GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde preview
by GKA Kite World Tour 13 Mar 01:48 AEDT
13-21 March 2025
GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde © GKA Kite World Tour
The 2025 Kite-Surf season kicks off in Cape Verde's iconic Ponta Preta, where the world champions will begin defending their titles.
Brazil's Gabriel Benetton and France's Capucine Delannoy are already in Cape Verde, training in the legendary waves. Benetton, who won his first world title last year with a laid-back approach, is now stepping up his focus and energy for the season ahead, aiming for another championship.
The GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde is set to deliver thrilling battles in the epic waves of Sal Island. Follow it all live on the livestream!
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Intriguing twist
On the men's side, Benetton and Cozzolino will have their work cut out for them, up against the likes of Brazilian chargers Pedro Matos and Sebastian Ribeiro, and Cape Verdean Matchu Lopes (ESP).
Mitu Monteiro (CPV), the father of strapless kitesurfing, is also set to make his only competitive foray of the year on his home wave. The versatile Casati brothers, Lorenzo (ESP) and Leonardo (ITA), better known for their Big Air exploits, are also set make another bid for world cup glory.
The expanding women's field will also test the favourites, Whyte and Delannoy. Brazil's Kesiane Rodrigues, who showed her surfing progression with a win in Dakhla last year, will no doubt be a threat, along with Switzerland's Camille Losserand.
Francesca Maini (GBR), the winner of the first Red Bull King of the Air women's division last year, is slated to make her Kite-Surf debut in Ponta Preta in an intriguing twist.
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The forecast
Sal Island is set to host the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde, with two potential event locations depending on conditions: Ponta Preta and Kite Beach. Ponta Preta is known for its powerful, glassy waves and cross-offshore winds, perfect for expert riders, with waves reaching up to 6m. Kite Beach, offering consistent onshore winds, caters to all skill levels with a 3km stretch of sandy beach. The island benefits from strong north-easterly Trade Winds (15-25kts) from November to June, with the best winds from 9am to 3pm. Pleasant temperatures around 22ºC and water temps slightly cooler make for ideal conditions year-round.