ACTIVITY BOOK SPOTGUIDE &
CAPE TOWN 2017
The Endless Summer Beachhouse - Mystic House - The Surfhouse
The Endless Summer Beachhouse Cape Town South-Africa 62 Beach Boulevard - Table View - Capetown - www.endlesssummerbeachhouse.co.za
Find us online at www.endlesssummerbeachhouse.co.za www.themystichouse.com www.capetownguru.com www.high-five.co.za Make a booking with us at info@capetownguru.com And keep up to date on our facebook www.facebook.com/EndlessSummerBeachhouse
Colofon General layout style: Vincent Schaap Text and photos: Grant & Sheree Brown, Alex Vliege, Jan Jaap Zwart, Helena Mercera, Noortje Nijkamp, Fabrizio Luca
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INDEX ACTIVITIES
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Skydiving, Shark Diving, SUPing, Paragliding, Kloofing, Seal Snorkelling, Sand Boarding, Cable Park, Kite surfing, Table Mountain Hikes and much more....
ROAD TRIPS
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SPOT GUIDE
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EXTRA INFO
#51
Whale coast, Garden Route
Kite spots, Surf spots
Map Blouberg, Weather, Afrikaans, FAQ
ARTICLES
Kiteworld Magazine (English), Kite and Windsurfing Guide Access Magazine (Dutch) and more...
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Doring Bay
Lamberts Bay Elandsbay
Veldrift
Langebaan Sharkbay Aquila Game Reserve
Yzerfontein Melkbos Tube wave Haakgat Derdesteen Big Bay Endless Summer Beachouse Kitebeach Dolphin Beach Sunset Beach
Atlantis Brandvlei N1
Table View Camps Bay
Franschhoek
Cape Town Table Mountain Hout Bay Blue Rock Cable Park Suicide Gorge
W hale Coast
R.
Dungeons The Hoek Witsands Misty Cliffs Scarborough Olifantsbos Cape Point
Cemetery Muizenberg Black Rock Buffelsbaai
e N2: G ard
o n R u te
Hermanus
Gansbaai
Cape Aghulas
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ACTIVITIES CAPE TOWN
in and around
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BOARDING
Learn to kitesurf with High Five kiteschool. With the consistency of the Cape Docter (our famous South Easter wind) Blouberg beach catches the wind perfectly. This makes it the perfect place to kitesurf. Lessons can be arranged every windy day and our instructors are experienced and qualified. We teach at several locations according to the requirements of the lesson and the weather conditions.
• All lessons are run to IKO standards and once you are up and going we will be happy to present you with your own IKO kitesurf licence. • Prices are per person, NOTE: the maximum number of students per lesson is 2. • Lessons at Langebaan are an extra R100 on top of the above price. • Advanced coaching can be on anything you like, including strapless wave riding or unhooked tricks. You decide! • During summer we can organize clinics with pro’s like Kevin Langeree, Lewis Crathern and Ruben Lenten. • Action photos and videos of you with our water cameras are also available upon request.
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Price: - 2hr indroduction lesson R750 (private lesson R1100)
- 4hr basic course R1500 (private course R2200) - 12 hours course R4000 (private course R5500) - Advanced coaching R1100 (per 2 hour)
Book your lesson now!
*All equipment is included in lessons, just bring your own swimgear and towel.
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TAND P ADDLE Stand Up Paddle Surfing is an excellent workout when the wind is lying low. Not to mention incredibly fun. This water sport is currently taking over the world.
SUPing is very easy to learn especially on flat water. This makes it accessible for everyone. Whoever seeks more challenge can try to ride the waves. Whichever type of riding you choose SUPing is a great total body workout. The instructors of High Five will show you the basics after which you can paddle around improving your skills.
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Where: Kitesurfingschool ‘High Five’ located in Table View
Rental S.U.P.’s: 2 hours : R250 full day: R500 I week: R2000
SUP Lessons: 2 hours: R400 (1 hour lessons continuing with 1 hour self practice) Private lesson R500
For butter flat water get up early for an early morning paddle. If you are lucky you can even SUP with dolphins or whales.
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ING
We have some premium surf spots in the area. You can always find a wave somewhere. Beginner to advanced everyone can enjoy surfing in Cape Town.
Surfing is a great alternative when there is no wind but some nice waves. Big Bay is a very good spot for your first surf session. Our instructors will teach you everything you need to know about the waves and how to surf. After 1 hour of instructions you will have another hour to practice. If you already know how to surf but left your surfboard at home, we also rent out surfboards. For the spots check the spot guide in the back.
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Where: Kitesurfingschool ‘High Five’ located in Table View Rental surf boards: 2 hours: R150 full day: R300 1 week: R1000
Surf Lessons: 2 hours: R300 (1 hour lessons continuing with 1 hour self practice) Private lesson R400
Got some energy to get rid of? Go on one of our mountain bike trips for a day full of fun. Cape Town is one of the favourite destinations in the world for mountain biking tours with the slopes of Table Mountain providing the ideal backdrop. Have a super experience in one of the great parks around Cape Town: Tokai Forest Stellenbosch Table Mountain Franschhoek Durbanville Melkbosstrand
BIKING
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Where: Tokai Forest Stellenbosch Table Mountain Franschhoek Durbanville Melkbosstrand
Price: R600 per person (Including bike and guide)
We have brand new Giant Talon 29’ers and Silverback bikes. You just need to bring a fast outfit and lots of water.
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SNORKELLING
Steven, founder of Animal Ocean will take you out to Duiker Island, Hout Bay. He will put you in close contact with the playful seals that live on the rocks there.
Once geared up you will swim with these playful creatures next to the island. They are very curious animals and not afraid to come right up to you in the water. This unique experience can be booked trough High Five perfect for a day out on the other side of the mountain. No experience needed with snorkelling. It is also possible to scuba dive with the seals.
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Where: Houtbaai
Price: R800 per person Including snorkelling equipment. R900 per person Including all hard SCUBA equipment (Tanks, BCD, weight belt and reg.)
DIVING Experience these gigantic creatures from up close. See how they behave in their own environment. Sharks are not the wild and aggressive animals people expect them to be. Seeing these impressive creatures gives you a new view and understanding for them. Your guide is Micheal Rutzen who is known for his series on National Geographic and lives up to his name as “Sharkman�. Let him show you his world and go cage diving in Gansbaai. The boat departure is very early, so we can arrange accommodation at one of our partner guest houses close to Gansbaai if you prefer a relaxed trip.
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Where: Gansbaai, 2,5 hours from Blouberg. Price: R1350 (Per Person) Transport (Optional) R350 (Per Person)
Included: Breakfast, lunch, drinks, diving equipment and dry towels
Daytrip DVD & Documentary (Optional After trip) R380
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Want to surf bigger waves? Then you need to know how to hold you breath!
DIVING
Freediving at its purest! You want to surf bigger waves, join a spearfishing trip or just enjoy to be under water?
Our education system is designed to equip the average man and woman in the street with the knowledge and skills to leave the world of air behind and safely explore the breath-taking world below the waves.
Level 1: Freediver (14m) This is a 2-day foundation course that covers the basics of freediving. It includes: breathing, relaxation, physiology, equipment, equalization, freediving technique and safety. At the end of the course you will be able to: - Freedive to 14m (max 20m) - Perform a rescue from 8m - Complete a 2 minute static breath hold - Achieve a 70% minimum pass rate for the theory exam
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Where: Houtbaai
Price: R1800 per person for a 2 day course Prerequisites: +18 years of age, comfortable swimming and snorkelling, signed medical statement and liability release form.
Level 2: Advanced Freediver (26m) This is 4-day core freediving course designed to equip freedivers with the knowledge and skills to become proficient advanced freedivers. Students will learn to become energy efficient; to prepare their bodies for pressure; to train on land and in the water; to perform advanced equalization techniques; to organize and run training session; and to do it all safely! To complete this course, students will need to fulfill these core requirements: - Freedive to 26m (max 30m) - Perform a rescue from 15m - Perform a 30m rope rescue - Complete a 3 minute static breath hold - Achieve a 70% minimum pass rate for the theory exam
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What better way to prepare for a good braai then to catch your own food! Go fishing with Steve around the Cape Peninsula will not only show you the great scenary but also give you the thrill of catching a fish. During this 4 hour fishing trip around Houtbay and Kommitjie we will target Hottentot and Snoek. During crayfish season we will net crayfish and bring it home to eat. You need your own license to take home 4 per person. (buy it at the post office)
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Where: Houtbay and Kommetjie Price: R650 (Per Person)
The best deal we could find for you guys is R5000 for the boat and skipper with equipment and light snacks, most of the other guys want more. So 8ppl at R650 p/p.
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SARDINE RUN Each year Animal Ocean takes divers and snorkelers from around the world to follow one of the world greatest events, The Sardine Run. We spend a month going to sea, often in terrible conditions, looking for marine predators feeding on the little silver fish. This is an untamed and wild marine experience, where you never know what you are going to find. Its addictive and the rewards are huge. Are you interested in a trip? Ask Alex for more info, this will only happen during end of April / May / June. We can do a full week of diving or a half day snorkeling trip.
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Where: KwaZulu-Natal / Durban
Price: R750 (Per person/per day)
All kinds of Mystic Harnesses for sale. Ask the crew for more details.
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MOUNTAIN
HIKE 1
There are multiple routes up table mountain but we show the two most popular. For more routes see the internet. Platteklip Gorge: 1½ - 2 hours • Start at the Tafelberg road 2km past the lower cable station. • Return the same way or take the Cable Car down. • Fastest route up. • It can be very hot in the summer. For most visitors, this is the first choice route as it offers the fastest and most direct way to the top of Table Mountain, unless taking the easier option of using the Cable Car. During the walk you will see views over Table Bay, Robben Island, Signal Hill and the City of Cape Town. On top you can look down on the beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay and south across the Cape Peninsula and the majestic Twelve Apostles.
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The stone steps, made for giants, will tire you out very quickly and makes it a real challenge to go up. Starting at Tafelberg Road you reach the Contour Path after 15 minutes where a stream (the only water on the way up) is overhung by shady bushes & trees. At the top you have the choice of heading off right toward the upper Cable Way station or adding an additional 1½ hours for a return leg to Maclear’s Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain. In summer this hike can be very hot especially in the afternoon. Therefore take enough water with you.
HIKE 2 Skeleton Gorge: 4½–5½ hours • Start at the Kirstenbosch Gardens on the back of Table Mountain. • Ascend trough Skeleton gorge. • Descend via Nursery Ravine or descend with the Cable Car. • Mostly moderate uphill hiking with some wooden ladders to climb. Departing from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens this route follows the magical forest up to the Back Table and the historical reservoirs.
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Price: One way cable car trip R105 per person Return R205 per person Entrance Kirstenbosch Gardens R42 per person
It is regarded as one of the most popular routes with views over False Bay, the Constantia Valley and the Hottentot Holland Mountains. The route involves some adventurous climbing on a number of wooden ladders to get over the rocky areas. Bring enough food and water since it is quite an adventurous hike.
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SUNSET HIKE A sunset hike up Lions Head is truly beautiful. It starts at the foot of the hill and while circling the rock you reach the top in about 45min. The last part is quite the scramble with ladders and ropes. Once on top you can see Camps Bay, Table Mountain and the city centre. Enjoying the sunset with a beer and some friendsis something that shouldn’t be missed. Do the hike during a full moon and you can wait for it to rise and hike down in the moonlight. Don’t expect to be by yourself on the summit. It is quite the popular hike. Some last tips: Make sure you leave on time, because traffic can be a bitch. Also bring water, beer and a headlight.
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Where: Lions Head
Price: R50 per person for transport Otherwise free
GLIDING
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See Cape Town underneath your feet and experience the true feeling of flying. Don’t forget to ask your instructor if you can hold the controls for a while.
Where: Many mountains and hills surrounding Cape Town depending on the weather conditions of the day.
Cape Town has one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in the world to paraglide. Lion’s Head is often used as a take off because of its location and the stunning views of Table Mountain and the Cape Town area. However, there are many flying sites in the area including Signal Hill, Sir Lowry’s Pass (just past Somerset West), Franschhoek(wine area) and Hermanus.
Price: R1150 per person
Tandem paragliding is a great way of getting into paragliding or just to experiencing the joy of a free-flight.
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DIVING
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Are you in for an absolute thrilling experience? Try jumping out of an airplane for a change.
Where: Melkbos 15 minutes from Blouberg
Get your adrenaline shot while sitting on the edge of an airplane with the wind rushing through your hair.
Price: Tandem flight; R2300
Jump out with an instructor on your back and feel the rush of the 30 second free fall. During the trip you can enjoy stunning views of the Cape region and see as far as Franschoek.
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BOARDING
The Dirty Habits Playground and-or the Blue Rock Cable Park are an excellent place for a nice day relaxing and showing of your wake style skills. The Dirty Habits playground is a 15minute drive from the beachhouses and has a 2.0 system with obstacles.
This Blue Rock cable park is located just before Sir Lowrys Pass in an old quarry. The water in the lake is comfortably warm and besides wakeboarding offers a range of other activities. Bring your own picnic or enjoy the food at the restaurant. The cliff jumping is not as spectacular but definitely enjoyable for the kids.
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Where: Dirty Habits Playground is close to Durbanville Blue Rock Cable Park, Just behind Somerset West
Price: check online for the latest prices or call 0027 (0) 791043957 for a booking at Dirty Habits
You can bring your own kite/wakeboard to the cable or get one at the liquid force shop since the rental boards aren’t the best. A helmet is required to ride the obstacles.
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Mzoli’s in Gugulethu is a popular place to get together for some drinks and a braai township sundowner style. Meet the most friendly people ever in Gugulethu township and have a braai and party with them! Some nice music is played by a dj and the best meat you eat at Mzoli’s! Go around 12/ 1 o’clock. Sundays are the most fun. Directions: • Drive in the direction of N2 Airport. • Take exit 14/15 Heideveld/Modderdam • Keep left • At the robots turn right • Drive over the bridge, into Gugulethu • At the robots turn left. • After 150m you will find a purple house on your left. • Park your car where the marshals are.
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BRAAI
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Where: Gugulethu in Cape Town 35min drive from Blouberg
Price: Not expensive, depends on how much you eat and especially.. drink.
COTTAGE Take your friends and spend a night in the Franschhoek house. These beautiful cottages are located in the wine country of Franschhoek. This area is home to the best wineries. Enjoy the best food and drink the best wines whilst enjoying the scenery. If you enjoy more of an action oriented trip Fransschoek is also very nice for downhill longboarding, SUPing on the lake or paragliding.
