.

WHY THEY DO WHAT THEY DO

Unfortunately, in South Africa you may find rubbish along the beach and in the water. While it is important to raise awareness of this, and to teach people about the damage this causes, CLEAN C believes in taking practical steps to cleaning up our beaches and demonstrating the impact one can have on one’s environment.

South Africa is home to a large number of beautiful beaches, which is why we are the perfect destination for Kitesurfing and other watersports holidays! CLEAN C runs cleanups at most of these beaches, with new beaches being added all the time.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Beach cleanups run on the first Saturday of every month starting at 10am and last around 90 minutes. Families are welcome and this is a great way to teach your kids about taking care of the environment and keeping our beaches beautiful and pollution free.

Bags and gloves are provided, so all you have to bring is a willingness to help out! The venues include Melkbos, Sea Point and everywhere in between. This is an awesome initiative, and you can get involved no matter where you are. For more information click here.

WAVE SALE – Great prices on surf combos!

November 23, 2013/0 Comments/in Specials, Specials and Sales /by Lanral

HIT THE WAVES THIS SUMMER WITH THESE BOMBER http://starrgennett.org/online/ WAVE-RIDING COMBO DEALS!

2013 BEST Cabo 5 complete + Best surfboard (5’8″ or 6’0″) R 14,999

2013 BEST Cabo 6 complete + Best surfboard (5’8″ or 6’0″) R 15,499

2013 BEST Cabo 7 complete + Best surfboard (5’8″ or 6’0″) R 15,999

2013 BEST Cabo 9 complete + Best surfboard (5’8″ or 6’0″) R 16,599

WAINMAN 2.0 Bunny 5m complete + Magnum 5’10” R 14,999

WAINMAN 2.0 Mr Green 7.5m complete + Magnum 5’10” R 15,999

WAINMAN 2.0 Smoke 9m complete + Magnum 5’10” R 16,599

For more details:
http://www.bestkiteboardingafrica.com/Promotions.html
or,
Contact us for more info and stock availability:
+27(0)21 556 2765
info@bestkiteboardingafrica.com

Steven Akkersdijk: A kiter who loves Cape Town

November 20, 2013/0 Comments/in Profiles /by Clyde Thomas

Many pro kiters and team riders love to kite in Cape Town. In fact it is the favourite kiting spot for Ruben Lenten, Nick Jacobsen, Sam Light, Kevin Langeree, and of course, Steven Akkersdijk.

History

If you haven’t heard of Steven, don’t worry, you soon will! He is one of the many young riders working hard to make names for themselves, and he chooses to do a lot of that hard work right here in Cape Town.

After completing high school, Steven took a year off to travel and (of course) Kiteboard. Finding that he could not leave the sport behind, this one-year break turned into a professional kiting career. Combining work with kiting, he began instructing and became a team rider for Core Kiteboarding.

Success

While competing in a few competitions in Holland and surrounds, Steven got a big break by winning the Red Bull Boven NAP competition in 2012. As part of his prize, Steven won a two-week stay in Cape Town at the Mystic House.

It was during this time that he fell in love with our beautiful city of Cape Town and our amazing kite spots. What was meant to be a short two-week trip became a three-month love affair with wind and waves.

Future

He was invited to compete in the 2013 Red Bull King of the Air, and is returning to Cape Town for six months this season! He is just one of the many talented riders who will be kiting in Cape Town over the next few months.

Have a look at this short video that Steven made during his stay in Cape Town.

2013-04 Capetown from steven akkersdijk on Vimeo.

Seli 1 Wreck: Oh buoy! We’re excited!

November 15, 2013/0 Comments/in Cape Town /by Clyde Thomas

The MV Seli 1 was a Turkish bulk carier that was driven aground off Bloubergstrand near Table Bay by strong winds on 8 September 2009.

Not only was it a bit of an eye-sore, but we were worried about how it would affect the surf and our beautiful beach! The Istanbul-operated ship was carrying a cargo of 30 000 tonnes of coal, and 660 tonnes of heavy-fuel oil. She sustained significant structural damage but remained capable of being refloated.

