Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria catches the most waves in summer, since its circular shape allows north-easterly Passat windswell to run straight into the east coast breaks. The waves aren’t as clean and don’t get as big in summer, but it is a lot windier. No wonder the PWA has even organised wave contests at two Gran Canaria spots in the same year: Vargas and Pozo. Further south, conditions are a bit more restrained from Castillo de Romeral (‘Ketchup’) down. Freeriders, fledgling wavesailors and all the sunseekers don’t mind that the summer wind-yield is a bit lower down here (since it’s often in wind-shadow from the mountains). But in wintertime, the more easterly Passat is more reliable. There’s also no danger of huge NW or N winter swells in the south, while the breaks on the northern half reach Hawaiian proportions. Many beaches are rocky with skull-sized lumps of black rock awaiting people and gear in the shorebreak with a low rumble. It takes some getting used to when windsurfing and often makes launching a kite a dangerous game – that’s why you won’t see many rookie kiters on Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria copyright Fernando Sanchez

Spots in Gran Canaria

Galdar
Los Enanos
Ojos de Garza
Vargas
Salinas de Arinaga
Mosca Point
Pozo
Salinas de Pozo
Ketchup
Bahia Feliz
Playa del Aguila
La Punta de Maspalomas
  • Sumbawa, Indonesien, Ost Asien / WickedSun, THE KITE AND WINDSUFRING GUIDE
  • Topocalma, Chile, Südamerika / Alfredo Escobar, THE KITE AND WINDSUFRING GUIDE