Kitesurfing in Medano

videoman · 31st October 2007, 10:03

Hi All
Can anyone tell me what the conditions are like for kitesurfing in Medano at the moment?
We have been in the UK for the last few weeks and only returned last night but I have a good friend coming over on 4/11/07 for a week to go kitesurfing and he has been asking me what the weather has been like, will he need summer or winter wetsuits and what are the winds strengths ref. size of kite. I don't have a clue (which is nothing new) but hopefully someone on here may have an idea.
Thanks
videoman

old golfer · 31st October 2007, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by videoman

Hi All
Can anyone tell me what the conditions are like for kitesurfing in Medano at the moment?
We have been in the UK for the last few weeks and only returned last night but I have a good friend coming over on 4/11/07 for a week to go kitesurfing and he has been asking me what the weather has been like, will he need summer or winter wetsuits and what are the winds strengths ref. size of kite. I don't have a clue (which is nothing new) but hopefully someone on here may have an idea.
Thanks
videoman

I passed there on Sunday and it was mobbed in fact we commented that all those Kites would get tangled up.. so I think this is a fantastic time for this sport..

surfski · 31st October 2007, 10:40

This maybe helpful and found the info on the Flexifoil Forums.

Quote, from www.flexifoil.com

Kitesurf in Tenerife (for Beginner)
Just been to kitesurf in Tenerife, and I thought, some people may find this useful.

DIRECTION TO KITESURFING BEACH

1. Direction to El Medano’s main Kitesurfing beach (South Bay – La Bahia).
- On North bound of the motorway, a junction after the Airport is the one you need, and follow the sign to El Medano.
- You should see a petrol station on your right and then watch out for a sign to Le Tejita where you will need to turn right.
- La Bahia and its small car park is on your left as sign posted as El Medano and/or SURF SCHOOL. You cannot miss it!!

2. Direction to Le Tejita
- Do NOT turn onto La Bahia and just keep going straight.
- There are 2 car parks for this beach, and the closest to El Medano is the one closest to the launch area, but the car park can get very busy. Furthest car park always has plenty of space.

SHINN CENTER & SURF SCHOOL
- Shinn Center is located near the windsurfer’s launch area.
- Surf School is located next to the Car Park and right on the La Bahia’s kite launch area. It is run by a German dude.

ABOUT BEACH
1. La Bahia
- Looked amazing but my standard is not good enough and was too busy for me…… So I cannot comment on it…..

2. Le Tejita
- Launch area – look out for other kitesurfer / kiteschool.
- Offshore / Cross offshore wind.
- It is quite gusty at launch but once you are out, it seemed to clean up!!
- Need to give yourself plenty of space to get back on shore (if your upwind ability is good, then you will be okay). Tend to drift towards rocks on the other side of the beach.
- When there is a Southly Swell pushing in, there will be huge shore breaks. I was advised that it usually goes away after a few days (and it did).
- High tide = bigger waves here.

RESCUE - Le Tejita
- It is organized by the Surf School and is available to anyone kitesurfing on Le Tejita from 2pm to 7pm. There is no rescue on La Bahia.
- Pay EUR15.00 up front or they will charge EUR 45 for the board or EUR 75 for you.
- You can pay this at the Surf School on La Bahia or on the beach. I wanted to check the conditions first, so I paid them on the beach.
- If you are to pay on the beach, look for a long blond haired German kitesurf instructor. You will not miss him.
- I really recommend to pay up front. You can kitesurf away from the beach with knowledge that yourself, kite and the board will be rescued, if needed to be. It is great feeling!

Jenniewhitewave · 31st October 2007, 11:06

It has been very windy here the last couple of days at least and the surfers are out in their droves.

Hopefully the lovely Warmwind and Silicon Beach will be along shortly to give you an accurate picture - SB knows loads about the weather and conditions and both are avid windsurfers.

We were going to go to El Medano beach today with a group of friends but we have changed our plans because of the wind (sand sandwiches...yum).

In my humble opinion, if you know your stuff it looks great out there!

videoman · 31st October 2007, 12:08

Thanks for the replies but please keep them coming especially advice over wetsuits and kite size as he will be bringing all of his own kit with him. My friend is a very experienced kitesurfer and has flown/surfed all over the UK and many other countries but I keep telling him he should act his age and grow old gracefully. I have and he is only a month younger than I am.

warmwind · 31st October 2007, 12:45

Videoman

These two websites are good for looking up current and future wind conditions.

http://www.windguru.cz/es/index.php?sc=49358

http://www.surfcenter.el-medano.com/...st/default.htm

As Jenniethewave said, the conditions at the moment are superb, for both kitesurfing and windsurfing - as far as wetsuits are concerned, tell your friend to bring a summer suit.

Being a windsurfer I wouldn't like to say what size kite to bring, but all I know is wind is not predictable one day you may need (in our case) a small sail and the next day a large sail.

As mentioned in a previous post, your friend could hire from Matt Shinn ( who was the number one Kitesurfer in the world, respect..!) , in the OTC centre on El Medano beach, near Flashpoint cafe.