Initial salvage operations focused on the removal of 360 000 litres of oil from the ship. Pumping the fuel took a few weeks, during which period the weather remained relatively calm. Eventually the coal was also removed, getting rid of the risk of pollution.

A positive side effect of the wreck’s position was the formation of straight sand banks that created the awesome waves that the watersport community love so much. According to kiters and watersports enthusiasts, Dolphin Beach had produced a “boring wave geometry” before the ship’s stranding, but is now a popular Surfing and Kitesurfing spot that even attracts international visitors!

The wreck-reduction process has since been completed, with the entire wreck collapsed onto the seabed. The ugly water feature is gone, but the sick waves remain.

SAKA (South African Kiteboarding Association) has been fighting to be allowed to place buoys above the wreck. They have finally received permission and have placed their first buoy to warn kiters and other watersport enthusiasts to watch out for the wreck beneath the waves. The buoy was attached to the wreck on the morning of 12 November 2013. With five more buoys set to be placed, low tide will be as safe as grandma’s house soon.

Thank you to SAKA for continually making our beaches as safe as possible.

All we have to say is, “Oh buoy! We’re excited!”

Best 2014 Demo Day, Kitebeach, Saturday 26 October 2013

October 24, 2013/0 Comments/in Events, Kiteboarding /by Lanral

Hey kiters!
We will be having our first demo day of the season in Blouberg, straight across from the Best Kiteboarding Africa shop this Saturday 26 October 2013. We will have some of the new models like the Cabo, GP, TS and Kahoona pumped up and ready to fly!

The wind is not looking great, but nevertheless come down to the beach to hang out, and even just view, touch and feel the 2014 kites, or even test out how easily the new Twist Lock pumping system works!

And even if you don’t fly a kite, don’t miss out on the pre-order special – this will be the last day to get 15% off a 2014 Best kite, bar or Kiteboard! We also now have stock of some 2014 Kahoonas, Cabos, very few TS kites, as well as some kiteboards (Armada, Sparkplug and Procreator).
Looking forward to seeing you guys in the beach!

Cheers
The BEST Africa Team
+27(0)21 556 2765
info@bestkiteboardingafrica.com

2014 Naish Park Review

October 18, 2013/0 Comments/in Kiteboarding /by Clyde Thomas

Steve Bertie-Roberts reviews the 2014 Naish Park

The 2014 Naish Park review was conducted in Table View, Cape Town in good 20 to 26 knot cross shore winds with sometimes heavy 5’ waves on a Naish Global 5’8”.

The Feel

For 2014 the changes to the kite technology are an evolutionary jump compared to the usual annual tweaking we are used to.

One of the first sensations when heading out for your first session is just how smooth this kite feels to fly. Every move it kite makes is seamless and intuitive. The new bar with softer grip and a redesigned frictionless centre hole contributes to the smoother feel.

The Bridle

The biggest technical change is the new fixed bridle which has had the most noticeable effect. Finally the best of that legendary ‘C kite feel’ has been engineered into a bridled kite. Bar input is no longer muted by the action of pulleys and the kite responds instantly. Turning is snappier, and the power ramps up a lot quicker than before over the full travel of the bar. This means a lot more instant power when you need it. This means extra pop and boost. Pre-jumping even the most daunting close outs can now be done confidently with a massive safety margin.

The fixed bridle also gives the kite a more stable solid feel, as the front line attachment points are no longer variable. This means less distortion of the wing when turning and adds to the responsive feel and efficiency of the kite.

The Power

The 2014 Park low end power has improved, bringing with it a whole host of advantages:

It has a much wider wind range
In lulls the kite just keeps on pulling
There is no tendency to back stall when the bar is pulled in to the max
The new kite accelerates further forward into the window

The Shape

Too much C kite DNA would of course be a disaster, as typically C kites have very limited depower, especially when accelerating down a wave. Fortunately Naish only took just enough to liven the Park up without losing the forgiving attributes of an SLE. On a sizeable wave the 2014 Park does however gain more dynamic lift when accelerating down the face than last year’s, but this can only be felt in strong conditions. A few cm of depower, and control is regained, thankfully not at the cost of turning response. Handling is smooth and easy and there is plenty of depower to initiate a tight bottom turn. The direct response of the fixed bridle means that minimal bar input needed to keep the kite ahead of your turns. Even at maximum depower for bottom turns, bar all the way out with slack steering lines, a quick flick of the bar brings the Park around facing down the wave instantly in time for your next turn.

