The Mission: Hermanus Sessions

A dream forecast in Hermanus is something that can’t be missed. Hermanus is one of the most beautiful spots I’ve ever kited and I can’t help but be in awe of Mother Nature’s beauty while kiting here. There’s a magical feel to the lagoon where the majestic mountains meet the ocean. The flat water and the most stunning backdrop create an almost surreal experience.

However, for this session (after a two-hour drive from Blouberg, Cape Town) we arrived at Hermanus to find absolutely zero wind, despite every wind forecast looking perfect. We weren’t the only ones; half of Blouberg had seen the epic forecast and made the trip. We hung around for hours, looking rather lost and out of place. As the hours passed, more and more people decided to call it quits and headed back to Blouberg.

Photographer Seb Porral not only captures epic shots; he’s super optimistic and was sure the wind was going to come. We continued to wait patiently, and just like that, after what felt like forever, the wind finally started to fill in. The excitement grew as the possibility of having Hermanus all to ourselves was looking within reach. Almost everyone else had left the spot. There was no time to waste; the rush to get on the water was real. I couldn’t believe my eyes – the lagoon was so empty, just a couple of other riders. The shoot was in full swing; the evening light was perfect; it was a race against the clock to capture as much epic content as possible.

Sometimes I feel like a performing monkey. I have done so many shoots in my kiting career that I go into some sort of autopilot mode and just flow, going through a checklist in my head of exactly what tricks I need to do and what camera angles are needed. You are a team with your photographer; communication is key. The conditions were dreamy, with butter-flat water and good power on my 9m Moto X kite. As the sun set, it got a little lighter, so a quick pit stop was needed to change for my 12m. The golden hour is always the most important time of shooting; it’s when the magic shots are captured.

Despite the wind teasing us to begin with, if you’re willing to be patient, you can really score an amazing session at Hermanus. I have been to Hermanus a few times over the years, all on good forecasts, and quite a few of those times I have arrived to find no wind. I guess Hermanus just can’t be tamed and likes to do its own thing sometimes! When you do score a great session there, it feels extra special. Fun fact: Hermanus is famous for whales. If you take the coastal route driving, you might just get lucky and see a whale. The town of Hermanus is also very cute and nice to grab some dinner.

After what turned into a successful session and shoot, it was time to head back to Blouberg. We saw some amazing stars on the drive back. I’m always so mesmerized by nature’s light show. But somehow, even our drive back turned into quite an adventure. A lorry had flipped over, causing a complete roadblock on the narrow mountain road. There was no other route back to Blouberg, so we just had to wait it out on the mountain. After a couple of hours’ delay, we finally made it back home at 2am. Absolutely exhausted but still smiling, we had managed to score a fun session in the end.

Some friends stayed over in Hermanus. The wind forecast was not looking as good for the next day, but as you now know, Hermanus likes to tease us. The next morning, my friends reported the wind was epic. I couldn’t resist going back. The wind was strong, and the session was on! It almost felt like a completely different spot – the sky was so moody and atmospheric over the mountains, it reminded me of western Ireland. This time, Tom Intas was capturing magic pictures, and we were both in awe of how different and beautiful it looked. This session was really good for the soul. With no waiting around for the wind, we were onto a winner. Contrast is what makes things special in my eyes. There is so much beauty in cloudy, moody skies, especially when dancing in the sky with my kite and the occasional spotlight of sunshine.

I truly love where kiting takes us, following the wind to magical spots we would probably never normally go to, meeting new friends and creatives along the way. It really is such a wonderful sport we share.