CLOSE
Sign up to get news on contests, pro events, new products and special offers.
kristinWHY BUNDLE WHEN YOU CAN BAKE?
Going somewhere warm for the winter is no problem. Going somewhere warm with reliable wind, reasonable access, good food and accommodations, no crowds, and lots of other things to do presents somewhat more of a problem.
But not insurmountable.
By now windsurfing has been around long enough that intrepid, wind-starved addicts have explored a good part of the globe in search of the perfect spot. That's not to say that a much larger part remains unexplored, but there are enough choices for the traveler with a budget and time constraints to keep almost everyone happy.
Florida remains one of the best mainland U.S. choices for ocean windsurfing combined with easy access, endless accommodations, and lots of other things to do. One drawback is the surprising lack of good equipment rentals, but there are some if you decided not to bring your own.
Corpus Christi and the southern Texas Gulf Coast down to South Padre Island are other popular winter spots but the winds can get somewhat less reliable during the winter. Corpus has good equipment rentals, great food, cheap accommodations, and there is a wide variety of sailing locations within a short distance.
Naturally Hawaii comes to mind when considering a winter windsurfing trip. From the easy sailing and lighter winds of Kailua Bay on Oahu, to the large winter swells and stronger trade winds of Maui, Hawaii is windsurfing paradise. All the islands have good rental gear, but Maui is really the windsurfing center. Meals, accommodations and transportation are significantly more costly in Hawaii but the great windsurfing conditions and variety of beaches make it well worth the extra cost.
Baja has long been a favorite with winter windsurfers. Whether spending a month driving down, stopping at 'secret' spots along both coasts, or taking a quick weeklong vacation to one of the resorts in the Los Barrilles area, Baja is lots of fun.
The water is cool, the fishing great, and there is top-notch rental gear for resort guests (not to mention mountain bikes, snorkeling gear and trips to the Pacific Coast for surfing or Cabo San Lucas for partying).
Feeling a bit more wanderlust? Head for the Caribbean where there are more windsurfing spots in a small area than anywhere in the world!
Starting to the north, Puerto Rico has great wave sailing, cheap meals and accommodations, and an adequate amount of good rental gear (not to mention lessons and repairs). The water is warm and there are conditions for all ability levels.
The Dominican Republic has long been a favorite with Canadians, and with good reason. While somewhat more rustic than some other spots, the wind is strong and reliable, the people are friendly, and the sailing is great. Both PR and DR are not luxury resort areas though, and are probably not the best family (i.e. with children) destinations.
Barbados offers a real tropical atmosphere combined with moderate winds, warm water, and several options for places to stay. Good equipment rental is more scarce but the windsurfing resorts there have everything you'll need.
Aruba is the Maui of the Caribbean. There are several windsurfing resorts and lesson and rental centers offering full services. Many windsurfing travel companies offer packages to the legendary warm, flat waters of Aruba. For the east coast intermediate with a good water start who wants to learn to jibe, Aruba is heaven, but it is more pricey than either most of e other Caribbean destinations.
While bareboat sailboat charters are the real draw for the Virgin Islands, there's windsurfing too. There are a few shops offering rentals and lessons on some of the larger islands, but be prepared for big boards and sails since the conditions are light wind. The beauty of the Virgin Islands is that if the wind is light, you can sail your boat or go diving. If the winds kick in, it's windsurfing heaven.
Feeling more adventuresome? Head to Central and South America.
Costa Rica's legendary Lake Arenal has cool, fresh water and now even has good hotels, restaurants and equipment rentals right on the lake. Again, I wouldn't this for a family vacation, but for great high wind sailing in a somewhat remote and beautiful environment, Costa Rica has wonderful ocean and lake windsurfing and there's lots of exploring left to do.
Belize, while as laid-back as any country on earth, has a windsurfing resort on Ambergris Caye where you can look down through the crystal clear waters to see Bone Fish and Tarpon as you skim along the surface. The rental gear is excellent and there's lots of other tropical water things to do if the wind doesn't blow.
Margarita Island, off the northern coast of Venezuela is the latest windsurfing hot spot, and with good reason. The water is warm, the sun is hot, and the winds are strong. Several windsurfing hotels right on El Yaque beach offer great food, accommodations and rental gear. And even though you're on a wind-swept tropical island, there's a city of 100,000 people just twenty miles away. For strong, hot, reliable winter wind, Margarita is the place to go.
The northern coast of Venezuela and the east coast of Brazil offer many unexplored possibilities for windsurfing. Although there is some windsurfing going on there, it is not very developed. The locals talk of strong winds and perfect waves, and by all rights (meteorologically and geographically speaking) they should be right. If you're looking for a real adventure, and the possibility of finding some of the best windsurfing in the world, that's where I'd start looking.
I consider the north coast of Brazil, from Fortaleza to the tiny beach village of Jericoacoara, to offer the best windsurfing in the world. Warm water, hot, dry desert air, steady 25 knots of wind from June - January, along with great food, friendly people and cheap accommodations make northern Brazil a windsurfing paradise in the early winter. By January the winds can get sketchy though.
On the other side of the world, in the South Pacific, there are enough pieces of paradise to keep you busy exploring for a lifetime. If you don't have a lifetime, you can start on Fiji. Although there's virtually no rental gear-and what there is you would probably laugh at-if you can manage to bring your own (either slalom or wave boards since there's both!) you won't be disappointed. Catching a boat to any of the outer islands will lead to great exploring and the potential discoveries of a lifetime. This isn't the choice for travelers with time constraints.
You'll want to bring your own gear to Rarotonga (Cook Islands) and Tahiti (Society Islands) also, but the effort can be well worth it.
Spectacular water, exotic locations and perfect trade winds (15-20 knots) make windsurfing in the South Pacific a remarkable experience.