Jumping

Almost forgot to mention how well this kite jumps. Higher altitudes can be reached than before due to the C kite like vertical acceleration, along with excellent hang time and control with improved glide. Never got to do any tricks and kite loops etc but there is no doubt the kite will be brilliant in this regard.

Gliding

One of the stand out attributes of a C kite is the consistent glide they provide even with the bar at full depower. SLE’s on the other hand, tend to unceremoniously drop you out of the sky if your bar is fully extended. Naish’s sliding bar stopper (optional on the Park for 2014) sits above the bar on the double center lines, and can be engaged instantly in any position when needed. Maximum bar travel is controlled, and the rider can keep the kite properly powered for complicated freestyle tricks where hands and concentration are needed elsewhere for grabs or board offs etc.

Overview

The 2014 Park is an excellent all terrain kite for all disciplines. Easy wave riding does not come at the cost of freeride performance. Handling is intuitive and forgiving enough for any level of rider and there is more than enough boost and top end excitement added to the mix to take any rider to the next level.

Pop a comment below if you have anything to add. Will be great to hear your opinions!

Kind regards

Brian from Naish South Africa

Best 2014 Pre-order special

October 15, 2013/0 Comments/in Specials, Specials and Sales /by Lanral

BEST 2014 PRE-ORDER SPECIAL

Pre-order and pay for a 2014 Best product and get 15% OFF the advertised retail price…but only until 26 October 2013!!

With some amazing new features like the new Twist Lock inflation system, and a clam-cleat depower on the new RP Bar, you can’t miss out on these reduced prices on the latest technology in kiteboarding!

For more info on this limited offer and all the new 2014 Best gear, go to our website:

http://www.bestkiteboardingafrica.com/Promotions.html

Contact us to order your Kite, Kiteboard or Bar before time runs out!

The BEST Africa Team
+27(0)215562765
info@bestkiteboardingafrica.com

Find Your Kitesurfing Board

October 11, 2013/0 Comments/in Gear, Kiteboarding /by Clyde Thomas

How to best demo a kitesurfing board

You are looking for a new kitesurfing board but you aren’t sure which one to buy? Even though you might have an idea in which direction your board should go, there are so many boards out there it can be hard to find the right one for you.

Fortunately, you can find the right board through testing. Almost every kitesurfing shop offers to demo their boards. Take advantage of this opportunity. You never know how a board feels until you have it out in the water.

In this article you’ll find tips & tricks to make most of a product-demo:

1) Minimize – demo one thing at a time

It’s great to demo new gear. However, even if a shop lets you try as much gear as you want, don’t take out more than one piece of new equipment at a time. If you’re testing more than one piece of equipment it will be hard for you to identify what works or what doesn’t.

Even if you’re on the chase for a whole new quiver of equipment, take small steps. Find out about a new board using the kite you’re used to, and vice versa. This way you feel what the new gear does to your riding.

2) Know what you like – or dislike!

Before even choosing the board you want to demo, ask yourself what you are looking for. There’s no point testing a wakestyle board if you just want to cruise comfortably. There are tons of kitesurfing boards out there, each board is designed for a certain style of riding. Find your style before you choose your-demo board…otherwise you’ll be searching for years on end.

A few questions to ask yourself to find the right category of kitesurfing board:

What do you like or dislike on your current board?
What’s your riding style? Do you want to improve your current riding style or evolve to another?

If you don’t know at all what you want, take another route.

What is it you don’t want at all?
Most people know better what they dislike. Exclude everything you don’t like and focus on what’s left.

3) Demo long and thorough!

A board other than the one you’re used to, often feels weird at the beginning. You will have to overcome that to make a decision. Don’t cross the board off your list because it doesn’t feel natural in the first few minutes of your session. Ride around for a while, try different things with the board, and soon you will feel the pros and cons to your own board.

4) Try all your tricks – and again – and again!

