With that said, you must always bear in mind that some bodies of water are inaccessible to people due to various reasons. When you are not sure if a large expanse of water is restricted as a windsurfing location, it is best to ask around your area to avoid breaking any legal rules. Windsurfing is an exceptionally enjoyable recreational activity, but you should always remember to put your safety first to avoid any kind of serious accident.
Where Do You Windsurf?
It can be done in a place where there are a water body and wind to greatly assist you in creating speed. Windsurfing, also commonly known as “sailboarding”, is an extreme water sport that makes use of the wind’s energy captured in your board’s sail to power you across the water. Most participants of the sport that are just starting usually begin practicing in smaller bodies of water such as rivers, estuaries, ponds, and many more before moving on to much larger windsurfing locations such as the ocean.
Windsurfing in smaller water bodies is a great and efficient way to get the hang of windsurfing when you’re just getting into the sport. This will give you an easier time in learning and educating yourself about windsurfing especially in areas where the wind is not too strong thereby making it a lot easier to control your board. In addition, you will also have a fun time familiarizing yourself with your equipment which will help you have a great relationship with your windsurf board.
Can You Windsurf on a Lake?
You can definitely windsurf on a lake. Apart from that, other water bodies make good windsurfing playgrounds for windsurfers like rivers, estuaries, ponds, and a lot more. You can practice windsurfing in a place where a body of water and wind are present. Surfing is a water sport where the wave is its source of power while windsurfing harnesses the power of the wind caught in the sail of your board to generate speed.
This means that you can windsurf as long as there are water and wind that is strong enough to power your windsurf board. In fact, lakes are a great place to learn windsurfing if you are just new to the sport or if you simply want to cruise at relatively lower speeds. Lakes that are not too deep provide you with clean water which makes them a perfect location for windsurfing.
What Are the Best Places for Windsurfing?
There are numerous places all around the world that you must surely visit to do some windsurfing. Each destination is different from one another and the experience is totally one of a kind. If you are a thrill-seeker who finds exploring a lot of fun, trying out these various windsurfing destinations will absolutely fulfill your dreams and wishes as you enhance your windsurfing skills:
- Mauritius
- Maui, Hawaii
- Dakhla, Morocco
- Fuertaventura, Canary Islands
- Jericoacoara, Brazil
- Cabarete, Dominican Republic
- Bonaire, Caribbean
- Soma Bay, Egypt
- Prasonisi, Rhodes, Greece
- Vassiliki, Lefkada, Greece
- Alacati, Turkey
- Lake Garda, Italy
- Sardinia, Italy
- Margarita, Venezuela
- Tarifa, Spain
What Is the Windsurfing Capital of the World?
The windsurfing capital of the world is Maui, Hawaii where all the professional windsurfers flock together to have an incredibly fun time sailing with one another across the water. It the second largest island located in Hawaii, USA with ideal temperatures and breathtaking unique sceneries which make it an ideal place for windsurfing. Windsurfing has been around for quite a while now and Maui, Hawaii is still considered as the number one windsurfing destination where trade winds sweep from May until October combined with extremely beautiful views.
Maui, also commonly known as “The Valley Isle”, is famous for its exceedingly magnificent beaches. Windsurfing in Maui can be done all year round which greatly attracts a lot of windsurfers across the globe. Ho’okipa, located on the north side of the island, is a famed place for the most extreme windsurfing because of its incredibly huge waves accompanied by strong gusts of winds which make it possible for windsurfers to execute countless tricks one after the other.
Where Can I Windsurf in Maui?
It does not come as a surprise that the world-renowned state of Hawaii famous for surfing is also the best location for windsurfing. Whether you be a beginner or not, Maui is an amazing place to windsurf as you can acquire some lessons and rent gear while you enjoy the stunning tropical environment that the island has to offer. Having said that, there are a lot of windsurfing destinations in Maui that you must visit and some of them are listed down below:
- Diamond Head Beach
- Spreckelsville Beach
- Ho’okipa Beach Park
- Kanaha Beach Park
- Tunnels Beach
- Anini Beach
- Peʻahi
Where Can I Windsurf in December?
