Josh Gillitt on Cape Town: The Ultimate Big Air Training Ground

The Brazilian Brothers sat down with South African big air rider Josh Gillitt, diving into everything about Cape Town — the local kiteboarding scene, the best spots, and what it's like growing up in the mother city.

Growing Up in Cape Town

Josh considers Cape Town his favorite place in the world. Despite traveling globally to various kite spots, coming home is always a special experience. It offers the best conditions, lifestyle, culture, and people. The locals are incredibly friendly and happy, even the airport staff stamp your passport and welcome you back home with a smile. Growing up surrounded by such diverse cultures and foods makes it an unbeatable place to live.

Why Cape Town Is the Ultimate Training Ground for Pros

For professional kitesurfing, Cape Town is the best place you could grow up. The region gets its strongest winds during the summer months, from October through March, which perfectly aligns with the European winter.

It also offers the best conditions you could ever train in. The wind is incredibly dense and powerful, paired with big waves — you experience the most gnarly conditions possible. Because of that, when you travel overseas to flat water spots, it feels almost too easy.

The intense environment prepares you for whatever you have to endure and compete in: the water is colder, the wind is denser, and you go much higher on every jump. If you learn to kite in Cape Town, your skin gets thick, and you'll be able to kite anywhere in the world.

Top 3 Kite Spots in South Africa for Advanced Riders

For riders looking for epic, advanced conditions, Josh recommends his personal top three spots before you leave South Africa:

• Blouberg: The main stretch around the Blouberg area is an absolute staple for big air.
• Macassar: This spot works when the wind is more easterly and offshore. It can absolutely nuke here — you can score days with 60 to 70 knots where rocks are literally flying across the beach. It's so strong you can't even park your car on the beach without the paint getting sandblasted off.
• Misty Cliffs: Offering the most epic scenery you could ever kite, Misty Cliffs features mountains, blue water, and big waves. It has everything in one place, along with pumping wind.

Best Kite Spots for Beginner and Intermediate Riders

If you don't want to deal with two-meter waves and just want to survive your first sessions, there are plenty of options outside the gnarly big air zones:

• Langebaan: Spots like Shark Bay and Main Beach offer nice flat water and super chilled conditions.
• Hermanus: About two hours from Cape Town, this flat water spot features a beautiful blue lagoon surrounded by mountains. It's a perfect place for anyone to ride.
• Witsand (Breede River): A four-hour drive from Cape Town, this is another excellent flat water spot. It's a great option to check the forecast and score a session when there's no South-Easter blowing in Cape Town.

The South African Crew: Camaraderie and Competition

South Africa has a tight-knit crew of big air riders, including Josh, Luca, and Jason van der Spuy. Having Luca (two to three years older) and Jason (four to five years older) in his life has been an absolute blessing for Josh. They've acted as mentors, providing extra guidance during his first years of competing.

They're some of his best friends, but they're also fierce rivals. They're all super competitive, whether it's an official competition or just a training session, and that dynamic constantly pushes all of them. If Jason lands a new trick, Josh will try it until he lands it, and then Luca will do the exact same thing. It's a competitive circle that elevates everyone's riding.

When it comes to actual competitions, they put their competition heads on. They go full tilt to try and win, but no matter what happens on the water, they're back to being friends and grabbing beers right after. It's a special dynamic to see in the sport.

Photo credit: The Saffas

The Saffas Podcast and YouTube Channel

The crew recently launched a brand new podcast and YouTube channel called "The Saffas." The idea came from Jason, who transitioned his personal YouTube channel into a collective platform for the three of them. They realized that building a brand as a trio is way more beneficial and powerful than doing it solo.

The channel features podcasts and vlogs where they share stories, kiting info, and everything about their lives. It's highly entertaining because they talk a lot of trash and do stupid things together. The feedback has been amazing, with viewers loving the dynamic of the three of them. For awesome kiteboarding content, keep an eye on The Saffas YouTube channel.

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