The board you demo might be very suitable for one style of riding, but totally suck at another. Try everything you can, over and over again. Before you start your demo make up a little battle-plan in your head what tricks you can pull off and try all these tricks with every single board you demo. You’ll soon get an idea which board works best to perform your favorite moves.

5) Demo all new gear at the same spot – know that spot!

It is hard, if not impossible, to compare two boards with one another if you ride them in totally different conditions. It is equally hard to identify strengths and weaknesses of the demo-board if you test it in conditions much different to what you’re used to.

If possible, test all demo boards at the same spot – possibly even on the same day. This way it will be easy to spot differences between the boards. If you don’t know the spot you’re going to demo a board at all, go out for a short session on the gear you’re used to. This way you can figure which sensations or let-downs are caused by the board and which ones by the spot you’re riding at (currents, wind-holes, etc.).

6) Adjust your board properly!

Set up the demo board to match your own preferences. There’s not much of a chance you will like the feel of a board if it’s set up in a completely different way than your own board. Make sure the width of your stance and the angle of the pads are similar to your own board. Especially make sure the straps are adjusted correctly.

Lastly, speak to the people in the shops! They have a great interest in getting you the best board possible. As long as they understand what you’re looking for they can choose the best boards for you to demo.

We are looking forward to see you in the Vanhunks Boarding shop to demo our kitesurfing boards!

How to choose your kitesurfing course

October 11, 2013/0 Comments/in First Time Visitors, Kiteboarding /by Clyde Thomas

The Best Way to Learn How to Kite for You!

What!? You still don’t kitesurf? http://portageparkdistrict.org It’s about time you start!

You’re planning a trip to Cape town, or you are one of those unlucky locals who still don’t kite?

Get ready for a new experience, Cape Town is one of the best places for kitesurfing world-wide. With more than a dozen kitesurfing-schools – the choice is all yours!

This variety of kitesurfing schools, courses and lessons can be quite overwhelming when you don’t know what kitesurfing is all about.

Here’s our guide to help you make a qualified choice when it comes to your kitesurfing course:

First of all, evaluate yourself. What are your strengths and weaknesses? How do you personally learn best? What do you want to achieve during your course? Did one method work better than the other in the past? Consider all these points carefully before you search for a school, course or lesson.
Some people get nervous quickly if they can’t manage a tricky task during a lesson. If you don’t want such pressure during your course, 1-on-1 tuition is the way to go. If you are, on the other hand, getting tired quickly, you better choose a group-lesson as it will give you more time to rest in between exercises. Definitely go for private tuition if you’re impatient or short-tempered. An instructor deals with this better than another client.
Is the goal of your course just to learn how to kite? Then you won’t mind a group course. The other students will have the same goal in mind. Are you looking to achieve a certain skill? Consider private lessons.
How about your past experience? Have you made good or bad experience with either group or private tuition? You know best if either one doesn’t work for you.

Most people assume that a private course is always better. We’ve outlined the valid reasons to strive for 1-on-1 tuition above.

Here’s a little bit why group courses can be more effective:

Don’t even start to think that you only progress while you fly a kite. During your own practice, you will be focused on controlling the kite. It can help massively to watch someone else practice while an instructor analyses their mistakes for you.

The two major benefits of group tuition are:

1) You can rest your body while the other student practises on the kite.

2) During that time you have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

Be aware that learning to kitesurf is tiring for both body and mind. If you get tired and loose concentration, you will significantly slow down your own progression.

Once you have evaluated yourself and made a call as to what ratio suits you better, we can take a look on different course-formats. There are tons of formats out there: 1-2 hour lessons, full-day courses or camps and clinics that run for several days.

At Africa Extreme we believe full-day courses are the way forward.

The advantage is that you can break down the entire progression in different levels and cover one level per day.
Most students need about 8-12 hours to be able to get on the board and ride a short distance in both directions.
That means for you that it takes you only 2-3 days of full-day tuition to know how to kitesurf.

Why we don’t like 2-hour lessons too much?

Especially if there are a few days in between your lessons, you will have to repeat the skills that you have learned and practised in previous sessions again. Just do the math, you will still need at least 8-12 hours of training. If you take a 2h lesson every day, it will take you 6 days to learn to kitesurf. In the best case scenario.