(ACCOMMODATION)
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Where: Franschhoek.
Price: R800 per night Max 6 people.
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BOARDING Learn to surf the dunes of Atlantis! Atlantis dunes are situated 30min away form Bloubergstrand on the West Coast. The white sand dunes provide a beautiful scenery for this exciting activity. After a short instruction on a small dune you will seek out the bigger and more challenging dunes. We provide you with sandboards, instructions and transport to the dunes. Don’t forget to bring lots of water since you hike up what you board down.
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Where: Atlantis Sand dunes just 45 minutes out of Cape Town. Transport is included.
Price: R500 per person
ING Looking for extreme adventure? Rappel, slide, and jump down rocks and waterfalls! Kloofing is the art of following a mountain stream down. There are two great places to go too: For a relaxed day with the options to jump from cliffs which vary from 3 to 10 meters Crystal Pools is the place to be! Its near to Gordon’s bay. (Get a permit for the hike at the Sunbird guest lodge)
(CANYONING)
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Where: Crystal Pools, Gordon’s Bay Suicide gorge, Hottentots Holland National Park
Price: Crystal Pools R60 per person Suicide gorge R595 per person
For the real daredevils there is Suicide Gorge, deep in the mountains. The hike shows incredible sceneries and will have you facing jumps three to twenty-two meters down. (only for the serious …) And there is no way back. This full day trip is an absolutely unforgettable experience for the thrill seekers! Book this trip with High Five.
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GAME RESERVE See the big 5 only 2 hours from Blouberg. The biggest private game park in the Western Cape. This park has multiple activities on offer, depending of how much time and money you would like to spend. • Day Trip Safari • Horseback Safari • Quad bike Safari • Combo Safari • Overnight Safari The park is located in Southern Karoo and the drive from Cape Town is a spectacular one. Once there you can join the safari day tour which includes visits to ancient rock art sites, lunch under the boma, and cool off dips at one of two swimming pools. All safaris are in an open 4 x 4 safari vehicle.
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Where: Inland past Worchester
Price: Daytrip: R1405 Overnight: R2095
ACTIVITIES
There is so much more to do in Cape Town that this book will never be finished. Here a list with stuff you can also do. Old Biscuit Market Every Saturday from 9:00-14:00 in Woodstock great food and art. Beer tasting In Darling (close to Yzerfontein) there is a beer brewery where you can taste different kinds of beer. Long Street Find Long Street in downtown Cape Town for shopping, drinking and partying. Waterfront Shopping, eating and drinking can be done here. Relatively expensive but great for souvenirs.
Noordhoek Community Market Good food market on the Cape Point Vineyard Estate. Every Summer Thursday from 16:30 until 22:00. Township tour Langa is one of the oldest townships in Cape Town. There are people who offer tours trough the community to see how they live. Great experience, call Thandolwethu Zynoh Matshethu 073 673 6169. History of Cape Town. Be a tourist and explore the history of Cape Town, visit a museum, the Bo Kaap or the Castle of Good Hoop. Or use your own creativity, google or just go with the flow.
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Kitesurf boat trips Want to do a kitesurftrip full of other adventures for one or several days down the West Coast? Ask Grant or Alex for more info!
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ROAD TRIPS EXPLORING South Africa
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CAPEPENINSULA
TOUR
This route is a good option for a full day exploring the cape peninsula. Start the day early with a surf in Muizenberg.
conditions. After you have had a stroll and taken some pictures, you will head over to the west coastt by driving over Chapmans Peak.
Continue to Simons Town to see the penguins. On the way you will pass through Kalk Bay which has some nice antique shops if you are into shopping.
This beautiful stretch of road is carved into the mountains It ends in Houtbaai where you can go seal snorkelling (book first), take a boat ride or enjoy fish in the harbour.
After the penguins the next destination is the Cape of Good Hope. It is the most southern tip of the peninsula and famous for its stormy
The road onwards takes you to Camps Bay where the rich and famous like to party. Enjoy a drink on one of the terraces.
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R27
Lions Head - Hike Camps Bay - Nightlife
Cape Town City Centre Table Mountain - Hike
M5
N2
Houtbaai - Sealsnorkling Chapmans Peak Muizenberg - Surf
False Bay Simons Town - Penguins
If you want to end the day with some action hike up Lions Head or Table Mountain and check out the sunset. Conclude the day with dinner in Cape Town on Long Street or any other of the great restaurants. For places to eat and party in Cape Town check out www.capetownmagazine.com
Cape of Good Hope
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WINETASTING A day full of culinary highlights and alcoholic beverages means a trip to Franschhoek. Besides the food and wine you are also treated with some great scenery. Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Cederberg, Hermanus and Durbanville are full of winefarms and most of them are really good. A day trip to Fransschoek will not only show you good wines and food but also a really nice drive. Start by taking the N1 in the direction of Paarl. Take exit 59 and drive down the R301 to Franschhoek.
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TOUR
Dieu Donné Restaurant Dieu Donné offers a selection of cold starters, pasta, grills and game. Seafood lovers should try lime and chilli tiger prawns with Mauritian Rougaille sauce. Wine to try: Dieu Donne Merlot. Signature dish: grilled zebra rump served with a Gorgonzola and cranberry wong tong, as well as wasabi and sweet potato mash. Top tip: relax in a natural theatre, overlooking the picturesque, Franschhoek Valley. Dieu Donné Vineyards | Uitkyk Street | Franschhoek | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 876 3384
Pierneef à La Motte The Cape Dutch, contemporary restaurant is as natural as the tranquil gardens and oak trees that surround it. Traditional Cape Winelands cuisine bursts with flavour. Wine to try: La Motte Sauvignon Blanc. Signature dish: Cape Bokkom salad made with thin slivers of dried and salted fish, served with a Caesar dressing, and aromatic, wild African garlic and dried apricots. Top tip: “daring diners should try our traditional offal or tripe,” recommends head chef, Chris Erasmus. R45 Main Road | Franschhoek | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 876 8000
Haute Cabriére Cellar Restaurant This wine cellar overlooks the Franschhoek Valley. The ever changing menu and the wine recommendations that accompany each dish revolve around Haute Cabriére wines and the range of Pierre Jourdan Cap Classiques. Wine to try: The popular blend Haute Cabriére Chardonnay Pinot Noir, and also their newly released Haute Cabriére Unwooded Pinot Noir. Signature dish: Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose Cap Classique served with steamed mussels in a Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose and cream reduction. Top tip: book for a sabrage demonstration. Lambrechts Road | Mountain pass| Franschhoek | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 876 3688
If you don’t want to drive and have a fun tour ask the crew to contact Dicky.
These wine farms are not the only good ones in the area. If you have seen these already try some other farms or towns like Durbanville, Stellenbosch and Hermanus.
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WHALECOAST
ROUTE
During the whale season which runs from mid-August till mid-October you can spot countless whales just from your car. Even when the whales have left, it is still one of the most beautiful routes with endless roads along the coast. The route begins in Cape Town and follows the particularly pretty R44, also known as Clarence Drive, through the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. This is a popular drive that easily rivals Chapman’s Peak in Cape Town as one of the most scenic in the country – views over False Bay are incredible on clear days.
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You pass through the villages of Rooiels, Pringle Bay and on to Betty’s Bay, where Stony Point is a popular spot to visit to see the African Penguin colonies. Just around the corner is the wonderful Harold Porter Botanical Garden, which is well worth a visit as well. Driving on, the route reaches Kleinmond where joining the R43 will bring you to Hermanus, which boasts not only some of the world’s best land-based whale watching, but has its very own whale crier during the season.
Cape Town City Centre
N2
Blue Rock Cable Park
Gordens Bay False Bay
Crystal Pools
R44
Kleinmond Pringle Bay Betty’s Bay R43
Besides whales Hermanus also has great fruity wines. Spend an afternoon tasting great wines at Southerns Rights Estate off the Hemel en Aarde Road.
Hermanus
Gansbaai
On through the town of Stanford, a beautiful village on the edge of the Klein River and on to Gansbaai – known as Great White Shark country because of the shark cage diving available here. The route ends at Die Dam, but you could also continue on to Baardskeerdersbos, Elim and Cape Agulhas, if the wind takes you.
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GARDEN
ROUTE
The Garden Route is a popular and scenic stretch of the south-eastern coast of South Africa. It stretches from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to the Storms River which is crossed along the N2 coastal highway. There is plenty of (kite)surfing spots along the way, don’t plan the trip too much, just go with the flow and check out the weather forecasts. Underneath a couple of highlights with some details of cool places to visit and good spots to surf along the road; • Hermanus; check if there are some whales in the bay.
place and stay at Agulhas Backpackers 082372354. • Oudtshoorn; is famous for its caves and ostriches, you can even race one!
• Gansbaai: go shark cage diving, ask High Five to hook you up with the best operator.
• Witsand; one of the best freestyle kitespots in the world, butter flat water in the lagoon. Call Barry for accommodation: 0828504318.
• Cape Agulhas & Struisbaai; most southern point of Africa. Silent but very beautiful place. Have a surf session at the harbour and feed the huge manta rays there as well. Kite the ‘secret’ lake at the farmers
• Mossel bay; only visit it when there is good waves forecasted, nice wave spot, but a boring town.
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• Victoria Bay; great wavespot. Sleep in Wilderness.
• Plettenberg Bay; shipwreck and Plet wedge are great surfs pots.
• Wilderness; great spot for paragliding, do a tandem or even your own basic course. Great hikes and good accommodation; The Beachhouse 0448770549 or stay on top of the mountain with it’s stunning view; The Wildfarm 0448770700.
• Bloukrans Bungy Bridge, the highest Bungy jump in the world.
• Sedgefield; stay at Pili Pili extreme resort (044 343 3217) Kite at the resort or on the lagoons. Surf at Buffalo’s bay point break.
• Cape St. Francis; great wavespot that is famous since the Endless Summer movie.
• Knysna; kite or sup at one of the river mouths or lagoons.
• Stormsriver/ Tsitsikamma; do all kind of adventure activities like kayaking down white water.
• J-bay; famous for the best right handers in the world, cool vibe in town with a lot of surf factory outlets. Stay at Ubuntu; 0769660630.
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RRD Religion Wave kites -Great Turning speed -Easy to handle Power -More Power on big sizes -Stable -Easy Water re-launching -Bullet proof wave construction -Onshore- or sideshore bridle settings Ask the crew for prices and stock or a test ride. w ww. robertori cci d e s ig ns . co m
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KITE SPOTS
GENERAL INFO ON KITING IN SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town & WEST COAST:
• The predominant direction of the wind in summer is South East, aka the Cape Doctor.
• In winter (may-sept) the predominant wind direction is North West. • Bring your wetsuit! Even in summer the temperature of the water is pretty low. A 4/3 full suit is recommended.
• Bring your smaller sized kites. Usual sizes are between 5 and 9 square meters.
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Big Bay
Kitebeach
CAPE TOWN
Melkbos Tube Wave
BLOUBERG AREA (CAPE TOWN)
The Blouberg area is the most well known and popular area for kite surfers and wind surfers. If the Cape Doctor does his thing, the wind will be good! The Cape Doctor (or “die Kaapse dokter” in Afrikaans) is the local name for the strong, persistent and dry south-easterly wind that blows on the South African coast from spring to late summer (September to March). In Blouberg there are several beaches to choose from. From the south the beaches are as follows: Sunset Beach, Dolphin Beach, Kite Beach and Pancake Point. • Sunset Beach: Famous spot for mainly wind surfers. Wind here is usually slightly offshore. If the Cape Doctor is active, this beach is always the first place for the wind to pick up. Also well known as the start for a downwinder for kite surfers. The kite surfers start in Sunset and go downwind to Pancake Point or even all the way to Big Bay or Haakgat. • Dolphin Beach: Very famous kite surfing spot. Mainly popular amongst kiters riding their twintips. Lots of beginners and intermediate kiters are at Dolphin.
Haakgat Derde Steen
Kamers Big Bay
Endless Summer Beach House Kitebeach Dolphin Beach
• Kite Beach: Only a few hundred meters downwind from Dolphin. Like Dolphin, but maybe even more popular. Most known kite spot of Cape Town. Like the name says....... • Pancake Point/Endless Summer Beach House: Again a few hundred meters downwind from Kite Beach is Pancake Point. No way near as crowded as Dolphin and Kite Beach. And if you are hungry......try one of the delicious pancakes of Frank & Phyl
Sunset Beach
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Kitebeach
Scarborough
BIG BAY
WITSANDS
Just north from Blouberg, but still more or less connected to Cape Town, you will find Big Bay. Well known for the flat sections between the waves. A favourite for twintip riders, but also a real good wave spot. Big Bay is sheltered due to the shape of the bay, means the waves get really clean.
Perfect lines can be rolling on this beautiful long white beach.
At Big Bay roughly the following spots: • In front of the life savers club. During season plenty of kite and windsurfers. • A bit more downwind: Karma’s (or Kamers). Beautiful clean lines, perfect wave spot. • North, further downwind: Eerstesteen and Derdesteen. Two beaches you will come across if you are doing a downwinder from Blouberg to Haakgat. Beautiful beach breaks, waves can get pretty hollow and gnarly.
SCARBOROUGH & MISTY CLIFFS
(CAPE TOWN)
HAAKGAT (CAPE TOWN)
Haakgat is the most famous big wave spot in Cape Town. If the swell picks up, Haakgat and its reef break is the place to be. This is a spot for experienced kite and wind surfers.
(CAPE PENINSULA WEST) Park your car on the road “above” the spot and walk down with your gear. Much more chilled than Misty Cliffs and Scarborough.
(CAPE PENINSULA WEST)
This is what the “world kite and wind surfing guide” has to say..... “Another performer in north-westerlies is Misty Cliffs, an extremely powerful reef-break with persistently weak wind on the inside-very dicey in front of a thoroughly rocky coast. No problems launching of the sandy beach of Scarborough though, towards probably this region’s fastest wave. Experts only, and even they shouldn’t get too close to the kelp beds; fall here and you’ll be washed mercilessly onto the rocks.” You’ve been warned....(-:
Downwinders from Blouberg usually end here with a beautiful sunset and a cold beer.
Haakgat
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Sharks Bay
Brandvlei
WEST COAST
Doring Bay
PATERNOSTER
(WEST COAST)
Lamberts Bay
Quality left reef break at the northern end of this small West Coast town. Works in medium west swell and light east winds.
Elandsbay
There are beach breaks to the north, scattered along a fl at coastline stretching towards Steenbrasbaai. Lots of exploration potential.
