SPAIN & CANARIES TRAVEL GUIDESun, Sea, Sangria, Surf – and, of course, wind! Just a few reasons to make a short hop over to mainland Spain or the Canary islands for a great break and soak up the legendary laid-back Spanish culture while catching some well-deserved wind, waves and sun.

Here’s our guide to some ripe destination picks for a memorable holiday, alone or with family and friends. Vamos al viento!

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WINDSURF MAGAZINE 105

Words Brian McDOWELL

Club Mistral

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106 JUNE 2013

YEAR ROUND FUNOf course the Canaries are known for their year-round sun and favourable winter wind stats, but southern Spain’s Andalucía region also scores a lot of off-season wind when the crowds are lower and prices keener. Further north in the Med the season gets going early as well with Costa Brava often posting good temperatures from May onwards while the Tramontane wind is still flying down from the Pyrenees.

REACHING THE SPOTSWill you need to rent a car to score some action? Not necessarily. In El Medano, Tenerife, you’ve got easy access just a short walk from rental apartments, the town centre and nearby hotels to the three main sailing areas, two of which are wavesailing spots, including PWA venue Cabezo. Similarly, in Sotavento, on Fuerteventura, you can stay on the beach and walk to the local centres or catch a shuttle from nearby Costa Calma

if you’re renting with Rene Egli. If you do rent a vehicle, Rene Egli allow you to travel with hired equipment to the multitude of wavesailing and other spots on the island.

CATALUÑAThe Gulf of Roses area offers excellent flat water freeriding in a stunning rural location. With a host of nearby camp-sites, boutique guest houses and private villa and apartment rentals this is a gem for Easter-Sept sailing away from crowds and the shortest flight time from the UK. Girona airport is probably the largest low-cost airline hub in the world and with nearby attractions such as cultural Barcelona, the Pyrenees and outstand-ing regional cuisine Cataluña is a smart pick for a value break in the sun. The tramontane can blow up to gale force as late as June (cross off from the left) and then thermal winds take over during the warmest months (cross-on from right).

WINDSURF MAGAZINE 107

Club Mistral (Golf de Roses)

Rene Egli (Fuerteventura)

WINDSURF MAGAZINE 107

TARIFATarifa is a world famous venue for both windsurfing and kitesurfing, often referred to as the “Wind Capital of Europe.” With it’s constant winds, over 7 miles of white sandy beaches, deep blue water and three thousand hours of sun-light per year, it makes a great all year round destination. Bring your own kit to make use of the different spots, or hire from one of the many windsurf schools, which are based at Valdevaqueros (Las Dunas). There are two prevailing winds. The ‘Levante’ (Easterly), is a stronger warmer wind, which blows cross offshore from the left creating flatter water conditions. The ‘Poniente’ blows cross on shore from the Atlantic Ocean producing waves and is more predomi-nant in autumn and spring. The wind is generally strongest in the afternoons. As the beach is so long you can pick and choose your spot depending on the wind direction. There are many low cost airlines flying to Malaga (1 hour 45 mins away) from many regional airports, so getting there is cheap, easy and the flight time is just over 2 hours. Gibraltar is the closest airport (45 minutes drive from Tarifa). There is a great selection of apartment accommodation so you can take a few friends to reduce costs. Having a kitchen means you can save money by eating in a few nights, if you wish, and breakfast is easy with the great supermarkets /bakeries and selection of food you can find in Spain. There are so many great things to do in Tarifa from whale watching, Mountain biking, horse riding, climbing, walking, to bird watching and National parks. The White Villages of Andalusia are beautiful and are worth a visit to wander around the narrow streets and enjoy a relaxed lunch. Morocco is a short ferry ride away and is a cultural day trip. You could drive to Ronda for a night and see the spectacular El Tajo Gorge. Or simply stroll around Tarifa old town and

soak up the chilled atmosphere and café culture vibe. Tarifa is great for the independent travelers as you can hire a car and make your way along the coast – perfect for a short stay trip too. Due to the long sandy beach there is plenty of space for everyone. July and August are the busiest months.

CANARY ISLANDSCountless PWA World Cups have proven the wind reliability of this island chain that sits inside the North East trade wind belt. There’s so many spots to choose from on the major islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. Freeriders love the mix of open ocean swell and flat lagoons of Fuerteventura’s southern Sotavento and Risco del Paso resorts as well as Gran Canaria’s Bahia Feliz. Wavesailors will need no reminder of the powerful breaks on Fuerteventura’s north shore or the jumping paradises of Pozo Izquierdo on GC or Tenerife’s El Cabezo. Mellow riding is also available at Harbour Wall in El Medano, Tenerife. Even the slightly longer flight times this far south don’t prevent many independent travellers heading out on a good forecast and all the major operators can cater for either full packages or just rental for self-catering visitors. Hiring is a strong option to consider if you consider the cost and hassle of travelling with your own gear. You can pick from the latest gear from nearly all the main centres that now often use lighter masts and board constructions than in seasons past or choose the opportunity of a trip test out a range of the latest equipment before making your own purchases at home at a non brand affiliated centre such as Tenerife Windsurf Solution.

