First Kite-Surf battles of 2025 will see world champions begin defence of their crowns
GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde powered by Capital.com
13-21 March, 2025 | Ponta Preta / Kite Beach, Sal
The opening battles of the 2025 Kite-Surf season are set to kick-off in the epic waves of Cape Verde’s Sal island when the world champions will be open the defence of their crowns.
The GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde powered by Capital.com will likely be fought out in the swells of Ponta Preta when the tour returns to Sal island for another year.
World champions, Brazil’s Gabriel Benetton and France’s Capucine Delannoy, are already in Cape Verde training in the iconic ‘rights’ that curl around Ponta Preta’s rocky point-break.
Benetton, 20, won his first world title last year thanks to his consistency across the season, taking to two second places and two fourths, one of them in Cape Verde. He took a relaxed attitude to the title hunt, but has vowed to be more focused in 2025.
“My plan is that I want to be world champion again,” he said. “Last year when I got the title I didn’t put a lot of energy into it. I was just doing it super natural. This year, imagine what happens if I’m more focused and train. This year I have a little bit of a different mentality, I’ll put more energy into it.”
Big roster
Similarly Delannoy, 18, focused on enjoying herself on the water, training and competing, and trusted that the results would follow to help her reclaim the world title.
“This [2024] was such a good season for me,” said Delannoy. “I got good results. I had a lot of fun training and I had a lot of fun kiting in the water and competing. I always had that feeling before, but this year even more so. So, I’m going to try and keep it like this and focus on my kiting and the title will follow again [this] year.”
A big roster of 39 athletesβincluding 17 womenβfrom 15 countries around the world are set to converge on Cape Verde for the nine-day competition window to give the best possible chance of contestable swells.
Last year’s world cup winners, Cape Verdean Airton Cozzolino (ITA), and Hawaii-based Moona Whyte (USA), will be back to try to repeat their success. Cozzolino will be trying to reclaim the crown he lost after a patchy season, while for Whyte, Cape Verde was her only contest of the year in her favourite wave.
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.
words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Lukas K Stiller
Spot Info
The idyllic island of Sal is gearing up to host the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde powered by Capital.com. Against the stunning backdrop of this picturesque paradise, this eagerly-anticipated repeat stop will offer two potential event locations, with both Ponta Preta and Kite Beach in the mix, depending on the conditions.
Ponta Preta
For those seeking the ultimate wave-riding experience, look no further than the legendary Ponta Preta, in Cape Verde. This picturesque spot offers big, powerful, and glassy waves, accompanied by the most favourable cross-offshore winds. Considered a playground for expert-level riders, the waves can soar up to 6m high, making for an adrenaline-pumping experience like no other. While the beach is rocky in places, it’s also dotted with pockets of sand, making it an ideal location when the north-easterly winds kick in.
Kite Beach
As one of Sal’s most versatile kiting spots, Kite Beach welcomes riders of all levels with open arms. The beach’s consistent onshore and cross-onshore winds make it a top choice for watersports’ enthusiasts, ensuring riders always have a smooth return to the sandy shoreline.
While it may be the busiest kitesurfing location on Sal, the vast 3kms stretch of sandy beach ensures ample space for both seasoned riders and kite schools alike, even during peak months. Those closer to the beach can expect a mild wind-blown chop and the occasional shore break, while further out on the reef, you’ll find waves perfect for shredding.
Wind
Cabo Verde offers fantastic wind conditions with consistent north-easterly Trade Winds blowing 15-25kts almost daily from November to June. The wind tends to be strong throughout the day, with the most powerful gusts occurring from 9am to 3pm. Kite Beach is the primary kitesurfing spot on Sal, as it faces east and provides less turbulent, onshore wind compared to other south or west facing locations.
The winter months offer pleasant temperatures of around 22ΒΊC, and the water temperature is only slightly cooler. Most kiters will find a 3/2mm shorty wetsuit suitable for full-day kiting sessions, while board shorts may enough on warmer days later in the season. Regardless of the time of year, it’s essential to apply sunscreen.
Wind directions include NNE, NE, and E, and the windiest months are November, December, January, February, March, April, and June.
Event Information
- Location: Sal Island, Cape Verde
- Dates: 13-21 March, 2025
- All event information is here.
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