Paternoster
YZERFONTEIN (WEST COAST)
Veldrift
Yzerfontein is a bit of a “difficult” kite spot, but when it works, it’s one of the most incredible wave spots of the Western Cape. Experienced riders only. It’s a point break that only goes with a proper W/NW swell. Wind will be pretty gusty, but once on a wave you will have a blast!
Langebaan Sharkbay
Yzerfontein Tube wave Derdesteen
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Sharkbay
Velddrif Yzerfontein
LANGEBAAN MAIN BEACH & SHARK’S BAY (WEST COAST)
Langebaan and Shark’s Bay are the most famous flat water spots of the Western Cape. Ideal for beginners and for (freestyle) flat water lovers! The scenery is beautiful and even if you are not in to flat water at all, its still worth the drive. About an hour and a half drive from Blouberg, just follow the R27 and you will be there in no time. Note: even though Shark’s Bay & Langebaan are next to each other, the conditions can differ a lot. Don’t wait for wind all day on one of the spots. It might blow on the other side of the lagoon! Check both for the best conditions during that day.
VELDDRIF
(WEST COAST)
Something completely out of the ordinary is Velddrift. An area with canals and most likely the flattest water you have ever witnessed. A bit further up the road from Langebaan, you will find Velddrift. Follow the R27, on your right hand you will see the spot. Can be somewhat shallow but that’s what makes so super smooth.
BRANDVLEI (INLAND)
This spot is about an hour and a half drive from Cape Town, near a place called Worcester. When the South Easter in Cape Town is blowing like a mad scientist...aka the Cape Doctor on steroids, then take a look at the Brandvlei dam. It is a very nice flat water spot in a beautiful scenery.
Brandvlei
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RRD Maquina wave board
E V A W S D R A BO D R R
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Based on a classic pro surfboard shape. The Maquina combines the advantages of a wider tail with a generous rocker and a serious tail kick. The narrow nose helps for your radical off the top turns on the heaviest sections. Comes in classic PU or LTD technology
For a test drive, prices and stock ask the High Five kitesurfschool crew.
SURF SPOTS
GENERAL INFO ON SURFING IN SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Town & WEST COAST: • The South African winter (which is from June until August) is the best period to go out for an epic surf session. • Bring your wetsuit! Even in summer the temperature of the water is pretty low. A 4/3 full suit is recommended. And if you’re still cold by then you are not paddling hard enough! • When it rains the wind will be from the north which is perfect for the waves!
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Elands Bay Lamberts bay
WEST COAST DORING BAY
Doring Bay
(WEST COAST)
Left reef break. There is an inside section that runs along rocks. Needs a light southeast or east wind. Best on a clean four- to six-foot groundswell.
Lamberts Bay Elandsbay
LAMBERTS BAY (WEST COAST)
Paternoster
In front of the river mouth at Lamberts Bay, near the caravan park, are fun sandbank peaks at low tide. At its best in calm conditions or light northeast winds and medium-sized swell.
Veldrift
Langebaan Sharkbay
Yzerfontein Tube wave Derdesteen
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Dungeons
Derdesteen
Derdesteen
ELANDS BAY
TUBE WAVE
The J-Bay of the West Coast. This wave cranks, but is congested these days. Can be overrun with kiters and windsurfers, to add mayhem to the mix.
Also called Beach Road, this is a good right-hand sandbar point break in Melkbos. It is protected by an outer reef. Works in light southwest or southeast winds and big groundswell. The outside is best at low tide. The inside cooks on the high tide.
(WEST COAST)
A rocky, kelp-covered point break that ends at a small river mouth. When big, the swell peaks off an outside reef and refracts down the point, producing a fast cylindrical wall that runs for maybe 200 meters. Needs open ocean west swell of six foot to wrap in at three- to four-foot. If general swell is southwest six foot, it might only be two foot. Handles moderate south wind. Dominant wind is southeast, which pumps in summer. Best in light east to southeast winds and solid long-period west swell.
Elands Bay
(WEST COAST)
DERDESTEEN (WEST COAST)
Good-quality beach break near Blouberg. Needs glassy to light northeast and two- to five-foot west swell. Gets super-hollow and superlative
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The Hoek Camps Bay
CAPE PENINSULA BIG BAY
Cape Town City Centre
(CAPE TOWN)
Windy beach break popular with sailboarders. Big A-frames break on the outside, then reform before hitting the shore break. Can be good banks here, but gets crowded. Best in light berg winds. Can be disorganized and messy. One of few west-facing spots that can handle a northwest, but not more than 15 knots.
Camps Bay
CAMPS BAY (CAPE TOWN)
Like Clifton, needs a rare confluence of sand, wind and swell to create good waves. Best in front of Blues Restaurant to the right of the rocks.
Dungeons
The Hoek
Muizenberg
Cemetery
DUNGEONS (CAPE TOWN)
Made famous by Red Bull Big Wave Africa, this big right-hander is seldom ridden by paddle surfers outside the event, but tow surfers ride it frequently. Just off the Sentinel off Hout Bay, Dungeons starts breaking from eight to ten foot. Best in light winds and a thumping 20-foot west swell. Best on the low tide, otherwise it gets too thick (too much water). Beyond 20 foot, the tide is less significant. One session on 30 July 2006 saw tow surfers tackle monstrous 60-foot faces – the biggest waves ridden in Africa at the time.
Witsands
Misty Cliffs Scarborough
Black Rock Olifantsbos
Buffelsbaai
Cape Point
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The Hoek
Muizenberg
THE HOEK
BLACK ROCKS
An archetypal Cape Town A-frame peak that barrels over a shallow sandbar in crisp, clean water and a majestic setting. An offshore reef focuses the swell into the corner of a small boulder-strewn bay at the base of the cliffs below Chapman’s Peak. At best, a world-class tube – short, round and perfect. The lip sucks top to bottom; throws fast and hard. Protected, slightly, from the offshore southeaster, the Hoek works on a low tide and copes best with a medium-energy four- to six-foot west swell.
Nearby right-hand reef more consistent than Buffels, but also needs a huge swell between Cape Point and Hangklip. Gets radically overcrowded. A small take-off zone in thick kelp doesn’t help. A classic wedge set-up that handles up to eight- to ten-foot in ideal conditions (southwest winds and an open ocean 15-foot-plus southwest to south swell).
(CAPE TOWN)
OLIFANTSBOS (CAPE TOWN)
Rocky right reef best on southeast wind and large west swell. Best on the incoming to high tide. Very kelpy. Gets super-hollow. Watch out for vicious baboons, especially the ones with surfboards on the roof.
BUFFELS BAY (CAPE TOWN)
This secret right-hand point break can sport 300 people in the car park when a humongous south to southeast swell breeches the swell window that shields False Bay from the open ocean. On 27 August 2005, a 30-foot south swell translated to a 10- to 15-foot swell here. When firing, hordes of grizzled veterans venture from the woodwork. A difficult wave to master, it holds off in deep water, then suddenly jacks and barrels along a shallow reef for 200 metres. Gets heavy.
Buffels Bay
(CAPE TOWN)
MUIZENBERG (CAPE TOWN)
Muizenberg is the hub of the Cape Town surf scene. Not a powerful break by the unrelenting standards of the reefs on the western side of the peninsula, but a great hotdog wave. There are lots of peaks, if you can call them that, particularly in front of the car park. It’s offshore in northeast to northwest. On a three- to four-foot south groundswell, the outside breaks, and the wave reforms again on the inside. Malibu boards are just right here because they give you enough momentum to make it all the way through. Alternatively, you can pump your six-foot-two board up and down like a jack-in-the-box. When big, entails an arduous paddle through acres of white water to reach the back line.
CEMETERY (CAPE TOWN)
Another beach break like Corner, with more juice. Best in light northwest winds. There are a few peaks to choose from: lefts and rights. Expect the swell to be at least one to two foot bigger and slightly hollower than Muizenberg Corner.
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Mystic Merchandise Ask the crew what we have in stock.
EXTRA INFORMATION
About anything really
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To Haakgat Melkbos, Langebaan
Big Bay
MAP BLOUBERG Hospital
Mystic House
Endless Summer Beachouse
Surf House Happy Hippo
Grill Butcher
Bayside Mall
Kitebeach
Police Station
Dolphin Beach
To Cape Town
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cross-onshore south-easterly, but cross-off north-westerly
cold fronts occasionally bring stormy north-westerly winds, usually combined with colossal swell. The moderate SSW Month
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Big Bay
is best for clean down-the-line riding. Another performer in north-westerlies is Misty Cliffs
, an extremely
powerful reef-break with persistently weak wind on the inside – very dicey in front of a thoroughly rocky coast. No problems
LIZ METCALFE
Wind
Force 4 (%)
100 -
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
80 60 40 20 -
Predominant Wind Direction
SE-S
SE-S
SE-NW
SE-NW
SE-SW
SE-S
Water (°C/°F)
15 / 59
15 / 59
14 / 57
13 / 55
14 / 57
15 / 59
Wave height (m)
Recommendation
Wetsuit
summer swell is comparatively small, but you‘ll still find an average of head- to logo-high waves, with a few mast-high days thrown in for good measure, especially around the Cape.
launching off the sandy beach of Scarborough
Unlike the air, the water stays really cold the whole year – the polar Benguela Current
though, towards probably this region’s fastest wave. Experts only, and even they shouldn’t sail too close to the kelp-
doesn’t allow temperatures to break 15°C. During
beds; fall here and you’ll be washed mercilessly onto the rocks. Another adventure awaits near the Cape’s surreal southernmost tip; Platboom Bay hosts big, fast
long south-easterly phases,
WEATHER INFO when the wind pushes all the warmer surface water
WIND
Wind awayforecast from the coast, even If 10°C you want to know what the wind is doing isn’t unusual. Other check www.windguru.cz. is warm and dry with an average maximum is in a north-westerly to launch off the northern end of than in False Bay (which is Anytime it predicts a southeaster be sure to of 26°C and minimum of 16°C. The region the Bay and ride some gigantic sets a bit further. The only supplied with warm water add 5-10 knots. If it predicts 30+ knots for can get uncomfortably hot when the Berg bad thing Platboom: the naturewind”, reserve demands a the Agulhasbe Current) thebyafternoon sure to go out for a morning Wind,about meaning “mountain blows from 55-rand fee per person (that’s about € 6!) It’sin wearingbecause a wetsuit the is a wind is going to be session the admission Karoo interior for a couple of weeks another world on eastern side ofLate the Cape. Theand Indian must, year-round. after 15:00. February orthe early March. spring early howling Platboom When you see northern winds on the charts summer may sometimes feature a strong be sure to expect unstable wind and rain. wind from the south-east, known locally as Good days to spend on other fun stuff. the Cape Doctor, so called because it blows © THE WORLD KITE AND WINDSURFING GUIDE by www.stoked-pu air pollution away. This wind is caused by a If it doesn’t blow in Blouberg, check the Langebaan or Witsands forecasts and reports, high-pressure system which sits in the South Atlantic to the west of Cape Town, known as because the mountain strongly affects the the South-Atlantic High. Cape Town’s average conditions. amount of sunshine per year (3,100 hours) compares favourably with that of Los Angeles (3,300 hours) and exceeds that of Athens and Wind reports Madrid (2,900 hours). Check www.blowfeed.co.za for a wind report of Kitebeach. For other spot reports check www.windreport.co.za (paid service). Cape Townright Climate waves that break in front of rocks, with only a sliver Summer lasts from early December to March, of sandy beach in the middle to come in on. An insider tip
Surf forecast Use www.magicseaweed.com to check the upcoming waves.
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FOR SALE
(MERCHANDISE & KITEGEAR)
We sell Mystic wetsuits, harnasses and hoodies / tees from the endless summer beach house and Mystic. Ask the crew for the latest update regarding the prices and stock!
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RRD KITES RRD RELIGION kite The first and still the best wave kite on the market. SPECIAL FEATURES: • New Sideshore/Onshore bridle attachment points up to size 8 to trim the kite according to specific conditions • Tips equipped with bridle anti-tangle device • sizes 9-10,5 and 12 have a different wingtip design and lighter construction to perform better in light winds • sizes 4-5-6-7-8 have the classic wider wingtip design of the Religion kites and are designed to perform better in medium or strong winds
www.rob er tor i cc i d es i g n s. co m
STRONGEST KITE IN THE MARKET BECAUSE; • Bullet proof construction creating a strong structural frame with dacron fabric • Internal extra reinforcements on every leading edge panel, to secure long lasting stitching & a rigid connection • Exclusive Strut/Leading edge reinforcement panel sawn at 45 degrees: this spreads the impact loads on a wider area (only on bigger sizes) • V-TIP design back line attachment. This specially designed panel and heavy duty construction allow a better load spread on this high stressed area • Radial reinforcements on the tips to improve durability Ask the High Five crew for a test ride and prices.
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RRD PLACEBO Freeride twintip The Placebo is the reference line of twintip kiteboards by RRD, developed specifically for freeriding. Since its first introduction in 2009, the Placebo represents accessibility due to its generous width, length and the correct flex and feet response dynamics. The Placebo V6′ forgiving profile design creates the perfect mix of comfort, fun, and support on the water. This board cuts through chop like warm butter and carves through turns as smooth as silk under your feet. The new Placebo V6 will enable its riders to put in the long hours necessary to progress to the next level with comfort and ease.
RRD BOARDS RRD MAQUINA V3 Pro thruster The Maquina is a classic thruster, the one you want to be riding when you want to have a totally reliable shape that will never let you down. Features -Thin rails from nose to tail -Super thin profile throughout -Deep concave throughout the whole board with a flat tail released by a progressive rocker with tail kick -Strictly thruster fin setup for pure, essential, radical turns in any wave size -Rounded squash tail to allow a precise control of the direction with your foot placed all the way back
Ask the crew for the latest update regarding the prices and stock!
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AFRIKAANS Talk the talk: A-Z of South African slang Don’t know your babbelas from your tekkies? Learn how to make yourself understood BABELAS (bubble-us): hangover: usage: “jeez, I had too many dops last night. I’ve got a hectic babelas.” BAKKIE (bucky): What Americans would term a “pick up”. A two seater light vehicle with an open rear cargo area. The rear is often used to transport an impossible number of workers who stare back at you in traffic and make you feel awkward and a bit guilty. BERGIE: Term used for a type of homeless person in Cape Town. Originates from “berg”, which is the Afrikaans word for mountain, referring to the homeless people who used to live on Table Mountain but who now live mainly in the city. Pronounce the harsh “g” as if you’ve swallowed an insect and are trying to clear it from your throat. BLIKSEM (bluk-sem): If you’re in a pub and you accidentally spill a beer belonging to a man with a thick neck, he may say: “Do you want me to bliksem you?” Don’t respond. Just run. Run for your life. It’s the Afrikaans word for hit or strike or punch. BOET: Means “brother” in Afrikaans. An affectionate (though not too much) term for a friend. It’s like saying “dude” or “buddy”. BROEKIES (brookies): Panties or underwear. Usage: “I phuza’d with this girl last night and she came back to my hotel. When I woke up this morning, she was gone but she left her broekies behind.”
