Please select your home edition
Edition
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

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!

Follow the event

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.

Read more...

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.

Related Articles

Antonia & Georgia Lewin-LaFrance 1pt from podium
In the 49er FX class at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S., took the fourth position in 49erFX at the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta. Posted on 21 Jul
Oman Kite Festival kicks off from Barr Al Hikman
With the official opening ceremony and race launch The Oman Kite Festival 2025 launched on the 15th of July on the scenic shores of Barr Al Hikman in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, welcoming more than 90 athletes from Oman and around the world. Posted on 18 Jul
Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 4
ILCA 6 & 7, Men's & Women's Formula Kite and 470 Mixed Teams Wrap Up The racing for the first 5 classes of the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta wrapped up with a twist in conditions and breeze just to mix it up for the competitors. Posted on 17 Jul
Strong start on LA waters for Australian Sailors
A valuable week of racing at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta Australia's top Olympic class sailors have wrapped up a valuable week of racing at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta in California, gaining firsthand experience at the future venue of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 17 Jul
Sail Canada Regional Championships Preview
More than 300 young Canadian sailors in action this weekend across the country More than 300 young Canadian sailors will be in action this weekend as Sail Canada will present its three regional championships: Sail East at St. Margaret Sailing Club, Sail Central at Hudson Yacht Club and Sail West at Gimli Yacht Club. Posted on 16 Jul
Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 3
Mother Nature teases the competitors Mother Nature teased the competitors today and made them wait a bit, but she did not disappoint; the sun came out and a big westerly built to 18-20 knots! Posted on 15 Jul
Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 2
Classic Long Beach conditions return The weather conditions at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta shifted noticeably today, delivering the classic Long Beach breeze that many expect from this world-class venue. Posted on 14 Jul
2025 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta kicks off
The first week of the OCR includes five Olympic classes The highly anticipated 2025 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta officially commenced on Saturday, 12 July, marking the beginning of Olympic campaigns since the venues were announced. Posted on 14 Jul
Australian sailors take to Olympic waters
Regatta serves as an important test, not just for sailors, but also for organisers The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta is set to get begin, marking the first major combined event on the waters of the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 12 Jul
Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta 2025 Preview
The fourth stop of the five series Sailing Grand Slam circuit Over 200 elite athletes from 42 nations have converged on Long Beach to test their skills on the same waters that will host sailing events during the LA2028 Olympic Games as they compete in the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta July 12-20 Posted on 12 Jul
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignRolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTER