A windsurfer riding a wave.

Windsurfing in Spain

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If you love an adrenaline rush, you'll be sweapt away by the wind and sea of one of the world's best windsurfing destinations: Spain. The only thing you need is a board, a sail, and the force of the wind to let you skim across the water. A fun sport that's bound to get you hooked.

WHY SPAIN

Because of its 8,000 kilometres of coastline, its variety of winds, its crystal-clear waters and its mild temperatures.Because Spain is considered the mecca of windsurfing in Europe, its beaches regularly serve as venues for international competitions, and it is the preferred destination of all the most international windsurfers.Because of its numerous reservoirs that are ideal for windsurfing inland too.Because of the quality of its hotels, apartments and country guest houses where you can stay while going to windsurfing school and exploring Spain's best beaches and reservoirs.Because of its windsurfing spots, selected places with practically constant winds that form the perfect waves.

Windsurfing

TYPES OF WINDSURFING AND WINDSURFING COMPETITIONS

Each championship features specific types of windsurfing. Among these disciplines, the most common are:Freestyle: this involves performing tricks and spectacular manoeuvres in calm water.Wave: regarded as the most radical category. The score depends on the jumps performed and the style when surfing the waves.Slalom: racing on a route marked out by buoys.Formula windsurfing: the board and the sail used are larger than the more classic models.Some of the best-known international competitions are the IWA (International Windsurfing Association) and the International PWA circuit (Professional Windsurfers Association). Several events on this circuit are held in the Canary Islands.

Windsurfing

We recommend you check the conditions if you're planning on attending a competition or event, because for some you may need to be federated to take part, whereas for others it is not obligatory.

Windsurfing in Fuerteventura

AREAS

If there's one area in Spain that offers outstanding windsurfing conditions and is famous all over the world, it's the city of Tarifa in Cadiz, known as "Europe's wind capital". Its constant easterly and westerly winds make this coast the perfect place to enjoy this sport. Its best-known beaches include: Playa de Bolonia: where, in addition to windsurfing, you can also visit the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia. Playa Chica: its crystal clear waters are frequented by windsurfers in winter, as windsurfing is not allowed in summer. Playa de Valdevaqueros: this is Tarifa's city beach. Famous for its good winds. Playa Dos Mares: it has a large space for windsurfing, which makes it very popular with enthusiasts. In addition to Tarifa, another good area for windsurfing is the Canary Islands, known as the "European Hawaii". One of the best islands is Gran Canaria, with Pozo Izquierdo and Vargas, the beaches of Jandía, Sotavento in Fuerteventura, Las Cucharas in Costa Teguise in Lanzarote, and El Médano in the south of the island of Tenerife.

Windsurfing

You'll also find good places to start learning this sport in the northern Costa Brava, and more specifically in the area of the Gulf of Roses in Girona.In Murcia, don't miss the Mar Menor, with areas like La Llana and Los Alcázares.And if you want to explore more regions in Spain while you enjoy your favourite sport, you can visit beaches like El Ejido in Almería and La Lanzada in Pontevedra.Other areas for windsurfing include the marine resorts in inland reservoirs such as Atazar and San Juan in Madrid, and Iznájar in Cordoba.

Tips and recommendations

Check the weather forecast before setting out to sea, and find out the sea currents in the area and the strength and direction of the wind. The ideal conditions for learning how to windsurf are a gentle breeze and a completely flat water surface. A light breeze will enable you to perform all kinds of manoeuvres. A wetsuit and sunscreen are necessary equipment. If you're going to go windsurfing on a beach with a stony seabed we recommend you wear special shoes. You should make sure you have the right size of board and sail. To begin with, we recommend a small sail and a board with a broad surface or with a centreboard, an element that gives you greater stability and makes learning easier. It's advisable not to do this sport on your own. In Spain you can find numerous windsurfing schools and companies where you can rent the equipment and take courses to learn the basics of the sport or improve your technique. In the event of an accident, you can contact the emergency service by calling 112. For more information on windsurfing, visit the tourist offices in each area or contact the respective windsurfing federations. You can also visit the website of the Spanish Royal Sailing Federation. We recommend you read our practical health and safety tips. Given that the recommendations and regulations provided may change, we advise you always to check the requirements before starting out on your journey.

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