(LEARN SOME SLANG)
CAR GUARD: Found in most urban areas, a car guard’s office is the parking lot. He keeps an eye on your car while you’re at the match, in the mall or at the pub. You’re expected to tip him when you return to your car and it hasn’t been stolen or broken into. No. That’s a lie. You’ll be expected to tip him even if it has. DAGGA: Again pronounced with a harsh “g”. Marijuana. Illegal but admittedly very easy to get hold of if you’re inclined. Just ask your car guard. DINGES (ding-e-sus): An indeterminate, nondescript thing or term for an object whose name you’ve momentarily forgotten. Like this: “Please pass me my dinges there.” “ What?” “My dinges. I want to blow it.” “ You mean your vuvuzela?” “Yes, my vuvuzela.” DOF: Stupid. DOP: If someone says “Do you want to go for a dop?” Always say yes. It means you’ll be going for a drink. DORPIE (doorpee): Small town. But no matter how small, you’ll always find a KFC. And a pregnant 17 year old. DOSS: Slang for “sleep”. Usage: “Is it cool if I doss at your place tonight?” EINA (ay-na): Expression of pain, as in “ouch”. Usage: “ooh, looks like Rooney just shattered his pelvis. Eina!” EISH (aysh): Common term that denotes a wide range of emotions from joy and surprise to confusion and anger. When in doubt, use it.
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EITA (ay-ta): Casual African greeting, like “hey”. Actually, it’s the same as “Howzit”. GATVOL: Literally means “hole fill” in Afrikaans. Means you’ve had enough of something that’s making you angry. Usage: “boet, I’m gatvol of this ref’s bad decisions.” Again with the harsh “g”. HUNDREDS: Normally repeated twice in a sentence as in “hundreds, bru, hundreds.” It expressed either total agreement with what someone just said or confirmation that your life is all good (e.g. “how are you?” Ah, hundreds man hundreds”). Can also be used as a way of simply saying yes. IS IT?: It’s a casual way of saying “Oh Really?”. Usage: “Dude, I saw Messy coming out of a ladies toilet yesterday.” “Buzz us?” JA-WELL-NO-FINE: Nobody really knows what this means, because it doesn’t really mean anything. But we like saying it. JOL: Party. Can be used either a noun or verb, as in “That was a liker jolt” or “I went jollying last night and ended up in Fabio Cinnabar’s hotel room. It was great. We set fire to it. JUST NOW: An indeterminate amount of time. If a waiter says “I’ll be with you just now”, it could mean anything from five minutes to ten, to never. KAK (kak): Literally “shit”. Popular uses include: “What a load of kak” and “Don’t talk kak.”
LADUMA: Celebratory exclamation when a goal is scored. For best effect, try to hold the “u” for as long as possible on one breath, so that the “ma” comes out as desperate choke. Laduuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu… ma. LANK: Beyond cool is lank cool. Also means a large amount of, as in “There were lank vuvuzelas at the game last night.” LEKKER (lakka): Great, awesome, amazing MAMPARA: Idiot MY CHINA: Or just “china”. An affectionate term similar to “boet”. “Howzit china” is a standard South African greeting. Except when meeting and actual Chinese person. Then you probably shouldn’t say it. MZANSI: Popular term for South Africa. Best describes our country’s gritty energy and loud African spirit. NOOIT (noyt): Means never. As in “Aah, nooit! There’s chewing gum on my seat!” or “When I saw that advert with Ronaldo striking a homoerotic pose in a pair of tights underpants, I just thought “Nooit, bru!” NOW-NOW: Not to be confused with “just now”. Now-now is a much smaller indeterminate amount of time. Hmmm. Don’t worry – you’ll get it. PHUZA (poo-za): A drinking session. “Phuza Thursday” is a noble tradition in South Africa. Try to uphold it while you’re here.
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ROBOT: When you’re asking for directions and someone says: “Left at the third robot,” it is not because our streets are overrun with menacing cyborgs made by Japanese scientists. No. A robot is simply our word for traffic light. SHARP-SHARP: Okay. This is a complicated one. An expression of agreement. Or a greeting. Or a way of saying goodbye. Or a way of saying “Okay, sure.” Or a way of … forget it. SIFF: Gross, disgusting. “Check, that guy is picking his nose.” Siff, boet.”
WÖRS (vors). Traditional Afrikaans sausage now eaten by everyone. Flavoured with spices such as coriander and chilli, the full name is boerewors, which translates directly as farmers’ sausage. A wörs roll is a length of wörs in a white bread roll, topped with onions, mustard and tomato sauce. You may also have pap (cooked maize meal) and wörs with a tomato and onion sauce. XHOSA (korsa). South African tribe dominant in the Eastern Cape province. The letter “x” is pronounced with a click emanating from the sides of the mouth, as if you were clicking at a horse. “My friend Lusanda is Xhosa; she speaks isiXhosa.”
STOEP: A veranda or porch. YEBO (yeah-boh). Yes, yeah. “Yebo’’ TEKKIE (tacky): Common word for sneakers. TSOTSI (tot-si): Not just the name of the Oscar-winning film made by local director Gavin Hood. Tsotsi is a township term for a young boy who’s already committing crimes like hijacking cars and stealing. Hopefully not from you. UBUNTU (oo-boon-to). Southern African philosophy with the central tenet that a person is a person because of other people – no man is an island.
ZHOOSH: Very fancy. A word normally utilised by well-kept women with French manicures who will never, ever understand the off-side rule. Use the word if you must (if feels nice in the mouth), but aggressively avoid these women.
When in Mzansi, have a jol, my china.
UMLUNGU (oom-loong-gu): African word for “white man”. For a laugh, if someone says “Eita, umlungu!” reply “sharp-sharp!”
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FAQ
(FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
Where can I buy Liquor? Only liquor stores are selling beers. In supermarkets you can only get wine till 17 o’clock. Make sure you got stock for Sundays, cause all liquor stores around are closed, only in CT city centre there is one open. Where is it possible to do my laundry? At the Happy Hippo, see the map for the directions Where can I Hire a car? At capetownguru.com or send a email to: sheree@capetownguru.com Where are the supermarkets? There are four supermarkets nearby. The Pick ‘n Pay and Checkers are both good supermarkets. See the map for the directions. The supermarket is closed, where can I buy meat for the braai? At the Grill Butcher, see the map for the directions. Where can I use the ATM and what is the maximum? You can use the ATM by the gas stations and supermarkets. The maximum at most ATM’s is R2000,On which evening is the braai? Friday is braaiday at the Beachhouse (if the weather is good). BYO= Bring your own drinks and food. How do I know if it’s going to be windy and where it’s going to blow? Check www.windguru.com or www.windfinder.com and look at the Table Mountain, if there is a big cloud above Table Mountain, it should be windy!
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What’s the best kite spot for beginners? If you have a car Shark bay is the best beginners spot. It’s an hour drive from Bloubergstrand. Check also the spot guide. What’s the best windsurf spot for beginners? Nearby Bloubergstrand is ‘Rietvlei’. You have to pay to get in but it’s a perfect spot to get ready for the sea. Where can I wavesurf in this surrounding? There are a lot of surf spots. You can surf in front of the Beachhouse or in front of the shipwreck. Otherwise go to Karma, Big Bay or Derdesteen. Or check the wavesurf spot guide. Where is it possible to get my surf gear repaired? For kiterepairs, call Eric (072-1102642) from Kitefix, he will pick up and return in 24 hours! For boardrepairs call Dutchie (083-5800551), he is also your man for custom waveboards! Where can I rent a surfboard? You can rent a surfboard at High Five - The Endless Summer Beachouse. Ask the crew for more information. Which type of wetsuit do I need? The water is very cold so a 4/3 or a 5/4 is the perfect wetsuit if you go in the water in this area. If you go out at Langebaan or Sharkbay a shorty or a 3/2 should be enough. Where can I go for kite surfing lessons? The Endless Summer Beachhouse has an in-house kiteschool called High-Five. If you need lessons call: 0027 (0) 729027899 or 0027 (0) 845543262 What are the best clubs in town? Check www.capetownmagazine.com for the latest greatest or ask the crew for the best and hottest places in Town!
TAX REFUND If you buy a kite in South Africa and travel with it back to Europe you can reclaim 14% VAT. However South African bureaucracy makes this not an easy task. Shortly said you need to keep all the receipts and visit the tax office desk before checking in on the airport. There are a few steps and rules to consider. STEP 1: DOCUMENTATION Simply identify yourself as a foreign tourist to the shop assistant, and request a Tax invoice for the goods you have purchased. A Tax invoice must contain all of the following information: The words Tax Invoice The seller’s name and address The seller’s VAT registration number (a ten digit number, starting with a 4) The date of issue of the tax invoice A tax invoice number A full description of the goods purchased, second hand goods must be indicated as such The cost of the goods supplied in Rands The amount of VAT charged, or a statement that VAT at the rate of 14% is included in the total cost of the goods In the case of purchases over R3 000.00, the purchaser’s name and address and the quantity or volume of the goods must appear on the tax invoice. Remember: To qualify for a VAT refund you must have purchased the goods during your stay in South Africa.
(14% VAT)
STEP 3: CLAIM YOUR VAT REFUND You will be issued with a VISA electron cash card that will be loaded with foreign currency after your departure from South Africa. The card may be used to withdraw cash from a VISA electron ATM machine or at any VISA merchant worldwide (excluding car hire, hotel accommodation and fuel purchases) To utilize the full value of funds on the card the card should be presented at a VISA merchant with the request that an amount equal to the balance on the card be debited. RULES
• Only original tax invoices will be considered for VAT refund purposes.
• Only claims where the value of
the goods exported at one time exceed R250 or more will be considered for a VAT refund. The R250 relates to the total value of all the invoices submitted and is not a minimum value per invoice.
• Goods consumed and services rendered in South Africa, do not qualify for a VAT refund.
• The items purchased must be exported within 90 days of the date of issue of the tax invoice, failing which the VAT refund claim will be rejected.
• A commission is charged to cover the administration costs of the VAT Refund Scheme. The commission is calculated at a rate of 1.3% of the VAT inclusive value, with a minimum charge of R10 and a maximum charge of R250 per refund. You can use the calculator to assist you in the calculation of the fee and the value of your VAT refund.
STEP 2: INSPECTION Should you depart from OR Tambo International Airport, King Shaka International Airport or Cape Town International Airport, you must present your purchases as well as the relevant tax invoices to a VAT Refund official for inspections. If your purchases are too large to be kept as hand-luggage, you must present the goods and relevant tax invoices at a VAT Refund inspection desk or to a South African Customs official prior to the goods being checked in.
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DOWNWIND SHUTTLE
Ask the High-five manager for the plan of the day .
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RRD Placebo twintip kiteboard
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For a test drive, prices and stock ask the crew.
