Handed a ticket to Cape Town to help promote his brand sponsor’s new range, Fabian Muhmenthaler had to pinch himself. South Africa had been on his bucket list since he was a kid, and now he was heading there as part of his ‘job’. And true to form, it didn’t disappoint…
Photos Samuel Cárdenas & Andy Troy
Some places have a special kind of energy – something beyond their natural beauty, golden light, steady winds, or perfect waves. It’s an intangible feeling that makes you feel truly alive, like you’re experiencing something unique. That’s exactly how Cape Town made me feel.
Ever since I started windsurfing as a young grommet, Cape Town had always been on my radar. I spent countless hours watching windsurfing and kiting videos of riders in South Africa, daydreaming about one day making it there myself. The deep blue waters, breathtaking landscapes and epic conditions had me thinking about that part of the world more often than I’d like to admit. And the fact that the Mother City shares some similarities with my hometown, Tarifa, made it feel even more special.
“We got to experience the full spectrum of conditions, from perfect waves to howling wind, all while immersing ourselves in the raw beauty of this magical place”
This year, that childhood dream became a reality. When North’s International Athlete Manager Alex Vliege reached out to confirm that the latest North Foils shoot was happening in South Africa, I couldn’t have been more excited. Little did I know that this trip would leave a mark on my heart and mind that I’ll never forget.
I spent three incredible weeks in Cape Town with the rest of the team, riding and shooting the new products. What a time it has been! We got to experience the full spectrum of conditions, from perfect waves to howling wind, all while immersing ourselves in the raw beauty of this magical place.
💎 Premium Content Ahead! 💎 *You will receive our weekly Friday Pump newsletter, plus the latest features, gear tests and giveaway announcements. Before arriving, I did my homework – researching spots, checking conditions, and planning every detail. Even Alex was surprised that, for my first time in Cape Town, it seemed like I already knew the place pretty well. Maybe that special connection between Tarifa and Cape Town was real after all… The moment I landed, we wasted no time at all. Straight off the plane, we immediately went for a session with Noé Cantaloube and Francesca Maini at Sunset Beach. I remember that first session vividly – the wind was cranking, the waves were rolling in, and despite being on new gear at a new spot, the energy felt familiar. It was one of those moments where everything just clicked. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the light turned more golden by the minute. We ended up riding until complete darkness, completely exhausted but beyond stoked. And that was just the beginning. Each day seemed to top the last. We road-tripped along both the east and west coastlines, scoring epic conditions at spots like Paternoster, Platboom, Misty Cliffs, and Glencairn. Every location felt more surreal than the one before it – I kept thinking it couldn’t get any better, yet somehow, it did. One of the highlights was spending time in the deep south, around Cape Point. The landscape there is something else – so wild, so alive, and almost intimidating at times. One morning, on our way to surf Scarborough, we crossed paths with some oryx that were casually having breakfast by the roadside. Another day, during an early mission to Cape Point, we saw a troop of baboons on the move. And during a wing session at Misty Cliffs, a curious seal swam beneath us, rolling around as if trying to figure out what the hell our foils were. But hands down, one of the craziest moments happened on a rare windless day when we went spearfishing just off the Cape of Good Hope. The yellowtail were biting, but so were some bigger visitors… While Alex was in the water spearfishing and Noé and I stayed on the boat, suddenly, things got real. As Alex fought to land a fish, he yelled: “Shark! Shark!” Apparently, a rather curious one had decided to crash our session, looking for an easy snack. Alex held the fish as far away from the surface as possible, while we rushed to get him back on board before things got interesting. Luckily, our beloved team manager made it back unscathed – just another wild story to add to the trip’s already insane highlights. Looking back, this trip was truly one for the books. We got a little bit of everything – right-handers, left-handers, sun, rain, waves, flat water… you name it, we rode it. Cape Town proved to be the perfect testing ground for the new North gear, and I couldn’t be more excited about what’s coming. One of the products I’m most stoked about is the Midi – our latest wing board. It’s an absolute blast, perfect for wave riding and carving open-ocean swells. I was very excited to try it for the first time and, just after landing in Cape Town we went straight to Sunset to score a session there. It was an absolute epic one, together with Noé I had lots of fun catching many waves and getting into the surf flow state. I also remember a pretty epic session at Plaatboom Beach, close to Cape Point. The wind was blowing from the right that day, and it was really light and rainy, the waves were beaming super clean and we were only the two of us riding, it was a sick session and very special to experience offshore wind from the right at that spot. I’m also really hyped about the new generation of Nova and Nova Pro wings. I’ve been loving the Nova for freeriding, cruising, and wave sessions, while the Nova Pro has been my go-to for powered-up riding, freestyle, and more hardcore conditions. I had a pretty epic session at Paternoster together with Alex and we were both of us riding the new Nova and feeling super good on it, very light and nimble in your hands while allowing you to squeeze the waves to the max without getting in the way. The Nova Pro also shone during a pretty windy freestyle session at Glencairn. Francesca, Noé and me went there and had a really good one together, jumping over each other, sending big jumps and even trying some double backflips. Cape Town was everything I imagined and more. The conditions, the landscapes, the wildlife, and the people – it all came together to create an unforgettable experience. I already can’t wait to be back.
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“We got a little bit of everything – right-handers, left-handers, sun, rain, waves, flat water…you name it, we rode it.”
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