Noumea (New Caledonia) hosts a PBA World Cup event each winter, so you know there's wind there. It's not cheap or quick to get there but it's well worth the trip if you're in the neighborhood.
While you're there you might as well swing down to New Zealand. On the southern tip of the N
orth Island is Wellington, one of the windiest cities in the world with average year-round winds of 20 knots. Gusts of 50-60 are not uncommon and there are a couple windsurfing shops in the city. There's also good sailing north of Aukland and serious wave sailing all along the west coast of the North Island.
Down on the South Island there are lots of spots to explore although most of the windsurfing is done on Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown. There is some rental gear (not real high tech) and an active club which has races and barbecues constantly. The ocean water on the South Island is cold but there is undoubtedly good sailing up on the northeast coast.
Australia probably has more perfect windsurfing coast than anywhere on earth. From Brisbane to Melbourne on the east coast there are hundreds of great spots with warm water and perfect beaches. Since it's in the Southern Hemisphere, our winter is their summer, which makes it extra warm. There are shops to buy and rent gear in the larger coastal cities but much of the equipment is pretty funky.
Where Australia really shines for windsurfing is on the west coast. From Margaret River to the south (the Hookipa of Australia-serious wave sailing) to Carnarvon in the north, there is a thousand miles of perfect beach coast with unbelievable wind. Right in Perth is the Swan River with fun fresh water windsurfing right in the city (several windsurfing shops nearby) and just a couple miles west is the coast where the ''Freemantle Doctor'', a strong, very predictable wind shows up right on time every afternoon and blows hot and steady till dark. North of Perth along the coast is absolutely perfect, though quite desolate, windsurfing.
For the ultimate juxtaposition of cultures, try windsurfing in Bali. On Kuta Beach and within the compounds of the large luxury hotels there is actually some gear to be found. You will probably be surrounded by several hundred natives as you rig, most of which will insist on helping you for a modest fee. Not that they know anything, they're just helpful. The winds are generally light (except in cyclone season) but the exotic location makes it a memorable experience.
Windsurfing on the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Thailand is also a unique experience. Surprisingly, there's a small supply of gear at many of the larger resort hotels, probably due to the German influence (the majority of tourists along the southwest coast of Thailand are German). The gear is pretty old but the whole idea of being out in the middle of such a different place makes it an experience no windsurfing addict will want to miss. Just don't break down.
If you're planning to windsurf at all in the South Pacific, be sure to bring your own harness and harness lines. A shortie wetsuit might be a good idea too, and be sure to watch out for jelly fish, Man-o-Wars, sea snakes, and all sorts of other strange sea creatures who bite.
That covers about one-tenth of the world, which is all I've been able to explore with my windsurfing equipment so far. My favorites?
Definitely Western Australia if you have the time, Margarita if you want the wind, or the British Virgin Islands if you want the leisure.
Next I'm off to Lake Malawi (Africa) and Truk Island (Micronesia) to look for the perfect winter windsurfing spot. I'll let you know what I find.
ing down to New Zealand. On the southern tip of the North Island is Wellington, one of the windiest cities in the world with average year-round winds of 20 knots. Gusts of 50-60 are not uncommon and there are a couple windsurfing shops in the city. There's also good sailing north of Aukland and serious wave sailing all along the west coast of the North Island.
Down on the South Island there are lots of spots to explore although most of the windsurfing is done on Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown. There is some rental gear (not real high tech) and an active club which has races and barbecues constantly. The ocean water on the South Island is cold but there is undoubtedly good sailing up on the northeast coast.
Australia probably has more perfect windsurfing coast than anywhere on earth. From Brisbane to Melbourne on the east coast there are hundreds of great spots with warm water and perfect beaches. Since it's in the Southern Hemisphere, our winter is their summer, which makes it extra warm. There are shops to buy and rent gear in the larger coastal cities but much of the equipment is pretty funky.
Where Australia really shines for windsurfing is on the west coast. From Margaret River to the south (the Hookipa of Australia-serious wave sailing) to Carnarvon in the north, there is a thousand miles of perfect beach coast with unbelievable wind. Right in Perth is the Swan River with fun fresh water windsurfing right in the city (several windsurfing shops nearby) and just a couple miles west is the coast where the ''Freemantle Doctor'', a strong, very predictable wind shows up right on time every afternoon and blows hot and steady till dark. North of Perth along the coast is absolutely perfect, though quite desolate, windsurfing.
For the ultimate juxtaposition of cultures, try windsurfing in Bali. On Kuta Beach and within the compounds of the large luxury hotels there is actually some gear to be found. You will probably be surrounded by several hundred natives as you rig, most of which will insist on helping you for a modest fee. Not that they know anything, they're just helpful. The winds are generally light (except in cyclone season) but the exotic location makes it a memorable experience.
Windsurfing on the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Thailand is also a unique experience. Surprisingly, there's a small supply of gear at many of the larger resort hotels, probably due to the German influence (the majority of tourists along the southwest coast of Thailand are German). The gear is pretty old but the whole idea of being out in the middle of such a different place makes it an experience no windsurfing addict will want to miss. Just don't break down.
If you're planning to windsurf at all in the South Pacific, be sure to bring your own harness and harness lines. A shortie wetsuit might be a good idea too, and be sure to watch out for jelly fish, Man-o-Wars, sea snakes, and all sorts of other strange sea creatures who bite.
That covers about one-tenth of the world, which is all I've been able to explore with my windsurfing equipment so far. My favorites?
Definitely Western Australia if you have the time, Margarita if you want the wind, or the British Virgin Islands if you want the leisure.
Next I'm off to Lake Malawi (Africa) and Truk Island (Micronesia) to look for the perfect winter windsurfing spot. I'll let you know what I find.
Loading ...