KITEWORLD MAGAZINE
article in Enlgish
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OUTH AFRICA.qxp:Layout 1
23/8/11
17:22
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CAPE CRUSADING
INTRO, SET-UPS and photos > Jim Gaunt (unless stated) QUOTES > The Cape Crusaders
PHOTO
> Jonas Roosens
INTRO
>
the best winds and As a kitesurfer, our main priority is focussed on finding
n or family in tow, in CAPTIONS THIS PAGE, when choosing a holiday. Unless of course we have childre CLOCKWISE FROM TOP > Downtown; conditions r your situation, Whateve ments. require y activit extra some in Brad Symington boosting at case we'll have to factor
Sunset Beach; twisty mountain road up to Table Mountain in front of Lion's Head; Cape haze from Dolphin Beach
which of stories about days spent adventuring Cape Town will work. In fact I could write any number will keep you wide-eyed and drives the even hell, around the town or outer Cape country; feature should focus on the huge Town Cape best the that is truth the But breathless all day. Editing all the rider quotes offers. city number of spots and the electric lifestyle that this there, or pro riders who've live to chosen who've those from you'll find over the next 12 pages, has left my heart season, summer ridden the world over but continue to head back every beating with longing for another trip. of riding, off-the-water activities I'm clearly not the only person who thinks that the variety for a kite adventure world the in place best the it and cultural opportunities make
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PHOTO > Fiona Claisse / Progression.me PHOTO > Fiona Claisse / Progression.me CAPTIONS THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT > Roberto Ricci team rider on it early and scoring solo; Lion's Head by night; Kim Albrecht killing it off the front
NORTH TO LANGEBAAN
MELKBOSSTRAND HAAKGAT BIG BAY DOLPHIN SUNSET
TABLE VIEW
TABLE MOUNTAIN >
CAPE TOWN
FRANSCHHOEK
ATLANTIC OCEAN MUIZENBERG SCARBOROUGH + MISTY CLIFFS
ATLANTIC OCEAN CAPE POINT
FALSE BAY GARDEN ROUTE EAST TO SEDGEFIELD AND KNYSNA >
INDIAN OCEAN PHOTO > Jens Hogenkamp “I graduated from university in 1998 and decided I deserved a little holiday break, so came down to Cape Town for three months to windsurf before joining the rat race, but already knew that sometime soon it would be my new home. That trip to Cape Town was mind blowing. If you've seen the movie, 'The Hangover 2', well that was us, but with a lot of windsurfing added in. “I returned for six months each year for several years, working for the other six months as an Industrial Automation Engineer, designing control software for paper machines and ended up travelling extensively. I actually had no life for those six month periods, living out of a suitcase far away from any beach. In 2004 my employer decided that it was no
longer a 'good idea' to let me go for six months as it was difficult to schedule the work in. I resigned the next day and three days later was on the plane to Cape Town, my house in Holland was up for rent and the rest is history! “Cape Town is arguably the best place for gear development. Every year we see more and more brands here working on prototypes. A major reason for this must be the diversity when it comes to testing conditions; we have everything from perfect flat water freestyle set-ups to fantastic wave spots and everything in between. What Cape Town is probably more famous for though is it's strong Cape Doctor Southeaster wind, and often tough conditions. The harder the conditions, the better the testing, though. If a board
works well in harsh, difficult conditions it will work even better elsewhere. Durability is very important when it comes to riding here, and we find out what works. “The Cape Town lifestyle is like nothing I've experienced before. Capetonians are very sociable and need no excuse to get together, just to spend time, watch the rugby or host a braai. Eating out here is still very affordable and at the end of my perfect day I'll go for dinner with my wife at one of our many great restaurants for excellent food and a few drinks.” FRED KLOREN, DIRECTOR AND SHAPER AT XELERATOR KITEBOARDS
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CAPE POINT TO TOWN
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> Jonas Roosens
in the city's CAPTIONS THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT > Big dockerwest side; Waterfront shopping area; Witsands; Ralf Bachschuster, Ostriches at Cape Point; Cape Point national park
CAPTION above > Useful numbers! SMS cost R3. www.windreport.co.za PHOTO > rb-sixty3.com “We first visited South Africa for gear testing three years ago. Travelling from Brazil it was quite a change, especially in terms of the cold Atlantic water temperature. South Africa really reminded me of Western Australia, but with so many different spots with brilliant conditions packed much closer together, it also had the undeniably special feel of Africa. “Now, along with other members of the Best test team, I spend the whole season in South Africa as the conditions allow us to regularly test kites from 3.5 to 17 metres. Whichever spots you choose to stay near, you're never a long drive from Cape Town, which is great, especially when spending such a long time here. The variety of fantastic restaurants, events, concerts and more are real treats to have so close to so many brilliant kite spots. I can't think of anywhere else so well equipped for when the wind stops or night falls. “Depending on the wind conditions, we usually try to kite at Scarborough or Witsands. The scenery is spectacular and these spots seem to catch more swell, but they are not a particularly safe spots to kite. The deep ocean with big fish meets a rocky coastline. The wind can be quite offshore at the windward side of the bay and often over 30 knots. If you're good enough and score it when it's firing though, you'll never forget it. I don't really have a favourite spot though, my favourite thing about South African riding is simply the variety. Follow a session with some biltong and a Windhook beer and I'm in heaven.” PETER STIEWE, BEST KITE DESIGNER
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CAPTIONS THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT > Marten Bjornsson, Witsands; Waterfront building; Scarborough living; Scarborough surfing action; 'Goldie the Acker Mercedes at Misty Cliffs; Coast road around Chapman's Peak; Stunning view to Hout Bay from that coast road
CONDITIONS AND SET-UP
Head north from the very tip of the south peninsula's Cape wildlife reserve, hang a left and you'll head down to the infamous Cape Point. Huge, roaring waves crash in at the spot of choice for many a big wave man. Perfectly cross-shore and very smooth for their size, the conditions here can be at a level you won't find anywhere else. Rig up amongst the wildlife and head out to battle. Drive north back along the stunning road towards Chapman's Peak, through Witsands, Scarborough and Misty Cliffs; a string of world-class and occasionally extreme, but very atmospheric and beautiful wave riding spots. Requiring a bit more of a drive around town to get to if you're staying in Table View - as most kiters tend to - you don't get so many riders here; just the hardcore. You're also less likely to get a rescue if you need one, so be careful. But if you're up for it you'll experience some life affirming wave rides here. Top tip: head to Elands Bay on the SW'ers when there is decent swell forecast.
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“I first went out to Cape Town in 2001 with my parents. We ended up going out there for six months as my dad had always wanted to check it out and we were looking for a warm, windy place to ride over the winters. I hadn't travelled much so didn't really know what to expect. I remember finishing my school work though and then just loving spending the rest of the day kiting or on the beach. It was windy almost everyday and I spent every minute I could on the water.
PHOTO
“Cape Town might not always have the perfect kiting conditions, but to have the amount of wind it has and the challenging conditions surrounding that city is amazing. It is actually similar to England in many ways; there are lots of different conditions to find, you can wakeboard, the food is amazing and there's good places to go out in the evening. My parents live out there now, so it's kind of like home, too. I also enjoy being based out of one place for a while and tend to stay in Cape Town for over three months at a time, which is a luxury for me. The quality of life out there is brilliant and I never get bored.
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CAPTION > Kim Albrecht, windy, meaty aerial, Kite Beach style PHOTO > Jens Hogenkamp
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“Big Bay isn't always the best option for a session for what I want, but maybe five times in the season I'll get it golden. I've had some of my best ever sessions there in the evenings 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. At some point on most days it works well for freestyle as, although there's often waves, there are generally lovely flat sections on the inside and some sort of kickers.” AARON HADLOW, FIVE TIME WORLD CHAMPION AND HADLOW PRO BY FLEXIFOIL GEAR DEVELOPER “I made it out to Cape Town for the first time in 2005 and have been back for training every year since, staying with Aaron or my good friend and Cape Town local, Greg Thijjse. The conditions and the lifestyle just keep me coming back for more.
CAPTIONS FOR THIS STRIP, TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM > Sunset Beach; Big Bay bird; Life savers; Sunset Beach pad; Pete Barker, Sunset Beach action; Ralf Bachschuster, Big Bay
“Three months just flies by; there is so much to do, on and off the water - you’re just enjoying yourself non-stop. The wind can crank in Cape Town in summer, that's for sure. Dolphin Beach gets perfect cross-shore wind and the kickers roll in pretty good too. Doing a downwinder from Sunset and finishing at Doodles bar on the front and then heading in, still in your wetsuit for happy hour sun down beers is just the ticket. I could do this everyday. There's no wonder a lot of people do – and you can just thumb a lift back down the road. My favourite spot is Big Bay though, just because of the memories on and off the water. I've thrown some of my biggest mega loops there and will never forget them. “The veggies and meats are insane in SA. I'll usually have a big salad and a huge steak after a nice session before heading into town for the evening. The pretty ladies in Cape Town don't go unnoticed; there are tons of models from all over the world during 'modelling season' in the summer, and what’s not to like about that?
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“Of course the main pull for me are the epic, fullon winds. If you want to go huge it's the only place to be. A lovely place for natural highs!” RUBEN LENTEN, SLINGSHOT PRO RIDER
SUNSET BEACH DOLPHIN BEACH (AKA: KITE BEACH) AND BIG BAY - TABLE VIEW SPOTS)
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ENDLESS SUMMER BEACH HOUSE Located right on the Kite Beach seafront, this guest house runs with a constant buzz. Drop in, even if you're not staying. Www.endlesssummerbeachhouse.co.za alex@endlesssummerbeachhouse.co.za BEST KITEBOARDING AFRICA For all your kiteboarding needs, from lessons to gear sales and rental, on Dolphin Beach seafront right next to the strip's most popular cafe, Carlucci's www.bestkiteboardingafrica.com info@windfever.co.za THE KITE'S NEST Brad Symington, instructor of massive experience has been on the Cape Town scene since day one. Mobile lessons and stunning guest house accommodation in Sunset Beach available. ww.thekitesnest.com info@thekitesnest.com KITE KAHUNAS Intensive advanced kitesurfing courses and beautiful guest house accommodation in Sunset Beach. Hit any of 30 kite spots with Wolf and his crew. More activities also available. www.kitekahunas.com info@kitekahunas.com
CAPTION > Bruna Kajiya's mellow morning indy chop pop, Sunset Beach
SCHOOLS AND ACCOMMODATION
CAPTION > Bas Koole, slim chance, Big Bay
CONDITIONS AND SET-UP
Milnerton is technically the first beach you hit heading north from Cape Town on the R27 towards the main kiting strip, but the first popular kiting beach you'll hit is Sunset Beach. Backed by beautiful property developments, Sunset is the first of these northern beaches to get the wind. As soon as the Table Cloth (and often before) starts to lay across Table Mountain and the Sou'Easter Cape Doctor kicks in, it will be windy at Sunset. Really popular with windsurfing wave riders the conditions are more crossoff here than any of the other spots and so a bit gusty on the inside, but the waves kick up nicely for a good few hits. There are a few car parks to choose from – windsurfers tend to fill out the upwind car parks, where the wind's a bit gustier anyway, so smile as you head to join the other kiters at the more downwind car parks. If you want to ride as much as possible, this should be your first port of call, but more often than not, it's only a matter of time before the wind fills in at Dolphin beach and Big Bay, which are more popular and properly cross-shore. Kamers lies just downwind of the rocks at Big Bay and can be a perfect place to hone your wave riding skills as the waves are generally more friendly than most other spots. They've still got some size mind you, and can get busy. Respect the order and people trying to ride waves and, as the beach is long, remember you can spread right the way along it!
“My perfect day in Cape Town starts with a breakfast at Carlucci's which is right opposite Dolphin beach, allowing me to check out what the day is offering. In fact, if you sat there most of the day, you'll probably bump into most pro riders at some point! Maybe I'll go for a surf session in the morning or a kite at Sunset before the wind fills in elsewhere. The space between the waves is amazing so there are kickers on the way out and flat water coming in. It's great for wave riding or freestyle. You just never know what you're in for though, and that's why I love it so much; everyday is different. I always take a break for lunch at Big Bay to see how the rest of the day will play out. Maybe we'll kite at Big Bay or head back to Sunset if the wind still hasn't picked up at Big Bay. Alternatively, if the wind is now too strong we might head inland to the 'vlei' (lake) for some flat water freestyle or up to Langebaan. There's always an option for every level of kiter. “I just can't say enough about how much I love Cape Town and the opportunities you get to meet old friends and new people as well as experiencing all that a city like that has to offer. It's the most European city I've ever been outside of europe.” RUI MEIRA, BEST DEVELOPMENT RIDER WWW.KITEWORLDMAG.COM > 77
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CAPTION > Kiteworld tester, Floris Jan
Jansma in the Derdesteen shorebreak
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THE NORTHERN BEACHES
CAPTION > Peter Peterson, Haakgat PHOTO > Al Nicoll
CAPTION > Beautiful wine country
CONDITIONS AND SET-UP
PHOTO
> Fiona Claisse / Progression.me
that marks its Haakgat, Melkbos and more. Haakgat is just a ten minute drive north of Big Bay up the R27 coast road. All parked up, spilling cars see you'll off going and windy it's If left. existence from the road is a small, dusty car park on the surfboards for the tested we where was and here winter last of session wave out of the park onto the road. I had my biggest riders wave hungry most and best world's the of some find you'll and here 'on' it's when issue #50. Word spreads quickly confident, really not you're if avoid so waves, big and currents rips, are There in. rolling start waves the shredding when of course. Melkbos, pros, seasoned by bits to hacked precisely waves breathtaking some watch and sit just to want you unless gone proper another 20 minutes up the road is a huge, wide open beach that is the best option when the bay spots have when it's small even swell, up picks 'nuclear' as they can sometimes do. The other good thing about Melkbos is that it always to get the morning the in early out be to have might everywhere else. Always keep an eye on the forecast, and sometimes you rest can you so days some wind no for hope almost you that is most suitable conditions for you. The beauty of Cape Town take so though, days wind no of chance get won't you holiday, week two a on your body and do some other activities. Often tomorrow! always there's and limits your Know Lesson: Cape instead! windy too it's when advantage of exploring the Cape
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“Volkswagen South Africa invited me to take part CAPTION > Jason Furness must be on the water in a windsurfing competition called Gunston and the GTI in Cape Town in 1985. The conditions were so good my friends and I went back almost every year since. Besides the kiting, Cape Town offers a fantastic lifestyle. I was lucky enough to buy a house in 1995 (after apartheid) when it was still cheap, but it's still not too expensive to live here. There is a good music scene, cool bars and restaurants, great mountain biking, surfing and good people. “I try to wake up early and start my day with a good, healthy breakfast, including lots of fruit before checking Windguru to see what the wind and waves are doing. According to the strength of the wind forecast and the size of the waves, I'll choose my spot for the day. Haakgat is a really good running wave when it's over two metres, especially from low tide towards high. A peak on the left hand side breaks right in front of the rocks and can connect to the right, giving you really long rides. The wind is steady and a little offshore too, shaping the waves beautifully. “I also like kiting towards town at the Milnerton lighthouse when the swell is really big and Kamers always works well when not too big elsewhere (but it gets very busy and a lot of kiters don't seem to understand anyway rights of way). Scarborough and Misty Cliffs are great when the wind comes in right and when it's not too gusty and the waves are under three metres. We have onshore winds (Muizenberg), side-shore, big waves, small waves, light winds as well as gale force winds consistently blowing at so many different kite spots. You can't get bored kiting here. “As well as designing boards, I love the beautiful light for photos, easy access to the breathtaking African landscape, perfect temperature day and night and being surrounded by good friends. Cape Town gives me all I could want.” RALF BACHSCHUTER, EX-PRO WINDSURFER, KITESURF BOARD SHAPER, CAPE TOWN
CAPTION > Dipping lake in Franschoek. This
stunning part of Cape Town's wine-lands is a good hour's drive or so east from the main kite strip, but worth a day or two's stay in peace WWW.KITEWORLDMAG.COM > 79
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CAPTION > The 25th annual Downwind Dash, 12
February, 2011. Hundreds of kiters and windsurfers, including some of the best riders in the world, launch from the Main Beach in Langebaan and race over 20 kilometres to Saldanha Beach. Crazy fun PHOTO > Fiona Claisse / Progression.me
LANGEBAAN
CONDITIONS AND SET-UP
Langebaan is a small fishing town 90 minutes drive up the R27 out of Cape Town. It has some of the best flat water conditions in the area and warm waters too, so has obviously now grown as a busy kite village in the summer months. Two main spots are Main Beach and Shark Bay. Main Beach is a quality crossshore beach at the end of the main street, so nice and easy for food and drinks in between sessions. Shark Bay is a five minute drive over the hill, bringing you round the corner of the same beautiful flat water lagoon set amongst one of the most beautiful kite scenes you'll ever ride in. The wind blows more onshore at Shark Bay, so you have to walk off the beach a bit to get going, but it's just stunning. Winds are consistent in Langebaan and perfect for learning or improving. If you're put off by the sometimes ferocious conditions in Cape Town, find riding sanctuary and a lot of fun up here.
