Kiteboarder powering across Langebaan Lagoon

Aerial view of a kiteboarder on the lagoon at Langebaan

Langebaan Lagoon from Seeberg in West Coast National Park

Chapters / Africa Open, 1 of 1 remaining

Ride Langebaan, keep it open

A long turquoise lagoon on South Africa's West Coast, where the summer southeaster blows across shallow, warm-for-the-Atlantic water. The lagoon is a national park, and kites share it with tens of thousands of birds.

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30 riders call this homeKite, WingShark Bay, Langebaan

Everything you need to know about Langebaan

Live conditions

Why riders love it

What brings people here, from the people who manage it and the people who ride it.

The wind season runs November through March, with the strongest wind from November to mid-April and the best conditions in the afternoon.
Shark Bay has shallow water that suits beginners, and the lagoon stays flat in the southeaster.

Sources: 22places

See the wind right now

Access and rules

Local governments and environmental agencies set the terms. The chapter works with them, not around them.

SANParks zones the lagoon. Zone A is multi-use and includes kiteboarding. Zone B is for sailboats and board sailing, with no power boats or angling. Zone C is a wilderness area closed to the public.
Check SANParks for park entry fees and any activity permits before riding.

Sources: SANParks

Help hold the launch

Ecology and habitat

Protected lagoons, wetlands and the species that depend on them. Stewardship days keep launches clean inside the protected zones.

The lagoon was first proclaimed a marine reserve in 1973, has been a Ramsar wetland since 1988, and became a marine protected area in 2000.
It supports about 55,000 waterbirds in summer, including 23 wader species, and is a nursery for juvenile fish.

Sources: Wikipedia (Langebaan Lagoon MPA)

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Good to know

Location, facilities and history.

Langebaan Lagoon lies in West Coast National Park on South Africa's West Coast, next to the town of Langebaan and Saldanha Bay.
The lagoon is about 15 km long. Shark Bay, the last beach before the national park, is the main kite spot.
Shark Bay is rarely crowded; its sand sharks are harmless.
Cape Sports Centre rents gear and books lessons on the lagoon.

Sources: 22places; 22places; SANParks

Meet the riders

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Schools that teach on this water

Windtown Kite SchoolCape Sports Centre

Langebaan

The southeaster blows strongest from November to mid-April best in the afternoons.

Source: 22places

Know the spot

Langebaan

The turquoise lagoon runs about 15 km long, with shallow water at Shark Bay.

Source: 22places

Know the spot

Langebaan

Kiteboarding belongs in Zone A; Zone C is a closed wilderness area. Ride inside the lines.

Source: SANParks

Know the spot

Why Langebaan needs a chapter

Africa

From November the southeaster switches on along the West Coast and Langebaan Lagoon turns into one of the best flat-water spots in South Africa. Shark Bay's shallow water is where many riders learn, and the afternoons belong to kites.

30riders call this home

2local schools teach on this water

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Langebaan chapter, World Wind Sports

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Africa

The lagoon is also a marine protected area and a Ramsar wetland inside West Coast National Park. SANParks splits it into zones: kites in Zone A, sailboats and board sailing in Zone B, and a closed wilderness in Zone C. The more riders arrive, the more those lines matter.

30riders call this home

2local schools teach on this water

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Langebaan chapter, World Wind Sports

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Africa

A chapter gives Langebaan riders an organized partner for SANParks and the town: riders who know the zones, keep clear of birds and fishers, and can help shape the rules as the lagoon gets busier.

30riders call this home

2local schools teach on this water

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Langebaan chapter, World Wind Sports

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Photographer credits Back this chapter

The riders, schools and crew of Langebaan

Riders from Langebaan, Saldanha, Paternoster, Yzerfontein, Darling, Malmesbury, Melkbosstrand and the schools that teach them.

See the rider directory Talk on the board

WWindtown Kite SchoolLocal school teaching on this waterCCape Sports CentreLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.WWindtown Kite SchoolLocal school teaching on this waterCCape Sports CentreLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.

Quinton PretoriusInstructor Level 2, Langebaan

Shaun SwartInstructor Level 2, Langebaan

Ana StockerInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Francois BothaInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Charl-Philip VisserInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Alex MeintjesInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Samantha WarmerdamInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Luca CerutiInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Peter Huxham HuxhamAssistant, Langebaan

Alex ShamoonLevel 4Y, Malmesbury

Kaylin CoetzeeLevel 3K, Langebaan

Ian ShepherdLevel 4W, Langebaan

Bertil SchumannLevel 4W, Langebaan

Jaco TreurnichLevel 3J, Langebaan

Albert van NiekerkLevel 2F, Langebaan

Amy ClarkeLevel 1E, Langebaan

Timothy MeyLevel 2G, Langebaan

Jose Edigio Stoffberg StoffbergLevel 1E, Melkbosstrand

Shaun MasonLevel 2F, Langebaan

Daniel ButtiLevel 1E, Langebaan

Charl-Philip VisserCertified rider, LangebaanTTy RibaudoLevel 2I, LangebaanDDylan AlbertLevel 3K, LangebaanGGerhard OttoLevel 2I, LangebaanMMike PieterseLevel 2I, LangebaanCChristiaan PortwigLevel 3K, LangebaanNNicole De WinnaarLevel 2G, LangebaanWWaldo PrinslooLevel 4T, MalmesburyDDesmond DaubermannLevel 2G, LangebaanNNatalie Steyn SteynLevel 2F, Langebaan

Quinton PretoriusInstructor Level 2, Langebaan

Shaun SwartInstructor Level 2, Langebaan

Ana StockerInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Francois BothaInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Charl-Philip VisserInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Alex MeintjesInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Samantha WarmerdamInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Luca CerutiInstructor Level 1, Langebaan

Peter Huxham HuxhamAssistant, Langebaan

Alex ShamoonLevel 4Y, Malmesbury

Kaylin CoetzeeLevel 3K, Langebaan

Ian ShepherdLevel 4W, Langebaan

Bertil SchumannLevel 4W, Langebaan

Jaco TreurnichLevel 3J, Langebaan

Albert van NiekerkLevel 2F, Langebaan

Amy ClarkeLevel 1E, Langebaan

Timothy MeyLevel 2G, Langebaan

Jose Edigio Stoffberg StoffbergLevel 1E, Melkbosstrand

Shaun MasonLevel 2F, Langebaan

Daniel ButtiLevel 1E, Langebaan

iSportsKite, WingiWind spotShark Bay, LangebaaniKnow thisLangebaan Lagoon, West Coast National Park, Western Cape, South Africa.iKnow thisSoutheaster strongest November to mid-April over shallow, flat water.iKnow thisKiteboarding is allowed in Zone A of the lagoon; Zone C is closed to all.iSportsKite, WingiWind spotShark Bay, LangebaaniKnow thisLangebaan Lagoon, West Coast National Park, Western Cape, South Africa.iKnow thisSoutheaster strongest November to mid-April over shallow, flat water.iKnow thisKiteboarding is allowed in Zone A of the lagoon; Zone C is closed to all.

Live conditions

Wind right now at Langebaan

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Your gift keeps the chapter running and the beach cared for: cleanup supplies, signage, certification weekends and the costs of being the group the park can call.

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