Excitement mounts as GKA Awards approach

• Cape Town venue prepares for kiting’s biggest night of the year

• Entries for expanded ‘Move of the Year’ awards start to roll in

10 January, 2025 | Qatar Airways GKA Awards, City Hall, Cape Town

The excitement surrounding the third edition of the Qatar Airways GKA Awards to honour kiteboarding’s greatest achievements is palpable as our sport’s biggest night of the year fast approaches.

The city authorities in Cape Town, which have made available the historic City Hall as the venue, are already laying the groundwork for the gala evening that will recognise the kiteboarding athletes’ greatest feats over the preceding 18 months.

The move by Cape Town to give over the City Hall for the Qatar Airways GKA Awards night reflects the municipality’s ambition to cement its reputation as the world’s premier kiteboarding destination during the European winter months.

With many of the planet’s best kiteboarders basing themselves in Cape Town to train in the cranking Cape Doctor winds that blow from November to March, a big turnout of professional athletes is expected.

Tickets on sale

Leading figures from the kiteboarding industry also take the opportunity to gather in Cape Town during those months and are likely to be on hand at the 1,000-seater City Hall venue on the night.

Tickets for the Awards night have already gone on sale and can be booked here for those who want be on hand to see who will be honoured in the best rider, best move, photo, video and rookie categories.

The prized statuettes will be awarded in 14 men’s and women’s categories. Move of the Year has been expanded to nine categories: for Freestyle, Strapless Freestyle, Wave and Hydrofoil Big Air. The best men and women athletes will be honoured in the Rider of the Year awards, along with the Photo, Video and Rookie of the Year awards.

Qatar Airways GKA Awards 2024

Male Rider of the Year

Female Rider of the Year

Men’s Freestyle Move of the Year

Women’s Freestyle Move of the Year

Men’s Strapless Freestyle Move of the Year

Women’s Strapless Freestyle Move of the Year

Men’s Wave of the Year 

Women’s Wave of the Year 

Men’s Big Air Move of the Year

Women’s Big Air Move of the Year 

Hydrofoil Big Air Move of the Year (one award, both genders)

Rookie of the Year  (one award, both genders)

Photo of the Year

Video of the Year 

Click on the links above to submit entries until 6 October, 2024. Public voting on the shortlists will run between 25 November and 9 December, 2024.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Samuel Cárdenas

Spot Info: Cape Town

Wind and weather
For kiteboarders the reliable 20 to 40 knots winds that blow from December through to February is Cape Town’s unrivalled appeal. Even November and March can offer good breezes and the bonus of quieter beaches. In high-season the south/south-westerly wind blows five days a week, beginning at 10am and building throughout the day until it’s nuking by 4pm. There are many beaches to choose from on the 15kms of coastline running northwards from Table Mountain, offering the possibility of epic downwinders.

Cape Town’s Beaches

Sunset Beach
It serves up the biggest and cleanest waves on Blouberg Strand. The wind is cross-offshore from the left which can make for great down-the-line riding. One drawback is that the shorebreak can be quite big to contend with.

Dolphin Beach
Dolphin has wide, sandy beaches that make launching and landing a breeze. The wind is cross-shore from the left. The waves are not too big. Between the waves that make great kickers, the water is among the flattest along the coastline, especially towards high tide.

Kite Beach
It has a smallish shorebreak, but the water between the waves is not quite as flat as Dolphin further south on Blouberg. The wind is cross-shore from the left. It can be quieter than some of the other beaches, but remains safe.

Doodles Beach
Doodles is small and steep, but it offers great kickers and can be less busy than some other spots.  The steepness means there is a dumpy shorebreak to negotiate, especially at high tide. The wind is cross-shore from the left. It takes its name from Doodles pub that overlooks the spot.

Big Bay
A popular beach, it offers wide, flat-water sections between the waves. The waves are moderately big and the wind is cross-onshore from the left. The launching and landing area can be limited, especially around high tide. There are a few rocks downwind to beware of. The wind moderates the further you move north from Table Mountain, which can be useful if it is cranking down the coast. It hosts the Red Bull King of the Air in November/December each year.

Calmers
Downwind of the Big Bay rocks is Calmers. Wave riders often favour this spot because the waves are excellent and clean, with a small shorebreak. The wind is cross-shore from the left. One drawback is that it is popular and can sometimes be quite busy.

Calmers to Haakart
Heading north along the coast from Calmers reveals a near-continuous stretch of beach. Different car parks serve the various sections. This stretch of beaches has wind cross-shore or cross-offshore from the left and is popular with wave riders. The waves here are usually bigger than the main beaches. Rock slabs on the seabed are visible from the water’s edge and easily avoided.

Cape Town’s ‘no-wind day’ activities

Table Mountain/Lion’s Head
Hike or climb up either of these two iconic sites. Take the cable car up Table Mountain if you are not feeling up to it. Lion’s Head is more energetic hike, with ladders and chains up diverse trails that open on to an incredible vista of mountains and coastline. Sunrise or sunset are particularly rewarding.

Robben Island Museum
Take a ferry to the prison island. You may be rewarded with a whale sighting along the way. In the historic prison complex you will be guided by former inmates offering insights into their incarceration and that of its most famous inmate, Nelson Mandela.

Stellanbosch and Franschhoek
See the green and mountainous regions of Stellanbosch and Franschhoek. Mountain bike tours are a great option to soak up the beautiful environment. Perhaps tie it in with some winery tours in the regions, enjoying the stunning vineyards and sampling some of their produce.

Bo-Kaap Food Tours
Dive into a food safari in Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap neighbourhood. Famed for it Cape Malay culture, you will find a vibrant cuisine born of the area’s culture. Muslim were isolated in the area when other ethnicities were forced to move out, leaving unique Malay culture and cuisine.

Old Biscuit Mill and Harbour Bay Markets
Trawl the old markets of the Old Biscuit Mill, in Cape Town, on Saturday mornings, or the Harbour Bay Market of Hout Bay for a relaxing and interesting few hours.