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CAPTION, HERE AND BELOW > Wind Chasers' outdoor shower; Crayfish at the Strandloper outdoor restaurant; Cape Sports Centre's green next to the beach
SCHOOLS AND ACCOMMODATION
WIND CHASERS In Langebaan village, Dimitri and his team have built one of the most well-equipped hostels we've seen. Double en-suite rooms as well as bunk accommodation available. Kitchen, wifi and big TV facilities as well as fully serviced kite school. Www.windchaserssa.com info@windchaserssa.com CAPE SPORTS CENTRE Anthony and Esti run this longstanding windsurfing and kitesurfing lessons sales and rental business right on the beach just downwind of Main Beach. SUP rentals, hobie sailing and beach bar also on site. Contact also for accommodation www.capesport.co.za info@capesport.co.za
CAPTION > Brad Symington on a Genetrix Origin KW test session, Shark Bay
FRIDAY ISLAND Beautiful, peaceful, beachfront units, sleeping up to four with a mezzanine bedroom, kitchen units and en-suite bathrooms. Rig up on the beach next door. Small, restaurant and bar, too. Next door to Cape Sports Centre www.fridayisland.co.za kathy@intekom.co.za
CAPTION > Friday Island, picture perfect accommodation a stumble from a launch
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CAPTION > Make your move on Main Beach. Austrian Stefan Spiessberger running hot
“South Africa was the first kitesurf trip I went on. I saved some money and booked a couple of months out there to train. I ended up staying in Langebaan the whole time, which was just perfect; a nice, quiet place but with enough going on where you can kitesurf your heart out. I really like the vibe here; a little more relaxed than some of the city spots with a few bars and restaurants and a lot of kitesufers to hang out with. Plus, town is just 90 minutes back down the road if you fancy some more excitement. Langebaan is my favourite place in South Africa to kite. The winds blow consistently over a huge lagoon and the conditions are safe and regular with flat water and less aggressive wind than down in the city. I've spent many months over there with very few no wind days. It's so reliable and safe that I now run coaching holidays there in February to help others improve their level too. “Now when I step off the plane at Cape Town International I get a sense of calm; as if I've arrived home. The climate is phenomenal; hot enough to not think of the temperature and cool enough at night to wrap up in just a thin duvet. I love the consistency of the wind and the fact that you can exhaust yourself day in and day out. I love the regular people who go there every winter and the people that kite there year round. It has a really happy and welcoming atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to do other activities if kitesurfing gets too much. South Africa is epic and draws me back year after year.” JO WILSON, NAISH PRO RIDER (www.jowilsoncoaching.com)
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CAPTION > Lake Brenton, Knysna PHOTO > Fiona Claisse / Progression.me CAPTION > Hadlow, Brandvlei PHOTO > Ydwer.com
CAPTION > Wise guy, Aquila Game Reserve
CONDITIONS AND SET-UP
Muizenberg lies southeast of town, on the Indian Ocean side of the Cape and its warmer waters mark the start of your Garden Route journey. Muizenberg is just 20 minutes drive from the City and 45 minutes from the northern beaches, but is already way quieter for kiting than the northern bay. Cross-onshore, these will be more like the conditions you're probably used to coming from Europe. Very shabby-chic, Muizenberg is becoming more and more fashionable for city holidaymakers because of its rustic nature and elegantly rough charm around the edges. There's still a rawness and edge to the vibe here, but it's lovely and you can head from here, through Simon's Town and then over the hills to the other side of the Cape on an incredible drive, stopping for food, drinks, markets and even to swim with penguins (at Simon's Town). Head east instead and you're onto the much fabled Garden Route and all kinds of wonderful road adventures as you make your way into the vast South African countryside. Pull in at Witsands (there are a few spots with the same name!) along the way for some sublime, uncrowded flat water action (where Hadlow filmed this amazing video with William Milne: www.kiteworld.tv/primecuts/hadlowproject27-15/. There's loads of good value accommodation here in South Africa's biggest whale nursery and sleepy village if you get a good forecast and fancy a couple of daysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; butter smooth riding. Continue another four hours east until you get to Sedgefield/Knysna and hook up with the guys from PiliPili for more unbelievable kiting experiences, downwinders and general outdoor adventure.
MUIZENBERG TO SEDGEFIELD AND KNYSNA
CAPTION > Fishin' n livin', Muizenberg
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ACCOMMODATION AND SCHOOL PILI PILI Located in Sedgefield, just outside Knysna, the guys from Pili Pili will show you a good time on the Garden Route, from guided downwinders, beginner and advanced lessons, SUPing and more, they also offer accommodation and have a beach bar on one of the top wave riding beaches on the coast. www.pilipili.co.za info@pilipili.co.za
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CAPTION > Alex Pastor, Brandvlei PHOTO > Ydwer.com “Back in 2001 Wipika was the only kite shop on the sea front in Table View in front of 'Kite Beach' (where the Best shop is now). There were very few people riding there, so we'd head to Big Bay where the surfers always wanted to fight us, but we took all the waves and then all the chicks, and now we don t hear from them anymore!
French boat. I like the spirit of the people here; they are survivors but are relaxed because there's always hope. CAPTION > Easy living, Knysna
THANK YOU TO: ACKER CAR RENTALS Acker offer affordable car rentals for all budgets and needs, but specialise in classic 80s Mercedes cars. Spacious, well refurbished, in fine fettle and the boots are huge. George, Nick and the team mainly deal with windsurfers and kiters, so they understand the game. www.ackercarrentals.co.za info@ackercarrentals.co.za
“You can ride anything here, and it gets even better when you can choose the right gear for the right discipline in the right conditions. My favourite spot is Luderitz in the south of Namibia. I drive through the night to get there when the wind is more than 40 knots and ride my speed track the next day. Otherwise I train for “Cape Town offers me the best speed at Sunset Beach when the compromise for how I want to live sou'easter is blowing like hell, and you never know what's going to riding fast over the flat sections happen: you might get a baboon in-between the waves. I actually stealing food from your car or meet broke 50 knots there down-the-line… CAPTION > Witsands, the freestyle heaven the in road the in Springbok a version three hours east of CT middle of the night. Alternatively, “Everything started in Africa and you could do as I did and rent a 24 you can feel that everywhere. I tonne excavator, head to Namibia love to take my bike and discover and dig a canal to sail faster with incredible landscapes or visit the your kite than a €20 million largest elephant farms in Knysna where the land gets even more green and beautiful. For testing, there is no better place in the world from October to March. Most pro-riders or industry figures come to Cape Town at least once in the season, or every other season. The diversity of all the spots provide an unbelievable amount of opportunities for any rider and any wind sport business. Get all CAPTION > Penguins, Boulders Beach, Simon's Town your testing done in a day. It's the CAPTION > Muizenberg fish market Silicone Valley of kiteboarding! SEBASTIAN CATTELAN, GENETRIX AND XELERATOR PRO RIDER, FIRST RIDER OVER 50 AND 55 KNOTS AND ORGANISER OF LUDERITZ SPEED EVENT
CAPTION > Gnashers, Aquila Game Reserve www.aquilasafari.com
CLOSE CALLS:
Cape Town is a fantastic place to adventure. If it's your first time, speak to some locals and pick up advice before heading off on your own. Even better, join a group. Most kites shops offer surfari services etc. Our personal thanks to: Sheree at Capetownguru.com / Alex and Grant at The Endless Summer Beach House / Brad at The Kite’s Nest / Friday Island / CAPTION > Brandvlei Aquila Game Reserve and Rob Munro for all PHOTO > Ydwer.com his hook-ups!
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Endless Summer hoodies and t-shirts for sale. Ask the crew for prices and stock.
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All kinds of Mystic Wetsuits for sale. Ask the crew for more details.
ACCES MAGAZINE
article in Dutch
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ZUID-AFRIKA ZUID-AFRIKA ILLUSTRATIE’S: YDWER VAN DER HEIDE FOTOGRAFIE: CHRIS IMMERS, STEFAN VAN DER KAMP EN YDWER VAN DER HEIDE ILLUSTRATIE’S: YDWER VAN DER HEIDE FOTOGRAFIE: CHRIS IMMERS, STEFAN VAN DER KAMP EN YDWER VAN DER HEIDE
LEZERS VAN ACCESS HET ONDERHAND WEL: ZUID-AFRIKA IS EEN WALHALLA VOOR VASTEVASTE LEZERS VAN ACCESS WETENWETEN HET ONDERHAND WEL: ZUID-AFRIKA IS EEN WALHALLA VOOR KITEBOARDERS. DE GROTE KEUZEVRIJHEID KAN VERLAMMEND GAAN? WAT TE DOEN? KITEBOARDERS. DE GROTE KEUZEVRIJHEID KAN VERLAMMEND WERKEN.WERKEN. WAAR TE WAAR GAAN?TE WAT TE DOEN? ENKELE SUGGESTIES VANKANT ONZESTAAN KANTGARANT STAAN GARANT VOOR EEN GESLAAGDE KITEBOARDTRIP IN ENKELE SUGGESTIES VAN ONZE VOOR EEN GESLAAGDE KITEBOARDTRIP IN ZUID-AFRIKA. WE ZIJN WIE ALLE PUNTEN KAN WEGSTREPEN. ZUID-AFRIKA. WEBENIEUWD ZIJN BENIEUWD WIE ALLE PUNTEN KAN WEGSTREPEN.
DOWNWINDER DOWNWINDER
VANVAN SUNSET BEACH SUNSET BEACH NAAR HAAKGAT NAAR HAAKGAT
al opklom en afsprong herkenbaar puntherkenbaar zo’n honderd meter het strand. al opklomligt enals afsprong ligt als punt zo’nvan honderd meter van het strand. Het schip is erHet ooitschip vastgelopen, inmiddelsgeldt als staatseigendom en is verboden en is verboden is er ooitgeldt vastgelopen, inmiddels als staatseigendom terrein. Het schip is vastgelopen een zandbank. zandbank die de zandbank swell terrein. Het schip isopvastgelopen op Dezelfde een zandbank. Dezelfde die de swell opstuwt naar metershoge golven die met een indrukwekkende brul omslaan. opstuwt naar metershoge golven die met een indrukwekkende brul omslaan.
Inmiddels zijn we aangekomen bij het breedste zandstrand langs de baai, Inmiddels zijn we aangekomen bij het breedste zandstrand langs de baai, genaamd Kitebeach, waar de meeste beginners te vinden zijn. Het oplaten van genaamd Kitebeach, waar de meeste beginners te vinden zijn. Het oplaten van de kite is hier dan ook het veiligst en de parkeerplaats is aan het strand. Toch de kite is hier dan ook het veiligst en de parkeerplaats is aan het strand. Toch Onze favoriete en meest eenvoudig te organiseren downwinder ligt ten noorden kan de stroming hier raar doen in verband met de rommelige positie van de Onze favoriete en meest eenvoudig te organiseren downwinder ligt ten noorden kan de stroming hier raar doen in verband met de rommelige positie van de van Kaapstad. Het beginpunt is Sunset Beach, een kleine villawijk iets ten zandbanken. Dit heeft waarschijnlijk te maken met het schip die de swell breekt. van Kaapstad. Het beginpunt is Sunset Beach, een kleine villawijk iets ten zandbanken. Dit heeft waarschijnlijk te maken met het schip die de swell breekt. zuiden van Table View. Je kan je hier laten afzetten met je kiteboardspullen Bij Kitebeach zijn qua eten en drinken de meeste faciliteiten te vinden. Ontbijt zuiden van Table View. Je kan je hier laten afzetten met je kiteboardspullen Bijvingers Kitebeach qua eten drinken de meeste faciliteiten of je kunt je auto parkeren om hem later op te halen. De spot is erg geliefd bij en lunch om je bij afzijn te likken vinden je bij Carlucci’s. Een broodjesen te vinden. Ontbijt of je kunt je auto parkeren om hem later op te halen. De spot is erg geliefd bij en lunch om je vingers bij af te likken vind je bij Carlucci’s. Een broodjes- en windsurfers. Enerzijds vanwege de mogelijkheid je auto vlak bij het strand te koffiezaak die erg populair is bij de watersporters. Niet te missen naast de winkel Enerzijds mogelijkheid je auto vlak het strand van te Best Kiteboarding. koffiezaakErdie erg populair is bijinternet de watersporters. Niet te missen naast de winkel parkeren, windsurfers. anderzijds vanwege de vanwege golven, diededoor de ietwat aflandige windbijvaak is tevens draadloos zodat je op de windloze parkeren, anderzijds vanwege de golven, die doorendehetietwat aflandige vaak je Facebook-pagina van Best Kiteboarding. Ermet is tevens net wat holler zijn. Het strand zelf ligt bezaaid met stenen oplaten van wind dagen kan updaten recentdraadloos geschoteninternet foto’s. zodat je op de windloze watde holler zijn. Het ligt bezaaid met stenen en hetis oplaten van dagen je Facebook-pagina kan updaten met recent geschoten foto’s. de vliegernet is met vlagerige windstrand ‘tricky’zelf te noemen. Eenmaal op het water de vlieger is metdedewindsurfers vlagerige wind te noemen. Eenmaal oprijk het waterNaisKitebeach loopt de kust verder door naar het noordwesten, met als eerstvolgende het - slalommend tussen door -‘tricky’ downwind gaan, waarna je het hettot - slalommend tussen de windsurfers door - downwind gaan, waarna je het NaSummer Kitebeach loopt de kust door naar noordwesten, alleen hebt aan Dolphin Beach. spotrijk de Endless Beachhouse. Het verder hostel waar vaak het afgesproken wordtmet om als eerstvolgende downwinders spot te plannen of voorSummer de vrijdagavondbraai barbecue alleen hebt tot aan Dolphin Beach. de Endless Beachhouse.(Zuid-Afrikaans Het hostel waarvoor vaak afgesproken wordt om Dolphin Beach draagt haar naam niet voor niets. Het moet wel heel raar lopen als en niet te missen). Het strand het hostel worden gescheiden door een autoweg. downwinders teen plannen of voor de vrijdagavondbraai (Zuid-Afrikaans voor barbecue je tijdensDolphin je verblijf in Zuid-Afrika geen dolfijnen zietniets. zwemmen. Op dewel winderige Hetals is de gewoonte op hetHet gras bij deenEndless Summer Beachhouse op door een autoweg. Beach draagt haar naam niet voor Het moet heel raar lopen en nietomtekites missen). strand het hostel worden gescheiden dagen ziejejetijdens ze niet je zoverblijf snel zwemmen maar tijdens supsessies opzwemmen. de windlozeOp de winderige te pompen enHet danismet en bar naar het water tegras lopen. grappig gezicht in Zuid-Afrika geen dolfijnen ziet dekite gewoonte om kites op het bijEen de Endless Summer Beachhouse op ochtenden komen ze in scholen langs. Voordat je denkt dat je dus je supboard voor passerende auto’s om een kiteboarder de weg over te zien met Een een grappig gezicht dagen zie je ze niet zo snel zwemmen maar tijdens supsessies op de windloze te pompen en dan met kite en bar naar het watersteken te lopen. naar Zuid-Afrika mee moet slepen: supboards zijn te huur bij het Endless Summer wapperende vlieger onder de arm. Na een houten vlonder kom je hier op het ochtenden komen ze in scholen langs. Voordat je denkt dat je dus je supboard voor passerende auto’s om een kiteboarder de weg over te zien steken met een Beachhouse je zo mee richting Dolphin Beach peddelt. strand dat schuin afloopt invlieger de zee.onder Er is niet veel Na ruimte de vlieger op kom te je hier op het naarvanwaar Zuid-Afrika moet slepen: supboards zijn te huur bij het Endless Summer wapperende de arm. eenom houten vlonder laten, dus check je lijnen dubbelafloopt voordat in je de je kite Sommigen gebruiken Beachhouse vanwaar je zo richting Dolphin Beach peddelt. strand dat schuin zee.oplaat. Er is niet veel ruimte om dedevlieger op te Als we verdergaan met de downwinder volgen we de kust die van recht omhoog nu Beachhouse ook als beginpunt voor een downwinder naar Haakgat. Hierna loopt het laten, dus check je lijnen dubbel voordat je je kite oplaat. Sommigen gebruiken de naar het noordwesten afbuigt. Het befaamde schip waar Nick Jacobsen met kite en strand nog enkele honderden meters door tot het overgaat in een rotspartij. Als we verdergaan met de downwinder volgen we de kust die van recht omhoog nu Beachhouse ook als beginpunt voor een downwinder naar Haakgat. Hierna loopt het naar het noordwesten afbuigt. Het befaamde schip waar Nick Jacobsen met kite en strand nog enkele honderden meters door tot het overgaat in een rotspartij. TEKST: STEFAN VAN DER KAMP TEKST: STEFAN VAN DER KAMP
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Onder: Klaar voor de start op Sunset Beach. Boven: Suzanne Kuiper en Stefan van der Kamp op weg naar Dolphin Beach.
