Meet the Cape Doctor
The 2024 Red Bull King of the Air wind window will officially open from 23rd November – 8th December, but when will the world’s most extreme Big Air kiteboarding event kick off in Cape Town, South Africa?
The prevailing South East tradewind known as the Cape Doctor is back... right on time for the 2024 Red Bull King of the Air.
Blouberg Beach in Table View is known as the Capetonian Mecca of kitesurfing. The beach is perfectly angled for riders to make the most of the prevailing summer south-easterly wind (the ‘Cape Doctor’) as well as the westerly swell needed to provide the ramps for the kiters to launch off.
The Cape Doctor trade-wind is created when a high-pressure system formed in the Southern Atlantic Ocean meets the warmer, low-pressure system rising off the land. When the sun gets hotter during the day, more heat rises off the land and the pressure increases, so you’ll find the wind starts to blow stronger. By the afternoon it’s fully pumping.
The side shore winds give riders the ultimate lead up towards the kickers rolling in; as you ride straight out, you can really plan your takeoff.
”It’s unreal how epic the conditions can be at Kite Beach - not many places in the world have a setup like this.”
- Brand Director, Mike Raper
”It’s unreal how epic the conditions can be at Kite Beach - not many places in the world have a setup like this,” says Brand Director, Mike Raper. “The Doctor delivers throughout the summer in Cape Town, which means competing riders get the chance to practice and train in consistent conditions over and over, finetuning their tricks and moves in the lead up to the contest.”
Become a weather-guru.
The PredictWind App lets you access live 1km-resolution forecasts on the go. Follow their online tutorials for tips on becoming a gun forecaster here.Test your forecasting ability using PredictWind here or with your free Club North PredictWind Pro subscription. All Club North memberships include a free PredictWind Pro subscription, or you can follow the wind forecast live here.
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