Wind Chasers Pt. 2: Brazilian Brothers in Witsand, South Africa

The Brazilian Brothers from MACkiteboarding hit the road for a strike mission from Cape Town to Witsand — a legendary flat water spot a few hours up the South African coast. With no wind in Blouberg and the forecast at Witsand calling for 25-plus knots, the call was easy: load up the Brazilian Brother mobile and chase the wind.

The Journey

Three and a half hours of non-stop driving got the brothers officially into the middle of nowhere. No water in sight, no ocean on the horizon, and a brief moment of wondering whether they'd be kitesurfing in a cow pasture. The GPS promised they were 20 minutes out, but with cows and other beasts lining the side of the road, it didn't exactly look like kite country. The wind was picking up, though — a promising sign that the forecast might actually deliver.

Arriving at the Spot

Witsand did not disappoint. The brothers rolled in to find butter flat water, serious wind, and a beach packed with kites in the air. Riders were out on 7, 8, and 9-meter kites, with pros throwing down board-offs and going huge. After hauling the gear down a set of steps and through a jungle of bushes to reach the main launch, the Brazilian Brothers got their first proper look at the spot — and it was easy to see why Witsand has the reputation it does. First time in South Africa, first time at Witsand, and almost certainly not the last.

Riding with Lana Herman

One of the riders putting on a show was Lana Herman — women's division competitor, third-place finisher at King of the Air, and absolutely throwing it down on a 9-meter Harlem Peak. The wind was honking, but Lana was making the 9m look effortless, including a backroll late back with an added rotation that left the brothers genuinely impressed.

A Close Call on the Water

The session almost took a turn when Lana threw a downloop and another rider came under her at the wrong moment. The two kites collided and tangled badly. Both riders had to fully release their bars from their kites, and Lana's friends came in for the rescue. From the beach, it looked hairy — just open water and tangled lines — but everyone was safe, the gear got recovered, and Lana made it back to shore in one piece. All's well that ends well, but a good reminder of how quickly things can change on the water.

Sunset Session and Gear Talk

As the day mellowed out, the wind dropped significantly, and the crew sized up accordingly. Lana switched to the Harlem 12m Peak — she also had a 10 and a 9 in the quiver, but with the wind softening, she wanted to be powered up enough to keep the loops going. If she can't do loops, she'd take the 12 every time.

One of the brothers stuck with an 8-meter, hoping to see who could send it higher in the lighter wind, but admitted later that the 8 was a touch underpowered for the conditions. The other guys riding 8's seemed to be in the same boat — probably just too lazy to swap kites. The verdict from the brothers: a 12m or bigger was the move that evening, and a 14m NXT is on the packing list for next time.

The sunset, for what it's worth, may have been one of the most beautiful either brother had ever seen.

Reviewing the Harlem Peak

Lana is in love with the Harlem Peak, and after watching her ride it across multiple sizes, it's easy to see why. Even on the 12m, the kite feels fast, has good lift, and isn't overpowering — you can still perform on it without getting overwhelmed. The 12 also delivers a nice second lift and solid hangtime, meaning you don't need full power to have fun in lighter wind. Lana was using the session to work on rotations in light wind before taking it back into the kite loop game — scary, but that's the whole mindset behind big air progression.

Final Thoughts

Witsand earned every bit of its reputation. The drive was long, the surroundings out in the boonies got a little questionable, and the cows on the roadside didn't exactly inspire confidence — but the spot at the end of the journey delivered everything the forecast promised: butter flat water, big wind, and the kind of session that makes a strike mission worth every kilometer. Sharing the water with riders like Lana Herman was the cherry on top, even with the close call serving as a reminder that respect for the conditions matters as much as the conditions themselves.

For anyone heading to Cape Town with a kite quiver and a sense of adventure, Witsand is a strike mission worth penciling in. Pack a bigger kite than you think you need, leave early, and trust the forecast even when the GPS starts taking you past cow pastures. The Brazilian Brothers will be back — and next time, with the 14m.

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