HAAKGAT
BIG BAY ENDLESS SUMMER BEACHHOUSE KITEBEACH DOLPHIN BEACH SUNSET BEACH
KAAPSTAD
Vanaf hier is het zaak goed op zee te varen langs de huizen totdat je tussen de rotspartijen door Big Bay op kan varen. Dit is een van de meest legendarische spots in de Kaapstadregio omdat er zowel relatief vlak water als golven zijn te vinden. Hier bevinden zich ook shops van Cabrinha en RRD met daarnaast een keur aan restaurants en winkels. Op zondag komt de lokale bevolking hier graag om op het gras en het strand te liggen. Na Big Bay begint de weg naar Haakgat met op goede dagen golven zover het oog reikt. Je vaart langs spots als Karma, Eerste Steen en Derde Steen, die vooral voor golfsurfers betekenis hebben. De ene bank is de andere niet en kan de golven anders beĂŻnvloeden. Als kiteboarder pik je wat makkelijker de verschillende
banken mee, maar de topgolf met dito wind loopt toch wel bij Haakgat. Dat weten de windsurfers ook, dus let op voor windsurfers die op je dreigen in te droppen. Een hoge dag op Haakgat trekt de doorgewinterde locals uit alle hoeken en gaten en zorgt voor een leger aan telelenzen op het strand. De golf breekt links op een rotspartij, dus laat je hier niet pakken. Meer naar rechts breekt de golf wel op zand. Hier zal je board een spoelpartij sneller overleven. Als je de golf naar binnen toe rijdt is het zaak op tijd weer uit de golf te gaan, omdat gek genoeg de wind dichter bij het strand minder wordt en in combinatie met de stroming kan zorgen voor een onaangename spoelbeurt.
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Boven: Harry Vogelezang uitgehaakt op een lage dag Scarborough. Onder: Hadden we al duidelijk gemaakt dat het zomer is in Zuid-Afrika als het in Nederland vriest dat het kraakt?
KAAPSTAD
BUITEN KAAPSTAD
RICHTING DE KAAP
DOOR: CHRIS IMMERS EN STEFAN VAN DER KAMP
Natuurlijk wil je het punt zien waar de Indische Oceaan en de Atlantische Oceaan samenkomen. Veel mensen denken dat dat ten zuiden van Kaapstad is op een plek die Kaap die Goeie Hoop wordt genoemd. Hoewel deze plek fantastisch is om te zien is het niet de overgang tussen de wereldzeeĂŤn. Als je die wil zien moet je nog tweehonderd kilometer oostelijk naar Kaap Agulhas. Op Kaap de Goede Hoop kan het flink waaien en vanaf een nabijgelegen rotspartij die is bevolkt met rockrabbits heb je een adembenemend uitzicht over de zee. Rij dan eens naar Platboom, een spot vlakbij Kaap de Goede Hoop, waar je angstvallig hoge rollers hebt en een mini-strandje tussen de rotsen waar je je kite met veel moeite op kan laten. Het strandje is nog niet eens
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lijnlengte breed. De rest van de kustlijn bestaat louter uit rotsen met een extra ontsnappingsmogelijkheid iets ten noorden van waar er een breder strandje is. Dit is een spot die eigenlijk alleen leuk is omdat hij levensgevaarlijk en bijna onmogelijk is om op te varen. Veel toegankelijker is het noordelijker gelegen Witsands, niet te verwarren met Witsand dat meer dan driehonderd kilometer oostelijker ligt. Witsands is een spot met een lang zandstrand. Er loopt een weg langs, waar windsurfers en kiteboarders hun autoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s langs parkeren om vervolgens naar beneden te lopen richting het strand. Op deze spots kunnen enorme golven binnenkomen. Kijk niet raar op als een zeehond sierlijk voor je wegduikt als je een golf afkomt, een beeld dat je zal bijblijven. Verder naar het zuiden in dezelfde baai liggen de spots Misty Cliffs en Scarborough. Bij Misty Cliffs breekt een krachtige golf op het rif en bij Scarborough lig je op de rotsen als je de golf te ver naar beneden uitrijdt. De spots zijn alleen voor experts.
WITSANDS MISTY CLIFFS SCARBOROUGH
PLATBOOM
Julian Watson nam deze foto met zijn camera in de kite van een paar prachtige lijnen op IJzerfontein. Zo goed kan het zijn.
LANGEBAAN
WAVESPOT
YZERFONTIJN
YZERFONTIJN
DOOR: CHRIS IMMERS
BIG BAY
KAAPSTAD
Wanneer het te hard waait voor Kaapstad, dan kan je het treffen bij Yzerfontijn. Het is niet een van de makkelijkste spots, want alles moet kloppen. De wind moet kloppen, de golven moeten kloppen. Al deze gegevens weet je vooraf eigenlijk niet honderd procent zeker. De golfvoorspelling kan je bekijken, de windvoorspelling kan je bekijken, maar we hebben ervaren dat dit allemaal te rooskleurig is. Als het in Kaapstad zelf stralend is, maar het waait er te hard dan arriveert de wind twee uurtjes later bij Yzerfontijn. Ook gaat de wind hier niet gigantisch hard aan, het blaast met een zeer aangename twintig tot vijfentwintig knopen. Wat nog mooier is voor de geoefende golfrijder: de wind is licht aflandig! En dit met golven die op drie banken breken!
Bij de achterste bank (zeker meer dan een kilometer uit de kust ter hoogte van een ‘eilandje’) kunnen zeker zo’n vijf tot zes meter hoge golven staan, welke heel krachtig, maar rustig lopen en gigantisch clean zijn. Een klein beetje beangstigend, vooral vanwege de aflandige wind en de grootte van de golven. Mocht er hier namelijk iets gebeuren dan is het een aardig eind zwemmen en het is hier dunbevolkt wat betreft kiteboarders. De golven zijn hier zo mooi met licht aflandige wind, je kan ze zeer lang varen en ze klappen allemaal naar links, dus ideaal voor ons Nederlanders die gewend zijn aan de zuidwestelijke wind. Let er wel op dat de kans groot is dat je niet goed upwind kan komen. De opstap voor deze spot bevindt zich in een baai waar de wind over de huizen komt. Hierdoor is de wind vlagerig. Gelukkig is het zandstrand lang zodat je ontsnappingsmogelijkheden hebt. Teruglopen over het strand van Yzerfontein gaat in ieder geval gepaard met een dikke glimlach.
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FREESTYLEN
ROND KAAPSTAD
LANGEBAAN SHARKS BAY
DOOR: BAS KOOLE
Natuurlijk, voor menigeen staat kiteboarden gelijk aan freestylen. Rond Kaapstad zijn er veel leuke spots. Hieronder een selectie. Milnerton (Lagoon Beach) Deze spot werkt alleen met aanlandige wind (noordwest), meestal in de ochtend als het nog totaal windstil is in Table View. Door de aanlandige wind vaar je parallel aan de golven, hierdoor is er veel ruimte tussen de golven en zijn er enorme vlakken stukken, wat het een geschikte spot maakt voor freestyle. Ook is er de mogelijkheid om in de riviermonding te varen. Dit werkt alleen bij hoogwater mits de rivier zelf ook gevuld is. Big Bay Welbekend door de video’s van Aaron Hadlow en Ruben Lenten. Een ruige freestyle-spot met grote stukken vlak water en met goede steile kickers. Ook staat deze spot bekend omdat het erg vlagerig is en het meestal na vier uur te hard waait voor freestylen met een zevenmeter. Naast dat je rekening moet houden met de golven dien je dit ook te doen met een aantal enorme rotspartijen die in het water liggen. Houd hier ook met het getij goed rekening mee. Langebaan Vlak water, veel beginners en ook hier is het redelijk vlagerig. Wel biedt Langebaan veel mogelijkheden. Op het hoofdstrand is er genoeg ruimte om je kite op te laten en ook op het water is er ruimte. Tegenover het hoofdstrand ligt een eiland genaamd ‘West Coast Island’, downwind hiervan vind je een goede vlakwaterspot. Ook totaal rechts op het strand is er een locatie waar de wind pal aflandig en het water vlak is.
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BRANDVLEI
BIG BAY MILNERTON
KAAPSTAD
BLUE ROCK CABLE PARK SOMERSET WEST
WITSAND
Sharks Bay Het kan hier erg mooi zijn, alleen kan het hier ook erg druk en choppy zijn. De spot heeft de naam gekregen vanwege de vele ongevaarlijke zandhaaien die er rondzwemmen. Door de vele ondiepe plekken is het een ideale spot voor beginners. Af en toe komen zandbanken boven water en er ontstaat dan mooi vlak water voor freestyle. Ook hier kan het redelijk vlagerig zijn, maar niet zo vlagerig als op Big Bay. Brandvlei Voor velen is dit de beste vlakwater freestyle-spot die er is. Het meer ligt in het binnenland van Zuid-Afrika, in de buurt van Worcester, op ongeveer negentig minuten van Table View. Deze spot werkt als er een harde zuidoostelijke wind staat in Kaapstad. Het meer zelf is redelijk choppy, maar door een aantal inhammen zijn er plekken met mooi vlakwater. De wind is stabiel, wel kan het druk worden op de vlakwatergedeeltes en hierdoor is het voor beginners ook aan te raden om verder het meer op te varen en daar te oefenen.
Witsand Deze spot is ver weg van Kaapstad (vier uur), maar zeker de moeite waard. Door de enorme zandbank tussen de zee (Indische Oceaan) en de riviermonding, is er een perfecte vlakwaterspot dankzij de aflandige wind. Je kan direct onder de zandbank varen en genieten van het enorm vlakke water. De wind is meestal geschikt voor negen meter of zeven meter en is redelijk constant. Er zijn zo goed als geen locals, zodat je vaak met een klein groepje op het water staat. Dit kan ook misschien liggen aan de geruchten die rond gaan, het zou er stikken van de grote Bull Sharks, Zambezi-haaien... Blue Rock Cable Park (Somerset West) Voor echt vlak water, een constante pull en een sessie zonder haaien kan je het beste naar de wakeboardbaan Blue Rock in Somerset West gaan. Deze kabel ligt op ongeveer een uur rijden van Table View en biedt een goed alternatief voor de dagen zonder wind.
ACCESS ZETTE DE LUCHTVAARTMAATSCHAPPIJEN EN PRIJZEN VOOR JE OP EEN RIJ. ACCESS.SOULONLINE.NL/NIEUWS/TICKETS-NAAR-KAAPSTAD
KAAPSTAD
EN DAN NOG
DE ONBEKENDE SPOTS KLEINMOND
DOOR: THIJS VUNDERINK
Hawston De meest voorkomende wind in de Zuid-Afrikaanse zomer komt uit zuid/zuidoostelijke richting. De ligging van Hawston, aan de linkerkant van een langgerekt strand in de baai die tot Kleinmond doorloopt, is een tikkeltje west georiënteerd. Hierdoor is de zuidoostelijke wind schuin aflandig, vanaf de linkerkant. Voor de goofyfooters, rechtsvoor, is dit een frontside golfrij-hemel op dagen met deining tot drie tot vier meter. De schuin aflandige wind zorgt voor lang doorlopende linker cleane golven, die vlak langs een uitstekend punt land breken. De wind houd je van de rotsen en je kunt dan ook volledig losgaan. Oostzuidoost wordt een beetje vlagerig, maar is hier nog steeds goed te doen. NNW/ZZW is aanlandig, door de langzaam stijgende bodem is de ruimte tussen de golven op deze dagen geschikt voor freestyle. Anders dan de meeste locaties op dit stukje Westkaap-kust werkt Hawston met alle golfrichtingen waar zuid in zit. Zuid, zuidoost tot zuid, zuidwest dus. Bij zuidwestelijke golfrichting vind je op Hawston meer rechts brekende golven dan links brekende. In de zomermaanden zijn er beachguards op het strand, de EHBO-post is op de parkeerplaats bij het strand altijd paraat. Er is hier ook een zwembad en de kranen bij de parkeerplaats kunnen gebruikt worden voor het afspoelen van je gear. Vanaf de N2 richting Hermanus neem je in Hawston de afslag naar de bootramp. Dit is de tweede afslag rechts. Met de bocht mee naar links en dan de eerste afslag weer links. Deze weg blijf je volgen, tot je het strand voor je ziet opduiken. Voor de parkeerplaats sla je hier rechtsaf.