Don’t wait any longer! Book your kitesurfing course now! You could be a kitesurfer tomorrow!

red bull king of the air eden on the bay

Red Bull King of the Air 2014

October 8, 2013/0 Comments/in Cape Town, Events, Kiteboarding /by Clyde Thomas

Red Bull King of the Air 2014 – in Cape Town Once Again

Background

Held in 1999, the first Red Bull King of the Air event was a huge stepping stone for kitesurfing, a sport that was then still in its infancy. As the sport gained worldwide popularity, the event became a platform for some of the most talented riders in the world to showcase their skills.

After an 8-year hiatus, Red Bull King of the Air made its return in a brand new location: Cape Town, South Africa.

Cape Town – the Mecca of Kiting

Cape Town is the Mecca of kiteboarding and was the perfect location for the return of this massive competition due to our sick waves, wind and location.

Red Bull King of the Air 2013

The 2013 event was won by the young Hawaiian Jesse Richman in front of over 5000 spectators (the largest crowd garnered by the event since its inception).

Check out some of the awesome moments from Red Bull King of the Air 2013.

Red Bull King of the Air 2014

In 2014 the Red Bull King of the Air will return to Cape Town, and promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

The 12 top riders representing 7 different countries will return in 2014 to compete for the title of Red Bull King of the Air. During the event some of the best kiteboarders in the world will attempt their most extreme tricks to be crowned King of the Air in the biggest big air kite event in the world.

The kiters who are confirmed for the event are:

Jesse Richman

Nick Jacobsen

Sam Light

Gianni Aragno

Lewis Crathern

Ruben Lenten

Oswald Smith

Shawn Richman

Billy Parker

Kevin De Smidt

Kevin Langaree

Andries Fourie

Are you a King of the Air?

This challenge is not for the average kiter, but if you think you have what it takes there are 12 wildcard entries available. [sign up link] You can sign up here.

With the ever growing popularity of Kitesurfing all over the world, the 2014 Red Bull King of the Air is poised to be one of the Extreme Sporting highlights of the year.

When

The event will take place between the 25^th of January and the 8^th of February, with a 2-day heads up.

There will also be an opening event on the 24^th of January at Eden on the Bay featuring live music and a chance to meet the pros.

Where

Once again Eden on the Bay, Big Bay, Cape Town has been chosen for this prestigious event. It’s the best spot for pro kiters, spectators, wind, waves and access to cold beer, kite gear and great food.

Stay in the Loop

To keep up to date with all the latest news follow @CTwatersports and @Redbullza on Twitter, and make sure to keep track of #RedBullKingoftheAir.

Introduction Blog For Kite Beach

September 20, 2013/0 Comments/in Cape Town, First Time Visitors, Kiteboarding /by Lanral

[h3a] Ever since I bought my first inflateable kite and stepped out of a kite shop and stood on Blouberg beach, I was inspired by the views of

Table Mountain and the wild yet attracting water and wind conditions.[/h3a]

The extreme conditions is only part of the allure of Cape Town and it’s surrounds…where else in the world can one drive only 1 hour to taste some wine, see some of Africa’s most popular wildlife, eat 5-star food, check out beautiful scenery and have a braai with friends at the end of a hard day’s water-time!

I run the Best Kiteboarding Africa shop in Blouberg, straight across from the now sunken Seli shipwreck.

Known as kite beach, this section of beach runs for several kilometres towards Cape Town central, as far as Milnerton and as far as Doodles beachfront restaurant in the north. It includes such popular kite spots like Dolphin beach and Sunset beach.

Kitesurfers getting ready to go out on Kite Beach, Blouberg.

We have a great symbiosis with our resident coffee shop Carlucci’s, which attracts a great number of kiters and other watersports enthusiasts. I often go next door to get my daily coffee and bump into Ruben Lenten, Kevin Langaree, Aaron Hadlow and the famous Seli crane-jumper Niel Jacbsen, to name just a few famous kiteboarders.

I must admit, despite what most non-kiters may think, running a kite shop is not a dream job! I have to watch everyone else kiting in the most amazing conditions while I keep them on the water, ha ha! At least I have the water to myself with the sunset sessions after work…and going for a kite session is just a 2 minute walk across the road!

