“The Endless Summer” – this movie brought surf riding right into the living-room of American people in the sixties and spread an awareness of life never felt before. The adventurous trip round the globe in search of the best waves and most exotic plants raised wanderlust in millions of people. Today, forty years later, we would like to invite you on a similar trip to chase the winds of the world on their trip round the globe.

First the Wind, then the Waves
In contrast to the attitude of the two surf riding protagonists of the cult-movie, with us gigantic waves take second place, because windsurfing first of all requires one thing: wind. Alongside world-wide drifts like the trade winds, which circle around the earth and provide high pleasure for us in several parts of Europe and America at the same time, we will put the focus as well on regional currents, which air special areas only at particular seasons: the Hawaiian Kona winds, for example, as well as the French winds Mistral and Tramontagne or Poniente and Levante in Southern Spain.

Spring in Venezuela, Summer at the Canary Isles
How can you surf all year long under perfect conditions? Our journey starts in spring. In Venezuela we feel comfortable in March. We advance some exciting, new maneuvers in the freestyle paradise El Yaque, with unceasing trade wind in our backs and under the curious eyes of the Hispano-American jet set.

In summer it is high time to return to Europe, however, this should be to a place as far south as possible. The Canary Isles allure with their notorious North-East trade wind, which is sometimes even enforced by the surface structure of the isles. Tenerife, Grand Canary and Fuerteventura, for every taste there is an adequate island at the Canaries. Every day here is a surf day, every day a good day.

Whoever likes it even more exotic can go by boat to Marocco on the African continent, where the North-East wind “El Sharki” is up to mischief, in Essaouira, for example. In late summer the Praia do Guincho in Portugal waits with big beaters (huge waves) to be defeated by us. The local thermal, which comes from the mountains, lashes air and water.

Back to the Roots – in Fall Homeland allures
In fall we are spoilt for choice. Who wishes to prolong the experience of an “endless summer” has to travel to Egypt to jibe in a relaxed way or to Brazil to wave ride – Jericoacoara, or just “Jeri”, as it is affectionately called, is very close to our concept of heaven. As far as eyes can see, we find endless beaches, palm trees and waves, and an old acquaintance – the trade wind – provides a perfect wind statistics.

The word “cold” we have almost banned from our vocabulary. Nevertheless, hard-boiled people can head home for now. Because autumnal storms caused by gigantic troughs of low pressure air Europe – from France to Germany and further to Kiltmøller in Denmark. You will not get sunburnt here, however, lots of fun in local waters will be guaranteed.

Bye, bye winter!
We can escape the frosty winter in Europe with a ticket for the surf Mecca Hawaii, the cradle of surfing. In the famous Hookipa Beach Park in Maui or the Diamond Head on Oahu, we slash perfect waves pushed by the current trade winds from the East or, around the turn of the year, also by the local and especially strong Kona winds from the West. While the ones who have stayed at home are still shivering, we luxuriate in the tropical sun.    

Are you surfing or still shivering?
We are surfing! Australia and Chile are worth a trip as well from November to March. Whoever is fed up with the American plastic society in Hawaii will surely find a place to stay with the easy going Australians. Adventure prone people will discover the beaches of South America, whose breaks have become a world-wide insider tip. If money won’t allow that, then South Africa is “the place to be”. In Cape Town under the breath-taking nature backdrop of the Table Mountain, several board athletes stay for the winter and indulge themselves in endless wind calles the “South Easter” or the “Cape Doctor”. The “endless summer” really exists – for windsurfers as well.  

Links

Two German surf pros Rik Fiddicke and Florian Jung have already experienced their “endless summer”. You will find the account of their travel here (German articles):
http://www.datrip.com/home/local_heroes/Rik_Fiddike/rik_fiddike.html
http://www.live-magazin.eu/bericht.php?id=37

Regional wind systems of the earth (German)