Valdevaqueros in Tarifa Spain.
One of the great spots to go – park right at the beach – bar, food and toilets right on the beach too.
Good for both east and West wind. Valdevaqueros is a sandy beach with amazing sand dunes in the background. Really safe spot in many wind directions, particularly suited for learning. Friendly locals, and some of the best riders train here every day.

Directions:

Leave Tarifa driving towards Cadiz on the national road CN 340. It’s about 6-7 KM out of town – look for the left turn at the km 76. There is like an old ranch metal sign over the dirt entrance which says “Valdevaqeros”. Follow the small dirt road. Park right at the beach.

Beach rules:

The beach is broken into sections during the summer months – so be aware – but this beach is mostly for kite surfers. Respect the others and leave the spot clean.

Weather:

Sun most of the year – never below 16 degrees – even in winter – summer is warm. There is wind most days due to the Gibraltar straight. Spring and autumn average air temp 21-23°C. Average water temp 17-20°C. Use a shorty or longsleeve depending on the weather. In summer just boardshorts but U.V.A. recomended. In winter a full wetsuit is necessary (air 15°C, water 14°C).

Wind details:

The wind either comes Poniente (From the West, 2-5 bft) or Levante (From the East 5-9 bft) at around 50% each. Both conditions can be surfed as the levante side-off wind will but you over on the other side of the day, and not out to sea. Best direction is definitely ESE.

Water details:

Poniente can bring waves – but Levante is usually flatter – but usually always at least ½ metre waves.

Day activities:

Many: shopping, biking, day trip to Morocco, whale watching, diving …
There’s a bar (several) right on the beach.

Night scene:

Tarifa in the town at night is a party place all summer. A lot of restaurants and places to party.

Sand dunes form lagoons which rejoin the ocean at high tide in this spectacular natural reserve that is a spawning ground for myriad of northern atlantic fish species and seabirds. Please respet the designated protected zones.
There are 3 main beaches where to launch: Olhao (Praia Cavacos), Praia Fuseta and Praia del Barril (Barril’s beach). Depending on the tyde, is possible to cruise the shallow and flat waters in the lagoon, or ride small-sized waves at the sea.

Beach rules:

NO kitesurfing inside the bathing area.

Wind details:

• Wind: SW is the best direction (side-on) from 11 to 18 knots, mainly from March to October. NO gusts except when there’s low pressure that brings stronger winds. In summer bring big kites.

Uig Sands or Ardroil on the Isle of Lewis offer great kiting for all levels. High tides offer flat water riding where as low tides offer the chance of wave action for more advanced riders.

Beach rules:

Avoid Sundays and Salmon fishers. respect anyone else on the beach, they could get the sport banned. Contact Dave at www.wikc.co.uk for local support and training.

Wind details:

High tides are great for flat water. Incoming tides produce a 1 hour period of surging waves. These can get big but are very powerful. Climate can be wet but winds are regular, sometimes very strong. Sea is warmer than average for U.k.

Day activities:

Plenty of climbing, canoeing or rare bird watching to be done in area. Alternatively contact www.seatrek.co.uk for coastal trips in a RIB to discover Whales/Dolphins. The kite school also have a Thundercat RIB for high speed fun.

Night scene:

No pubs or clubs. This is a remote location. Buy some beer and meet up with Dave from WIKC or have a fire at the beach. Local restaurants offer great food but can be expensive.

Noordwijk and Katwijk. Sandy beach for miles and miles! Enough space to launch your kite safely. Pay attention during high season when millions of sunbathers are also enjoying the beach. Season lasts from April to December. Expect to wear your 5/4 or 4/3 mm wetsuit all year round. Water temperature varies from 8°C in winter/early spring to 20°C in summer.

Directions:

From The Hague/Amsterdam or Amsterdam/The Hague: A44 Den Haag-Amsterdam exit Katwijk direction Katwijk (N-206). Past the Shell petrol station traffic lights go straight on. Take exit Katwijk aan Zee, end of exit go left (keep to Noord-boulevard). Drive into the car park (Noord). On the right, behind the corner is the ramp to the beach. We are next to beach cafe ’T Wantveld’. Welcome to our kite surf school.

