Image: JP Australia
Any discussion of windsurfing is incomplete without the mention of some of the top windsurfing hotspots of the world. The list of most popular windsurfing destinations usually begins with Maui and includes amazing destinations like Oregon, Tarifa in Spain, Rhodes island of Greece and Lake Garda in Italy. However, apart from Europe and America, many other countries also boast of equally fascinating windsurfing locations that attract people from the world over. Australia, a nation blessed amazing with natural bounty, is one such destination. It has a great windsurfing culture and some of the most exotic and ideal windsurfing hubs.
Windsurfing Locations in Australia
In Australia, windsurfing activities are largely concentrated in the western part of Australia. This is mainly because west Australia has a 12,000 kilometer coastline that offers some of the best windsurfing conditions. Virgin beaches, tall waves and strong wind conditions all make Australia a great favourite among surfers.
One of the premier locations for windsurfing in Australia is Lancelin. Situated to the north of Perth, Lancelin is a small fishing town that offers perfect conditions- flat water along with reef breaks. The greatest advantage of Lancelin is that it offers windsurfing conditions that are suitable for perfect amateurs as well as the most experienced surfers. However, the greatest claim to fame for Lancelin is its hugely renowned windsurfing marathon – the Lancelin Ocean Classic. This marathon is the biggest windsurfing event in Australia and eagerly awaited by windsurfers worldwide. Lancelin also hosts number of jumping and waveriding events.
Yet another famous windsurfing location in Australia is the Margaret River, south of Perth. However, unlike Lancelin that offers windsurfing conditions suitable for all levels of windsurfers, Margaret River is only for the expert windsurfers.
Yet another windsurfing destination around Perth is the town of Geraldton. The Coronation Beach, located to the north of Geraldton is the most popular windsurfing spot here. Surfers can practice jumping as well as wave surfing at the Coronation Beach.
While driving from Lancelin to Geraldton, there is another great windsurfing town – Cervantes. This town also attracts several windsurfers every year and is a good place to practice jumps. The combination of Cervantes and Jurien Bay is quite popular among windsurfers.
Although, Western Australia dominates the windsurfing scene, the New South Wales region too has its share of good windsurfing spots. One of these is Botany Bay near Sydney that offers flatwater windsurfing. Also, the Narrabeen Lakes offers great windsurfing conditions for beginners with its shallow waters.
There are host of windsurfing clubs across Australia like the Geraldton windsurfing club that help surfers of all levels to practice windsurfing as well as interact with several other windsurfers.
Windsurfing Events in Australia
The Australian windsurfing calendar is always packed with a number of windsurfing events. There is winter and summer windsurfing series that comprises of a single or a multitude of windsurfing forms like racing, slalom, freestyle and wave surfing. Some of the major events that can be mentioned are the Australian Longboard Festival, the Lancelin Ocean Classic etc.
The windsurfing scene in Australia is extremely vibrant and hence attracts multitude of windsurfers each year.
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