The GKA Kite-Surf World Cup in Cape Verde

The first of 16 GKA Kite World Tour events begins in Cape Verde this month, find out the latest on conditions and which rider is back on the tour in 2020!

Ten islands make up the archipelago of Cabo Verde which lies two hours south of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, due to their geographical location the islands are frequented with pumping swell and trade winds.

The island of Sal will play host to the GKA Kite World Tour which kicks-off with at the iconic African surf break of Ponta Preta, a spot which delivered a jaw dropping barrel-fest of a competition in 2019!

Cape Verde is a hotbed for local talent, with some of the biggest names in Kite-Surf coming from the island. Two riders that need no introductions are the current GKA Kite-Surf World Champion, Airton Cozzolino, and former World Champion Mitu Monterio, who currently ranks #2 in the world, are both Cape Verdean nationals. A third and equally talented local rider, and yup, you guessed it, also a former World Champion is Matchu Lopes, who was forced to pull out of last year’s tour due to a shoulder injury.

Matchu has been studying the weather conditions carefully in the run up to the event, and is confident that things are lining up well for a north-west swell, double overhead waves and a sideshore wind. He’s been following the big storms out in the Atlantic and hopes they will reach the island in time for the event, bringing potentially once in a lifetime conditions! For Matchu, the Ponta Preta event is one of the highlights of the tour and he’s stoked to announce he will be competing once again in 2020.

We spoke to Matchu Lopes about his return to the GKA Kite World Tour

“I’ve been out of the water for quite a long time this year but I’ve managed, now I’m feeling pretty good, back to 100% on the waves, and it’s so great to be able to follow the tour once again! Hopefully 2020 is going to be epic, there are so many big names in Kite-Surf now. I’m ready to go out, send it and enjoy the once in a lifetime conditions at my home spot in front of my friends and family. It’s so great to be able to follow the tour once again and hopefully it’s going to be epic at each one of the tour stops as well!”

The GKA will running a livestream for this event.

Words: Kate Chandler