Crown Beach is a sandy oasis in the rock lined bay area. The launch/land area sits on the point of Crab Cove. A beach shack marks the location of the designated launch area and many kiters congregate during good days. Two miles of down wind beach allow kiteboarders safe haven to come ashore.
Great beginner/intermediate kiting and windsurfing spot.

Directions:

• From San Francisco and north: take the Bay Bridge (80 east) towards Alameda/San Jose and get off the freeway at the Broadway/Alameda exit. Make a right at the first traffic light (5th Street). Follow the signs towards Alameda/Broadway (Route 61/Alameda). Veer left under the overpass into Webster Street Tube and exit left onto Constitution Way/Marina Village Parkway immediately after the tunnel. Pass through Atlantic intersection (Walgreens/Kinkos on the corner), Buena Vista and Lincoln Avenue and Central Avenue intersections (Ball park, tennis courts on the right in a grassy park area).Continue on 8th Street to the 3rd set of traffic lights (at Otis) and turn right into the entrance of Crown Beach Memorial Park.

• From the east or south: take 880 to High Street/Almeda onto Coliseum Way, Go .4 miles.
Turn Left on High Street, Go 1.5 miles.
Turn Right on Otis Drive, go 2.1 miles.
Follow Otis until it ends and go straight into Crown Beach Park.

• Via Public Transport: take Bart to the Fruitvale stop in Oakland. Then take Bus #63 to Crown Beach in Alameda.

• Parking Fee: there’s a fee for parking in the lot, so don’t forget your wallet! Annual permits for parking can be purchased at the guard shack for a nominal fee.

Beach rules:

Balok beach is about 15km north of Kuantan and is a paradise for avid wind-surfers. Most of the activities revolve around the many international class resorts and hotels located at the beach, forming the perfect getaway for visitors to the East Coast of the Peninsular.

Water is brown color because of the waves churning the sand at the bottom. NE swells are messy and make it difficult for beginners close to seashore. Anyhow is a great place to learn kiteboarding or windsurfing with SE winds (Jun-Sep): very wide sandy beach at low tide, no worries when launching/landing. The sea is safe because no matter what happen you will end downwind at the beach in worst case, perhaps you will need a beach bike ride from the local to where you start from.

Wind is normally gusty and season is not consistent in terms of daily continued kiting, but the environment is safe. No booties necessary.
Choppy sea when wind is 15 knots or more.

Directions:

• Air: fly into kuala lumpur city in malaysia. its a 3 hour drive by car from there, or take a connecting flight on malaysian airlines. It will only take 25 minutes to arrive to Kuantan airport. A taxi ride to balok beach will take 25 minutes from the airport.
• From Kuantan: towards Kemaman, Terengganu.

Beach rules:

do not kite in front of crowded beach area; kiting front of beach resorts such as duta village resort and swiss garden resort may be at risk to the kiter and the public.

Wind details:

• Wind: best months from Dec-March (NE monsoon) with winds occasionally up to 20 knots (normally around 12 knots), and from Jun-Aug with SW lighter side-onshore winds (8-12 kts) suitable for big kites. • Weather: temperatures are always 28°C average. Very warm water. During the NE monsoon (Nov-Mar) weather is cloudy and overcast with little sun and temperature drops to 25°C or less because of the Siberian wind from the north (wetsuit if you come from hot countries). During the SE (June to September), called also second monsoon, air temperature is hotter.

Day activities:

Balok Beach is a comfortable and relaxing sandy beach. It is suitable to relax on the golden sands, play volleyball and various other ground activities. It’s waters are suitable for snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming, skiing, sunbathing, surfing or sailing.

About 3 km Long sandy beach with very few rocks
Even in high season You can easyly find a place for launching.
Good with moderate to strong westerly winds.
Very good wave spot for advanced riders

Directions:

There is a parking close to the camping “Marina Delle Rose” about 1 km down from the main road.
From there you need at least another 500m walk to the beach.