BETTY’S BAY
Met zuidoost en golven is dit naarmate de golven hoger worden een golfrijlocatie voor gevorderden en experts. De wind is schuin aanlandig, gaat er iets fout dan word je door de jetski’s uit Kleinmond opgepikt. Dit is vijf kilometer verderop, dus zorg ervoor dat je je selfrescue in golven onder de knie hebt. Met aanlandige wind is het uitgestrekte zandstrand natuurlijk perfect voor alle niveaus die de golven aankunnen. Hermanus De plekken waar je in Hermanus het water op kunt liggen bij Grotto Beach. Net als Hawston en Kleinmond is dit zandstrand onderdeel van een gigantische baai. Grotto Beach is de badplaats voor veel toeristen. Op de zonnige dagen is het hier dan ook meestal te druk met zonaanbidders en zwemmers om het water op te gaan. Je mag hier gewoon kiteboarden, dus alleen als het druk is even een eind verder lopen op het strand om te launchen. Deze baai is een golfmagneet, als alle andere spots flat zijn, vind je hier nog steeds golven. Aan de andere kant,
HAWSTON
HERMANUS
als het echt hoog is, wil je hier het water niet op. Door de zandbanken ontstaan er bij hogere golven dan drie meter veel close-outs. Aan het strand bevindt zich het eetcafe ‘Dutchies’, waar je na de sessie aan kunt schuiven voor een portie bitterballen en een Grolsch-beugel. Als je vanaf Grotto Beach doorrijdt, kom je via een klein weggetje langs de kust op een parkeerplaats. Net als op Grotto vind je hier een wc-gebouwtje waar je koud kunt douchen en dus je spullen kunt afspoelen. Naast deze parkeerplaats ligt een lagune, waar ook de zeilclub iets verderop gebruik van maakt. Vlak water, waar je na een week in de golven soms echt aan toe bent. Lekker voor een freestylesessie dus! Grotto Beach (de zeekant) is goed voor de richtingen noordwest tot westzuidwest (beide uitersten zijn sideshore). De lagune werkt het best met de richtingen oost tot west als er een beetje zuid in zit, alle noordelijke richtingen worden ontzettend vlagerig.
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HET VERVOLG VAN
DE ONBEKENDE SPOTS
VOOR EEN VOLLEDIG OVERZICHT VAN ALLE SPOTS LANGS DE ROUTE WILDERNIS AND BEYOND KOOP JE DE WORLD KITE & WINDSURFING GUIDE IN DE SOULESHOP.NL.
Kleinmond werkt tegenovergesteld aan Hawston. Het komt weinig voor, maar als de wind noordwest is, kan het hier erg mooi zijn. De wintertijd is dan ook meer geschikt voor deze locatie, met meer variabele windrichtingen. Kleinmond heeft een klein nadeel en dat is de gigantische stroming. Op het moment dat je hier in de problemen raakt lig je door de sterke stroming al snel een paar honderd meter uit de kust. Het strand heeft daarom ook de meest uitgebreide beachguard-post. Met een jetski word je hier bij problemen uit het water gehaald. Kleinmond is door de stroming en golven geen beginnersspot en is ook voor freestyle minder geschikt. Doorgewinterde regular waveriders kunnen hier echter de mooiste sessies van hun leven scoren! Kleinmond werkt met wind uit noordwest tot zuidoost. Alles is tegenovergesteld aan Hawston, doordat de spot aan de andere kant van de baai ligt. Zuidoost is hier sideshore, dus bij een downwinder vanaf Hawston begin je side-offshore en eindig je in Kleinmond side-shore. Met een lokale taxi kom je voor drie euro terug op Hawston. Zeker een aanrader!
de omliggende stranden zeker niet missen! Betty’s krijgt het hele jaar door stevige golven en is een populaire golfsurflocatie voor veel van de locals. Hou hiermee rekening als je het water op gaat. Ondanks dat er een zeer chille vibe hangt, houden golfsurfers ook in dit deel van de wereld niet bepaald van kiteboarders. Betty’s Bay is een rasechte golfrijspot. Eat your heart out! Betty’s werkt met wind uit het westen, draaiend over zuid naar oost. Noord is offshore, wel goed om te golfsurfen. West is een tikkeltje offshore, perfect om het hele strand af te kunnen golfrijden. Het waait hier meestal minder dan op de andere spots, dus neem ook zeker je golfsurfboards mee als je Betty’s gaat checken! Qua golfrichting moet er bij Betty’s zuid in zitten, anders komt het hier niet door. Golven uit het westen moeten hier te ver om de punt heen, om echt te breken op de stranden van Betty’s.
ANDERE ROADTRIPS DIE JE KAN DOEN: Namibië / Bezoek de speedstrook in diamantenstad Luderitz waar elk jaar het wereldrecord varen op snelheid wordt aangescherpt. Of bezoek het spiegelvlakke water van Walvisbaai.
Lees ook de column op access.soulonline.nl van Thijs Vunderink over zijn verblijf in Zuid-Afrika.
To Wildernis and Beyond, maar dan nog verder / Het
ACCESS.SOULONLINE.NL/NIEUWS/COLUMN-ZUID-AFRIKA
houdt niet op bij Wildernis en Jeffrey’s Bay, wil je er een echte lange roadtrip van maken dan leg je de hele weg af
Betty’s Bay staat in Zuid-Afrika vooral bekend om haar kolonie Afrikaanse pinguïns. Na een bezoek aan deze slome duikelaars mag je een bezoek aan
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richting Johannesburg. Of je vliegt naar Johannesburg en huurt daar een auto.
THE WORLD
KITE AND WINDSURFING GUIDE
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e d i u g t
courtesy of
THE WORLD KITE AND WINDS
o p S
TRAVEL INFO Contacts & Links p. 278 and www.stoked-publications.com Population: Cape Town 3 million Language: English & Afrikaans Currency: South African Rand, 1€ ~ 8-12 ZAR (huge fluctuations!) Time Zone: UTC+2
contact Grant or Alex. Kitebeach
NICOLE HÖLKER
available for sale at the Endless Summer Beach House and the Mystic House !!
Getting Around To discover spots in the daytime and explore the city at night, your own wheels are essential. Rental cars with roof-racks start around €15 per day. It’s worth buying a second-hand vehicle for longer visits – make sure the registration tax (license) and technical inspection (roadworthy certificate) are in order. Drive on the left!
The Cape Region
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Scarbourough
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Lodging & Food Most kiters and windsurfers stay in Table View; it’s close to the spots and just 20 minutes from the city. You can find houses for 6 to 8 people at €90 per night, apartments at €40 and guesthouses start around €15 per person. Cape Town’s ethnical diversity ensures extremely varied (and very good) cuisine; South African wine is world-class. You can dine supremelywell for around €15 per person.
NICOLE HÖLKER
– Year-round cold water – Expensive airfare – Sharky
FRANK LOHSE
PROS & CONS + High probability of wind + Broad variety of venues + Top wave spots + Spectacular ambiance (rural & urban) + Relatively affordable high quality of living
ince the ’90s, Cape Town has steadily developed into the preferred winter escape for European windsurfers and kiters. Despite certain spots having lost some of their charm to unbridled real estate development, there‘s still no end in sight to this boom. While Europe suffers an enforced break, you’re able to hit the water almost daily during the South African summer at a seemingly inexhaustible variety of spots; freshwater lakes to world-class reef-breaks. The region around Cape Town divides into three areas: Table Bay in front of the city, the Cape Peninsula’s Atlantic coast, and False Bay which is part of the Indian Ocean. Melkbos is the northernmost of Table Bay’s quality beach-breaks. The further from Table Mountain, the later in the day the south-easterly starts, so it doesn’t generally get as windy here as further south. However, the waves in front of this very long sandy beach are usually well-sized – that’s why for many Melkbos is the main course on the daily menu. Hagkat is more exotic; this world-class pointbreak only works in very big swell, but when it does it goes off – easily 4 or 5 turns on clean mast-high faces. It’s far more relaxed in Big Bay , since this stretch of coast is protected by the infamous Robben Island – where Nelson Mandela suffered almost 30 years behind bars. But life’s easy in Big Bay: Food and drink, greens for rigging and chilling, secure parking and lifeguards make this spot very popular and it therefore gets crowded in the small rock-fringed bay. For launching a kite, go downwind of the rocks, or – if you’re looking for even more company – head over to the official Kitebeach in Table View. Here and next door at Dolphin Beach , beginners can use the sands for their first flights in the morning, before the pros show off next season’s event-winning moves as windspeeds increase in the afternoon. Down at the lake of Rietvlei , windsurfers will find flat-water in exchange for temporary membership of the local club. Meanwhile on the Ocean side, it’s firing at the classic wave spot Sunset Beach .A lot of people start their morning patrol here. As long as the wind isn’t too
Getting There Flights from Europe go for around €700 to €1,100 – highest prices around Christmas and New Year. BA is a NoGo whilst KLM and Air France with windsurf gear are a lottery, since they don’t have fixed baggage charges. Whereas South African Airways and Lufthansa each charge about €130 one-way. Make sure to get a direct flight; it takes almost 6 hours longer via Johannesburg. Air Berlin offers the best package: Direct from Munich, and a €25 customer card means free board transport!
Climate Cape Town’s sub-tropical climate is reminiscent of the Mediterranean. In summer (November to April), sunny high-pressure weather dominates and provides the conditions for a southeasterly Passat to ventilate the region. Daytime temperatures hover around 25°C near the coast, the backcountry gets distinctly hotter. In the cooler months (May to September), lowpressure systems pushing through from the west dominate the weather. They definitely bring more changeable weather; precipitation and stormy north-westerly winds. Temperatures then drop to 5°C at night, but even in wintertime will recover to around 20°C on sunny days. J/F 26/77 16/61 sunshine (h/day) 11 rain days per month 2 precipitation (L/m²) 6 Ø max temp (°C/°F) Ø min temp (°C/°F)
M/A 24/75 13/55 8.5 4 35
M/J 19/66 9/48 6.5 9 80
J/A 18/64 7/44 6.5 10 88
S/O N/D 20/68 24/75 10/50 14/57 8.5 10 11 2 39 22
Nature & Culture Cape Town’s environment is spectacular. Beaches, mountains, forests, vineyards and deserts are all within an hour’s drive of the city – which is no less interesting itself: Africans, Indians, Malayans, Arabs and Europeans turn this metropolis of 3 million into a multi-cultural jamboree. In the evening, numerous bars and clubs are a goldmine for party animals – especially in summer, which isn’t just the season for kiters and windsurfers, but international models too... Hazards & Hassles Cape Town is the safest city in Africa, but it’s still Africa. So – don’t leave valuables in your car; not at the beach during the day or in town at night. Otherwise the city’s no more dangerous than any other. Good to Know Times have changed – kite and windsurf gear is now cheaper in South Africa than Europe (and there’s a VAT refund on top!) Repair prices remain unbeatable. To help keep phone-bills low: In every supermarket you can find local SIM-cards (eg; Vodacom) without a connection fee. SMS and local calls are affordable, international calls from Europe <15 cents/min.
SURFING GUIDE by www.stoked-publications.com THE CAPE REGION South AfricA
Ocean is distinctly warmer and the beach-breaks of
Glencairn, Fishhoek and Muizenberg are all more forgiving. Although you won’t see many windsurfers or kiters here; instead great whites abound in False Bay. Commercial operators are using all kinds of bait to erode the sharks’ innate disinterest of humans – shark-dives now promise an 80% chance of success…
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ape Town’s best odds of wind and highest
NICOLE HÖLKER
temperatures are concurrent – December to
Witsands
strong, there are good chances of epic waveriding; however, these powerful and hollow waves do like to close-out. If Sunset gets too crowded later on, head upwind towards Milnerton or (if you can arrange a lift back) launch from here into a fantastic downwinder to Table View. The Cape’s Atlantic spots offer a spectacular alternative to suburban Table Bay. The drive is an experience in itself, especially over the legendary Chapman’s Peak Drive. But unbridled, rolling Antarctic swell is the compelling case for a trip south. Plus, closer to the Cape there’s a higher probability of wind. The gleaming white sandy beach at Whitsands offers a certain degree of safety in cross-onshore south-easterly, but cross-off north-westerly
March. During this time stable anti-cyclones (akin to the European Azores High) dominate the South Atlantic, producing a south-easterly Passat on their rim. This wind tends to blow non-stop for 4 to 6 days, then takes a break for a day or two before the cycle starts afresh. Since southeasterlies are accelerated thermally as well as by local venturi and cape effects around Table Mountain, the ‘Cape Doctor’ usually starts working gently in the morning and markedly increases through the day; Force 6-7 afternoons aren’t rare. These summertime fair-weather phases are only occasionally interrupted by low-pressure, but in winter (May to September) the weather’s more volatile. Passing low-pressure systems’ cold fronts occasionally bring stormy north-westerly winds, usually combined with colossal swell. The moderate SSW Month
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is best for clean down-the-line riding. Another performer , an extremely in north-westerlies is Misty Cliffs powerful reef-break with persistently weak wind on the inside – very dicey in front of a thoroughly rocky coast. No problems launching off the sandy beach of Scarborough though, towards probably this region’s fastest wave. Experts only, and even they shouldn’t sail too close to the kelpbeds; fall here and you’ll be washed mercilessly onto the rocks. Another adventure awaits near the Cape’s surreal southernmost tip; Platboom Bay hosts big, fast waves that break right in front of rocks, with only a sliver of sandy beach in the middle to come in on. An insider tip is in a north-westerly to launch off the northern end of the Bay and ride some gigantic sets a bit further. The only bad thing about Platboom: the nature reserve demands a 55-rand admission fee per person (that’s about € 6!) It’s another world on the eastern side of the Cape. The Indian
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80 60 40 20 -
Predominant Wind Direction
SE-S
SE-S
SE-NW
SE-NW
SE-SW
SE-S
Water (°C/°F)
15 / 59
15 / 59
14 / 57
13 / 55
14 / 57
15 / 59
Wetsuit
summer swell is comparatively small, but you‘ll still find an average of head- to logo-high waves, with a few mast-high days thrown in for good measure, especially around the Cape. Unlike the air, the water stays really cold the whole year – the polar Benguela Current doesn’t allow temperatures to break 15°C. During long south-easterly phases, when the wind pushes all the warmer surface water away from the coast, even 10°C isn’t unusual. Other than in False Bay (which is supplied with warm water by the Agulhas Current) wearing a wetsuit is a must, year-round. Platboom
REINHARD MÜLLER
Big Bay
LIZ METCALFE
Wind
Force 4 (%)
100 -
Wave height (m)
Recommendation
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© THE WORLD KITE AND WINDSURFING GUIDE by www.stoked-publications.com
Endless Summer hoodies and t-shirts for sale. Ask the crew for prices and stock.
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KITESURF MAGAZINE article in Dutch
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