The coastlines of Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands have long been a draw for UK windsurfers. The combination of a short travel time, good value and an abundance of wind is hard to beat. Add in good food and great people and the reasons to go get even longer. Check out our guide to this popular windsurf holiday area with advice from Jane Faughan of Sportif Travel and Marcus Bull from Planet Windsurf and micro guides to some of the best windsurf centres in the region.
JANE FAUGHNAN
SPORTIF WINDSURF HOLIDAYS WORLDWIDE
WWW.SPORTIF.TRAVEL | 01273 844919
Sotavento. Photo Tom Brendt.
SOTAVENTO - FUERTEVENTURA
Best for all levels / flat water / hotels on the spot.
Sotavento is one of our most popular destinations, with the best in the world competing there each summer at the PWA World Cup event. Stay on the spot at a luxury 4* hotel ideal for families or an adults only beach hotel. The shallow, tidal lagoon is ideal for juniors and lessons, with turquoise water and slalom and freestyle sailing offshore. The centre on the spot offers over 450 boards and 1000 rigs of the latest equipment with kitesurfing, SUP, yoga, kids club and spa. Nearby Costa Calma has a range of accommodation and Risco del Paso beaches offer an alternative sailing area with free shuttles.
LANZAROTE
Best for families / SUP surf / combi conditions.
Lanzarote is ideal for a range of conditions in one spot – perfect for mixed ability groups. Beginners and children can practise in the morning in the sheltered, sandy bay at Costa Teguise. Intermediates and advanced can access a mix of chop and swell waves further out from the same beach. Lanzarote offers stunning landscapes, architect designed buildings and a range of activities including tennis, golf, biking, waterparks, golf, SUP and surfing. There is a choice of self-catering apartments, adults only, all-inclusive or luxury 5* beach hotels. For a coaching group holiday, the next Sportif clinic with Simon Winkley is in March 2020.
TARIFA - SPAIN
Best for advanced / high wind / multi sport.
This story is from the Issue 386 - June 2019 edition of Windsurf.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 386 - June 2019 edition of Windsurf.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
‘NO VAPOUR TRAILS TO SCAR THE SKY' *
Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!
