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As locals, we often curse the summer south-easters. But before the endless gales of February set in, that ‘Cape Doctor’ is the reason the highlights of the world’s kite-surfing calendar roll into Cape Town.
And there are few sporting events in the city that offer quite the spectacle of Red Bull King of the Air.
Forget queuing up for Cape Town Stadium. Here, the white-capped Atlantic Ocean is the arena, with Table Mountain as the backdrop. And yes, the (Cape) Doctor will see you now.
It all combines to create the conditions for some of the most extraordinary aerial acrobatics you'll ever witness. This summer, the world's best kiteboarders are heading back to Bloubergstrand as Red Bull King of the Air returns to Cape Town from 21 November to 6 December 2026.
Firmly established as one of the most prestigious competitions in international kiteboarding, the event sees the world's leading Big Air specialists launch themselves high above the waves, performing gravity-defying tricks, high-speed kite loops and spectacular rotations before, hopefully landing safely back on the water.
The best part? It's completely free to watch from the beach.
Why Cape Town is home to King of the Air
The competition began in 2000 at Ho'okipa Beach in Maui, Hawaii, but found its permanent home in Cape Town in 2013. Since then, King of the Air has grown into an annual highlight of the kiteboarding calendar, drawing elite athletes and thousands of spectators to the city's Atlantic coastline.
Cape Town's famously fierce summer south-easterly winds combine with powerful Atlantic swells to create near-perfect conditions for Big Air kiteboarding. The strong winds provide the power for enormous jumps, while the waves act as natural ramps, allowing riders to launch skywards.
The event was originally held at Big Bay but has since moved to Kite Beach in Bloubergstrand, where the action unfolds within easy view of spectators along the beachfront.
What exactly is Big Air kiteboarding?
Big Air is the most spectacular discipline in kiteboarding, combining the height and hang-time of enormous jumps with increasingly technical aerial manoeuvres.
Riders use large traction kites to harness the wind, building up speed across the water before launching into the air. At the highest level, it's not simply a matter of jumping as high as possible: athletes must combine altitude with difficult tricks, controlled rotations and precise landings.
One of the sport's signature tricks is the megaloop, in which the rider sends the kite through a powerful full loop while airborne, generating tremendous horizontal speed and demanding remarkable timing to land safely.
It's a sport where the smallest miscalculation can result in a spectacular crash, and competitors continue to push the boundaries of what was considered (im)possible just a few years ago.
Riders to watch in 2026
There'll be plenty of attention on Italian rider Lorenzo Casati, who returns to defend his Open Division crown after winning his second King of the Air title in 2025.
That victory was particularly memorable, as Casati defeated his younger brother Leonardo, who was just 16 at the time! It was the competition's first-ever final between siblings, and Leonardo's remarkable performance also made him the youngest finalist in the event's history.
Sweden's Nathalie Lambrecht will also return to defend the Women's Division title, having narrowly beaten Dutch rider Zara Hoogenraad in 2025 by 0.55 points. The women's competition is a relatively recent addition to King of the Air, with British rider Francesca Maini crowned the inaugural women's champion in 2024. Its growing profile reflects the rapid progress of women's Big Air kiteboarding.
Do you think you have what it takes? You’re in with a chance, because it's not only the established stars who have a chance of taking the crown. King of the Air allows aspiring competitors to qualify through video submissions, giving talented newcomers a route onto the international stage.
Entries for the 2026 competition remain open until 15 October, with selected riders announced on 30 October. A qualifying event in Taiwan later that month will also help determine who earns a place in Cape Town.
Um, no thanks. But when and where can I watch?
Unlike most major sporting events, Red Bull King of the Air doesn't follow a fixed daily schedule.
Instead, the competition takes place within a 16-day weather window, running from 21 November to 6 December 2026. Organisers monitor wind strength, direction and swell conditions to select the best days for competition.
That means the opening date isn't necessarily the first day of action, so spectators should keep an eye on the official Red Bull King of the Air website.
The competition unfolds at Kite Beach, Bloubergstrand, with spectators able to watch the action for free from the sand and the beachfront promenade. Expect the best views close to the competition area, although the beachfront's cafés and restaurants offer plenty of options for taking a break from the wind.
World-first: Dutch kite-boarder jumps over a plane off Cape Town!
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