I think our spot is awesome – great vibe in the car park amongst the kiters, surfers and SUPers – and always a friendly face greeting you on the beach, telling you what a great session they had or just giving you a quick launch to get on the water as quickly as possible!

Lanral Ruddock

Best Kiteboarding Africa shop

Our Little Secret: Gems Along the West Coast

September 19, 2013/0 Comments/in Cape Town, First Time Visitors /by Clyde Thomas

With ‘The Season’ about to start, it’s nice to know that there are some things that will always remain ‘our little secret’.

We all love a secret.

We love knowing what someone else doesn’t know – it gives a kind of elevation, a sense of excitement and daring.

Thankfully, there are still many secrets in Cape Town that are reserved for those who know, and for those who want to know.

And to remind you of why you love Cape Town so much, and what makes her so special, we’ve put together a little list of well-loved hidden treasures along our coast line that will make you smile as you reminisce, or at least pique your interest to discover for yourself.

Small Bay

Scavenger hunt birthday party at Small Bay, Cape Town

Mommy’s Bay.

This bay is a safe haven for many a parent; secluded and protected, the bay offers silky smooth sea sand, lapping waves and pretty shells to collect. Walking to the island at low tide is almost a rite of passage for locals, and of course Ons Huisie is a hop, skip and a jump away from here. The main attraction of Small Bay (for parents anyway) has to be the massive jungle gym on the grass next to the beach. Picnics, birthday parties and play dates, friendly smiles and ice cream are the order of the day in this happy place. And Blue Peter afterwards for sundowners of course.

How to get there: Coming from Blouberg, travel on Beach Road towards Melkbos, turn left at the Small Bay / Klein Baai.

The Farmstall

The Farmstall in Melkbos where the family can enjoy farm fresh fun.

On the Way to Melkbos

This great little farm shop and restaurant is a family favourite for Sunday morning breakfasts and afternoon tea. Their shop stocks gorgeous fresh fare; preserves, pickles, homemade soups and other delicious treats while chickens peck at the floor and cluck at your feet. Their hot fresh scones, thick cream and homemade jam make the drive worth it.

Plus, there’s a delightful farm animal petting-zoo, with a jungle gym for the kiddies. They also have a jumping castle on weekends. So no matter how you look at it, you’re coming home tired, full and happy.

How to get there: On the R27 to Melkbos you’ll spot the Farmstall sign on the right.

Melkbos Fisheries

This little secret is almost too good to keep.

For absolutely amazing fish and chips at old-world prices, this place is locally owned and locally supported. Surfers and kiteboarders in the area will fight you for a spot at the front of the queue. Their take-aways are ideal for that sunset moment, when you’re barefoot on the sand, watching your kids pick up shells on an endless beach.

How to get there: Travel on Beach Road out of Blouberg and into Melkbos. At the first set of robots turn left, after the first stop street, look right and you’ll see Melkbos Fisheries.

Eden on the Bay

Soaking up the sun at Eden on the Bay Mall in Big Bay, Cape Town

This little Mediterranean gem is like a secret garden to those in the know.

If you haven’t been to the Isle of Crete, then Eden on the Bay is the next best thing, with its white buildings and bluer-than-blue sea and sky. It’s right on the beach and has a fabulous grassed common-area where families picnic, throw Frisbees, ride ponies – it’s like that movie in the 50’s where life is fun and free and you wish you lived there. Which you can, because it’s a residential mall.

Restaurants laze in the sun and little shops offer shade and interesting goodies that make you feel zesty and spontaneous. The vibe in summer is ridiculous; it’s an outdoor mall, so sun, sand and sea are par for the course here. You can’t stay away, even if you tried.

How to get there: Travel on Otto du Plessis towards Melkbos from Blouberg; turn left at Big Bay Boulevard, the mall is on the right.

So, when the tourists come, and they will come (thank goodness) and you’re enjoying a sundowner at moyo Blouberg while watching the beautifully tanned tourists, it’s good to know that some things will always be our little secret.

South African Kitesurfing Association Tour

September 17, 2013/0 Comments/in Cape Town, Events, Kiteboarding /by Clyde Thomas

Whoah!

Awesome tour from SAKA – this looks to be an awesome event.