Check out our directory of centres in the following pages – have a great holiday!

TWS (Tenerife)

Rene Egli (Fuerteventura)

Club Mistral (Gran Canaria)

Club Mistral (Golf de Roses)

Tarifa

108 JUNE 2013

SpaiN & CaNary iSlaNdS dirECTOry

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Club Mistral Centres

sportif travel

Fuerteventura

Tarifa

Golf de Roses Gran Canaria

SEASON: Open all yearLOcAtiON: The huge sandy beach and the wind-surfing and kitesurfing spot at Risco del Paso Playa Sotavento is a class of its own. Depending on the tide there is a large shallow area in front of the Club Mistral Center, which is superb for intermediate sailors to practice water starts and jibes. Also a real dream spot for beginner lessons. idEAL hOLidAy fOr: Perfect place for families and groups - beginners, intermediates and expert windsurfers.ridiNg StyLES: Freestyle, freeride, speed, slalom.Accommodation: SBH Monica Beach and SBH Costa Calma PalaceEquipmENt ANd tuitiON: Fanatic boards and North sails.fLAt dAy fuN: SUP, surfing, mountain biking, quad, wellness and much more..

SEASON: March to DecemberLOcAtiON: Tarifa is one of the best spots in Europe with almost 100% wind guarantee. With two centre’s Club Mistral covers the whole range of activities – windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing and stand up paddling for all levels. During summer the Levante is the domi-nant wind and during spring and autumn the main wind is the “Poniente”.idEAL hOLidAy fOr: Great spot for families and groups – good for beginners and intermediates and excellent for advanced windsurfers.ridiNg StyLES: Freestyle, freeride, speed, slalom.Accommodation: Hotel Hurricane, Punta Sur, Hotel La Pena.EquipmENt ANd tuitiON: Fanatic boards and North sails.Flat day fun: SUP excursion, mountain biking, different cultural excursions…

SEASON: Year round – best April to September.LOcAtiON: Sunshine and warm water year round with just a short 4 hour flight. Wind side shore from the left.idEAL hOLidAy fOr: Windsurfing for all levels, multi-sport options. Good for families & non-sailing partners. Walk to bars & restaurants - buzzing, low-rise resorts.ridiNg StyLES: Conditions for all levels from the sandy beach launch. Beginners/Kids – flat, sheltered, shallow water area for 100m - ideal for improving with kid’s classes & lightweight rigs available. Freeride & Freestyle – combination of flat water and bump & jump conditions. Waves – off the reef outside the bay 0.5-3m, just offshore. Ideal for wave novices.AccOmmOdAtiON: Apartments with pool from £399, choice of 4* &5* luxury hotels from £599 inc flights.Equipm ENt/tuitiON: Latest 2012/13 kit from Fanat-ic & Neil Pryde. Group, private & semi private lessons. SUP & sufing packages. free use of surf equipment and kayaks in the bay. free supervised sailing.fLAt dAy fuN : Mountain biking, trekking, surfing, golf, tennis, aqua parks, explore Volcanic landscapes. All holidays fully ATOL protected with/without flights.

BESt fOr: Beginners/Intermediates: Lanzarote and Sotavento have protected, shallow water areas.high WiNd: Head to Tarifa, Tenerife and Gran Canaria with high wind excursions available to Pozo, Vargas, etc.Freestyle/Waves – Lanzarote and Golf De Rosas offer a combination of flat water and bump and jump condi-tions. Lanzarote is perfect for wave novicesBudgEt: Spacious SC apartments in Gran Canaria Lanzarote from £399. 3* Hotels from £449 in Tenerife.LuXury & SpA: Boutique spa hotels in Tarifa from £559 & 5* deluxe hotels in Lanzarote from £649.fAmiLiES: Golf de Rosas for culture - SC apartments from £419pp. Beach hotels in Lanzarote & Sotavento.ShOrt BrEAKS: Spain and the Canaries are ideal for either a long weekend or short 3,4 or 5 night break. muLti-SpOrt: combine with SUP, Surfing & Kitesurf-ing & receive up to 70% off 2nd sport rental/instruction. Kids use adult boards for FREE & 50% discount on Junior rental. Pre-book to guarantee equipment & lessons.See the Sportif Website for in depth guides to conditions, useful fact files, best times to go and latest offers. Sportif packages offer flights, car hire and transfers with a ‘meet & greet’ service on arrival - All ATOL guaranteed.