Although it is possible to go windsurfing all year round regardless of what season it is, it is very important to note that weather conditions vary considerably from one area to another. Depending on where you live, some areas have an enormous gush of waves and stronger gusts of wind while others have significantly smaller surges of waves and weaker blasts of wind.
On top of that, you must also be aware that seasons are also very different depending on where you live. It is always a good idea to be knowledgeable about the changing of seasons before you go windsurfing so you can make the most out of your trip. With that said, here is a list of places that you can pay a visit in December to do some fun windsurfing:
- Sal & Boa Vista, Cape Verde
- Lac Bay, Bonaire
- Gostoso, Brazil
- Orient Bay, St Martin
- Langebaan, South Africa
- Cabarete, Dominican Republic
- Dakhla, Morocco
- Mui Ne Bay, Vietnam
- Pacasmayo, Peru
- Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
Where Can I Windsurf in February?
As mentioned earlier, seasons change all year round and the weather differs greatly from one location to another. During the winter months, some windsurfers prefer not to go out and take a break from the sport because the water is too cold to surf on. Also, some parts of bodies of water especially smaller ones such as lakes might be frozen during the winter months which will be a major hindrance to your windsurfing.
In the United States, winter runs from December to February and if you think that cold water will not stop you from doing a sport you enjoy a lot, you can absolutely go on a windsurfing trip! It is a wise idea to book your tickets early if you are flying from one place to another because the prices are significantly cheaper, and more options are available. Below is a list of some of the places you can go to if you want to do some windsurfing in February:
- Outer Banks, North Carolina
- South Padre Island, Texas
- Columbia River Gorge, Washington/Oregon
- Baja California, Mexico
- Lac Bay, Bonaire
- Gran Canaria, Lanzarote
- Cape Verdes, Sal and Boa Vista
- Red Sea, Safaga, Egypt
- Mui Ne Bay, Vietnam
- Jericoacoara, Brazil
- Le Morne, Mauritius
- Pigeon Point Beach, Trinidad, and Tobago
- Boracay Island, Philippines
- Silver Point Beach, Barbados, Caribbean
- Boquete Beach, Puerto Galera, Philippines
Can You Windsurf in the Rain?
Windsurfing in the rain is certainly possible if there is still enough wind to help you sail across the water. Out in the ocean, just a light rain can mean that fewer people will attempt to go surfing thereby giving you a much quieter and peaceful time in the ocean. On some rare occasions, you can even get the ocean or whatever body of water you’re surfing on all to yourself!
It is a very fun activity to windsurf in the rain and it will most certainly give you a unique surfing experience as it is very different from surfing in normal weather conditions. Windsurfing is an extreme water sport that is connected to nature and change in weather can greatly affect a windsurfer’s overall performance. With that said, there are a few things that you should be aware of before you go windsurfing in the rain:
- Dress Appropriately: As mentioned earlier, windsurfing in the rain is a lot of fun and it is significantly different from windsurfing in normal weather conditions, so it is crucially important to wear the right clothing. Apart from your wetsuit, you must also wear eye protection with clear lenses because raindrops can hurt your eyes if the rain is a little too strong. Also, it is a good investment to get yourself a hood made from neoprene to keep your head warm.
- Pollution: When the rain is too strong, all types of garbage and pollutants can easily flow to the sea and contaminate the water. This can be the cause of a wide variety of health risks such as diarrhea from bugs and infections. It is a smart move to avoid windsurfing in the rain if you know that there is a high possibility of sewage overflows from the towns near the coast to avoid contracting any kind of illness.
- Lightning: It is highly dangerous to go out in vast bodies of water especially when there are heavy rain and a high possibility of lightning strikes. Storms can travel alarmingly fast so even if it’s very far away, they can easily reach your location in a short amount of time. Lightning can fire all over the place and you simply do not have the ability to predict where it will strike so it’s better to be safe.
- Weather Conditions: The weather has a great effect on whether windsurfing can be done or not. As long as conditions are good enough, not too harsh, and the water isn’t frozen over, windsurfing in the rain can be so much fun but you must always keep in mind to take safety precautions. On top of that, it might be of great help to remember that windsurfing while it’s raining can be freezing cold so wear appropriate attire.
