Big Air Kite League
In October 2021, I started chatting with Michael Macdonald owner of Big Air Kite League (BAKL) about the event he wanted to organise in Cape Town for the beginning of December.
I had been following BAKL the whole of 2021 with interest. The concept of a contest concentrating on the big air discipline and the creation of a new platform for new up and coming riders to take part in was something, in my opinion, that had been missing in the fractured world of Kiteboarding. With not much time to spare, I decided to jump in there and give Michael a hand to get this contest ready for the 6th of December.
The virus strikes
Once again the little virus, or rather the uninformed media panic that seems to follow it, struck and the contest had to be delayed. We had no choice. Flights were banned, and much uncertainty lay ahead with half of the permit requests process already done and the possibility of South Africa to be shutting down over the festive season.
Resilience
But we kept our hopes up. Where there is hope there is life! After a few weeks, we decided to continue the permit application process with a window period running from the 17th of December to the 30th of January.
Until now the forecast has not played along and as plagued us with much uncertainty, but we remain confident that the event will run before the end of the month.
The venue is Dolphin beach and the contest will be run by some of the best people in the business with the best up and coming riders in the world.
Cedric Vandenschrik: Contest organiser
Olaf van Tol: Race director
Su Kay: Beach marshall
Dave Kay: Flags
So watch the BAKL website and social media network carefully over the next few days as the green light is coming soon!!