SEASON: March to SeptemberLOcAtiON: Several sand banks in the water turn the spot into a “semi-shallow water area” with the huge, fine sandy beach. The “Tramontana” from the north blows side-shore from the left and the thermal winds side-onshore from the right.idEAL hOLidAy fOr: Golf de Roses is not only a perfect choice for a family vacation but has also a lot to offer for couples and groups. Here, beginners, interme-diates and experienced wind- and kitesurfers can easily make progress.ridiNg StyLES: Freestyle, freeride, slalom.AccOmmOdAtiON: Bungalows of Camping La Bal-lena Alegre directly behind the Club Mistral Center.EquipmENt ANd tuitiON: Fanatic and Mistral boards and North sails.fLAt dAy fuN: SUP breakfast excursion, cultural sightseeing or a trip to Barcelona.

SEASON: Open all yearLOcAtiON: In Bahia Feliz the wind blows mainly side-shore from the left, creating choppy water and on some days real waves. In front of the bay it is mostly a little bit calmer, therefore it is a good area for intermediates. Further outside the swell can reach a height of 1 to 1, 5 meters, inviting nice jumps, and the mostly constant wind helps when training the jibe or other maneuvers.idEAL hOLidAy fOr: Families and groups - begin-ners, intermediates and experts.ridiNg StyLES: Excursion spots: freestyle, freeride, speed, wavesAccOmmOdAtiON: Las Pitas and Tres Vidas ApartmentsEquipmENt ANd tuitiON: Fanatic boards and North sails.fLAt dAy fuN: SUP, different excursion, mountain biking…

Lanzarote + Tenerife – Fuerteventura – Gran Canaria

Sportif Summer Holiday Guide Spain and the Canary Islands

contact details: www.club-mistral.comcompany@club-mistral.com

contact details: www.sportif.travel • Email: info@sportif.travel • Tel: +44(0)1273 844919

SpaiN & CaNary iSlaNdS dirECTOryrene egli tenerife Windsurfing

solutiontarifa holidays

planet Windsurf holidays

Fuerteventura

Spain & Canary Islands

TarifaTenerife

SEASON: All year longLOcAtiON: Sotavento beach, FuerteventuraIdeal holiday for: action-seeking individuals as well as familiesridiNg StyLES: speed, slalom, freestyleAccOmmOdAtiON: 4*+ Hotel Meliã GorrionesEquipment and Tuition: Neilpryde, JP, Starboard latest equipment 2013, completely exchanged annually – courses for all levels for students of minimum 8 years. fLAt dAy fuN: Beach sailing on the dry lagoon, SUP

If you are considering a summer windsurf holiday this year, but don’t want to travel too far, then there are some fantastic warm windy locations in Spain including the Canary Islands.

Planet Windsurf Holiday top recommended resorts in mainland Spain include Golf De Roses, a beautifully part of Costa Brava just north of Gerona and Tarifa, one of the windiest location in the world. In the Canary Island there is the family friendly resort of Sotavento in southern Fuerteventura, the waves spots around Lanzarote and if you are looking for a cheap and cheerful break Tenerife offers amazing value for money.

All these resorts and more are featured on Planet Windsurf Holiday stunning new website at www.planetwindsurfholidays.com or for expert advice and immediate best price availability just call them on 01273 921001

SEASON: All year round if you take your own kit. LOcAtiON: Tarifa town, SpainidEAL hOLidAy fOr: Everyone ridiNg StyLES: Chop and flat water with ‘Poniente’ and swell in spring and summer with the ‘Levante’ winds. AccOmmOdAtiON: Stay in the stylish Dos Mares apartment (two bedrooms) with a pool and large bal-cony with lovely views to the sea and National park. It has a secure storeroom for kit and a private car parking space. Walking distance to Tarifa town.EquipmENt ANd tuitiON: Many options of wind-surfing centres. Centres open March to November.fLAt dAy fuN: Whale watching, diving, mountain biking, horse riding, climbing, walking. Trips to the White Villages of Andalusia or Morocco. Family water park fun.

SEASON: All yearLOcAtiON: El Medano TenerifeidEAL hOLidAy fOr: Intermediate to pro sailors with or without familyridiNg StyLES: Bump and jump to hardcore wave sailingAccOmmOdAtiON: Hotels from 5 star to Beach apartments with a Hostel optionEquipmENt ANd tuitiON: Top end Clinicsd from PWA pros…. Latest equipment available from all brandsfLAt dAy fuN: Fun Parks, Climbing, Trecking, Art Galleries, Surfing, Canarian culture. Bike tours, Whale watching and visiting the volcano!!

contact details: +44 (0)1273 921001www.planetwindsurfholidays.com

contact details: +34 928 54 74 83www.rene-egli.cominfo@rene-egli.com

contact details: info@tws-windsurf.com www.tws-windsurf.com FB/surf tws

contact details: Toby and Fiwww.tarifaholidays.cominfo@tarifaholidays.com

110 JUNE 2013

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