Chasing the wind south: Inside the 11th Dakhla Downwind Challenge
by Dakhla Downwind Challenge 22 Aug 22:48 PDT
14-20 August 2026
There's a particular kind of magic that happens when a kite, a rider, and 500 kilometres of raw Atlantic coastline collide.
For the eleventh year running, that magic unfolded across the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, as the Dakhla Downwind Challenge sent its caravan of riders, support crews and dreamers deep into Morocco's Grand South — and this year once again, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, a mark of confidence that gave the whole adventure extra weight.
A launch loaded with meaning
The 11th edition kicked off on 14 August. Before the first kite even hit the water, organizers teamed up with the newly formed Dakhla Horizon association to run a kitesurfing taster session for local kids. Riders from across the globe traded stories and know-how with a new generation, planting the same values that anchor the whole event: respect, solidarity, humility, and a deep-rooted respect for the ocean.
A global downwind family
Scroll through the start list and you'd find riders from Morocco, France, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, the US, Andorra, Israel and beyond — a genuine cross-section of the international kite scene, all pointed the same direction: south.
That's really the heart of the Dakhla Downwind Challenge. It was never built to crown a winner. It's built to put strangers on the same stretch of coast, day after day, until they're not strangers anymore — swapping technique, language, and a few blisters along the way.
Five stages, one unforgettable route
The numbers tell their own story: five stages, nearly 500 kilometres of coastline, and wind that showed up every single day. The route wound south from the Bay of Cintra through Ras El Khasseh and the towering headland of Cap Barbas, down to Mhiriz, and finally into the deep south for a symbolic finish at the El Guerguerat border post.
Stage four — the Ras El Khasseh-to-Mhiriz leg via Cap Barbas — earned its reputation as the toughest and most memorable stretch of the entire week, and one of the standout highlights of this year's edition. Stage five closed things out in the same spirit the Challenge is known for: clean wind, big skies, and a group crossing the line together rather than racing for it.
Behind every kilometre, an entire mobile operation quietly leapfrogged down the coast to keep the expedition moving safely through seriously remote terrain — medics, safety boats, drivers, bivouac teams, caterers and logistics crews, all working to support riders across some of the wildest, most spectacular landscapes in southern Morocco.
One photo, every flag
The image that will define this edition: the entire fleet gathered at El Guerguerat, each rider holding up the flag of their home country. It's a simple shot, but it says everything about what this event actually is — not a race, but a rolling meeting point for riders pulled south by the same wind, sharing the same stages, bivouacs, challenges and emotions.
Leaving it better than they found it
Before the caravan turned back toward Dakhla, the group squeezed in one more stage — a beach clean-up. It's become something of a signature move for the Challenge: enjoy one of the wildest coastlines on the planet, then put in the work to help protect it. A fitting last chapter before the long convoy home to New Spirit Dakhla.
A closing ceremony fit for the occasion
The closing ceremony at New Spirit Dakhla brought together riders, organisers, partners, institutional representatives and guests for a night of stories and recognition rather than trophies; the symbolic awards handed out celebrated commitment, sportsmanship and solidarity, not who finished first.
Organizers used the occasion to extend their thanks to His Majesty King Mohammed VI for the High Patronage granted to the event, and to everyone who made the 11th edition possible — from the regional authorities, security and rescue services, and long-time partners CIH Bank, New Spirit Dakhla and Tulum Beach Resort, to the photographers, videographers and production teams who carried the story of Dakhla around the world.
Mark your calendars: 2027 is already locked in
Before the dust had even settled, organizers confirmed the next edition: the Dakhla Downwind Challenge returns from 14 to 20 August 2027 for its 12th run. Expect more of the same DNA — remote coastline, international riders, youth engagement, environmental responsibility — with an even bigger international footprint on the horizon.
As the organizers put it best: one unique adventure, one exceptional territory, riders from all over the world, one team.
dakhladownwindchallenge.com