A documentary about kiteboarding in Egypt
Cabrinha Egypt. just released their film “Ancient Tides”, the first documentary about kiteboarding in Egypt. Enjoy this beautiful video taking you Egypt’s bright blue lagoons with some of the best kite conditions in the world. We spoke to Cabrinha Egypt’s Marketing Manager Jaida Mahmoud about the production, their inspiration and how kiteboarding in Egypt grew rapidly over the years.
We’ve always had this idea for years back that we wanted to contribute to our country positively in some way. The idea was triggered when we started receiving so many messages from people abroad asking about the locations of the kiting spots we post about. People couldn’t believe this is Egypt. So, we finally put the idea to action last June by filming a kitesurfing documentary narrated by the Cabrinha Egypt Team in an attempt to show the world the true beauty of kitesurfing in Egypt. The documentary also serves to promote and develop kitesurfing as a sport to Egyptians.
“Ancient Tides” is the first Egyptian kiteboarding documentary and also the first Cabrinha Egypt production. We brought Ismail El Hamawy, who filmed and edited the movie and was able to deliver through his camera lens exactly what we wanted to portray for Egypt. This documentary featured Omar Abdel Fattah, who established Cabrinha Egypt 6 years ago and is the mastermind behind its huge success. Hassan Taha, our Business Development Manager, who plays a very big part of expanding the market, Jaida Mahmoud, the Marketing Manager, who also led this project of Ancient Tides and of course, our talented team riders Sherif Abu-Zeid, Momo Best and Salma Sherif, that share the same passion for the sport and our country.
What’s the intention of the video and what message do you want to share with the world?
Egypt received its share of bad press and media coverage following the revolution in 2010 and even though tourism is picking up, it never recovered back to its full potential. We hope this documentary will spread worldwide and that eventually we get rid of all the negative perceptions some foreigners might have on Egypt. Yes, Egypt is known for its phenomenal history, but not only that, Egypt still holds hidden gems and magical beaches; some of the best in the world.
How are the conditions for kitesurfing i Egypt?
Here in Egypt, we’re lucky to be surrounded by the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. You will find the turquoise water, white sandy beaches, and warm water temperature 10 months a year. You’ve got butter flat beaches across the Red Sea and medium swells across the Mediterranean Sea.
What are the kite community in Egypt like?
Egypt’s kiting community is growing year on year and we see now more national competitions that push riders to grow and compete nationally and internationally. Kitesurfing by far is one of the most watersports that has attracted Egyptian locals into it. We see plenty of new locals enter the sport every year. We have talented youth that could grow to become internationally recognized. We also have quite a big influx of tourists for kiteboarding along the Red Sea in cities like El Gouna, Hurghada, Safaga, Hamata, and Marsa Allam.
What does the future look like for kiteboarding in Egypt
Now with how strong social media is, people, get to see the world more often through pics and vids. We definitely see Egypt becoming one of the top destinations for kiting. We are working hard to recognize talented youth and support them in reaching their goals of entering the international arena. In the next 5 years, hopefully, you will see some young Egyptians ripping the waters and turning some heads.