Wind details:

good wind with low pressure systems passing over Europe

Day activities:

Watersports-Center at Vignola with Waterski/Wakeboard, Diving Parasailing, Bike-hire

Night scene:

Some pubs at Vignola,
pubs and discotheks at Santa Teresa Gallura

perfect conditions with easterly wind;steady wind stronger than in most other beaches on the north shore.Sandy beach without obstacles and rocks (beside one in the middle of the bay with west wind conditions are a bit gusty ->go to “Marina delle Rose”

Directions:

• Car: take the 200 from Alghero up north and along the coast. Here you will get to Vignola Mare. Parking on the right and left side of the beach. With easterly winds turn close to the petrol station.

Beach rules:

During high season only the marked area should be used for starting. Keep 100 metres distance from the shore in the other areas

Wind details:

• Weather: summer temperatures (June-September) range 24-35°C, no weatsuit necessary. Use a shorty in autumn-spring (September-November, March-June). 4mm wetsuit from December to March. • Wind: east wind with any easterly wind direction reinforced and deflected to NE direction by the gap between corsica and sardinia. Westerly winds with any passing low pressure system over Europe.

Puerto Velas is a public acces Club paying less than U$2 a day. You can use swimming pool, showers, bar, restaurant, parking, and other facilities.
The beach has shallow flat waters for about 300 meters, making it an excellent spot for beginners or for trying freestyle manuevers.

Directions:

• Air: pBlane to Ezeiza, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bus to la Plata. Taxi to Club Universitario Punta Lara.
• Car: highway Au1 to Buenos Aires City then take Au. Buenos Aires-La Plata. From La Plata take Camino Cristobal Colon to Punta Lara. Then Av. Alte. Brown until Club Universitario de La Plata.

Wind details:

• Weather: good Temperature from september to april. Summer temperatures range between 20-35°C, you can ride with just boardshorts. • Wind: expect to find 40% (2.5 days/week) of windy days. Good directions are SE, ESE, E, NE, N, NO, but best direction is ESE and SE. Average wind speed is 14 knots but can blow up to 25-30 knots.

Day activities:

Tennis, Kayac, Swimming Pool, Basket, Bar, Music, etc

Montrose is one of the best if not the best “city beach” in the US, fairly big in lenght and width. Must have IKO or PASA ceritification to ride. Lifeguards check certification during chekc in. Shared beach with swimmers, kayakers, dogs. Guards on duty form Memorial day to Labor day.

Directions:

Head towards downtown Chicago. Head east towards the lake. The Lake side highway is called Lake Shore drive (LSD). Head towards the northside of the city using LSD and exit Montrose Ave. Head east until you hit the beach. Approx. 20 miles from both Chicago airports.

Beach rules:

1. Only PASA or IKO Level II (Intermediate) Certified Kiteboarders will be allowed to kite at Montrose Beach. This prohibits teaching kiteboarding or flying “traction” kites with students on Montrose Beach. 2. All Kiteboarders will follow generally accepted Kiteboarding Safety Practices and use attached Kite Safety Leashes. (No grab handles) 100 Foot Safety Zone from Occupied Beaches, Piers, and other Facilities while riding. 3. Kiteboarding allowed when bathing areas are closed to swimmers due to high wave conditions. Beach then transitions to a shared use for windsports and kayaking. SHARED. 4. Kiteboarding may be allowed by the Captain of the Guards at other times. Early morning, poor weather

Wind details:

• Wind: Chicago winds are lake effect thermal winds which are more difficult to predict vs. trade winds. They are also gustier and change direction unpredictably. Chicago winds are also more dense making them stronger then warm winds. Summer is generally offshore due to SW/W winds. Fall/spring is generally on/sideonshore and winds are 10-20 knots in average. About 2-3 riding days every 10 days. • Water: choppy on N, NW winds. Smooth on NE, ENE and E winds. Water temp. is around 65°F in summer and around 50°F in fall (Oct/Nov).