The Canary Islands are known as the European Hawaii and for good reason. With pleasant warm air and sea temperatures throughout the year, along with excellent wind and waves, Gran Canaria is not only the go-to spot for many famous windsurfing world champions, but it’s also the perfect place to learn windsurfing and naturally become fascinated with the sport. The team from Gran Canaria Blue tell us more..
As one of the windiest Canary Islands, Gran Canaria provides nearly every kind of condition throughout the year for all windsurfing disciplines and skills. Famous in the windsurfing community, Bjorn Dunkerbeck, 42 times world champion, was raised in Gran Canaria and for the last five years has been running the Dunkerbeck Windsurf Centre in Playa del Aguila, which was set up by Bjorn’s parents when he was just 8 years old. Bjorn has a wealth of experience from travelling and competing and loves sharing his expertise with visitors from around the world.
The Dunkerbeck Windsurf Centre is Gran Canaria’s most southerly windsurf school directly on the beach of Playa del Aguila. With a great location, experience from top windsurfers and a strong community of watersport enthusiasts, this is a solid destination for all successful windsurf vacations, regardless of ability.
Offering lessons for all levels, the Dunkerbeck Windsurf Centre is suitable for beginners to advanced manoeuvre training, as well as offering foil lessons or rentals. For all guests visiting the centre, boards and sails are available to rent from Starboard & Severne. With hotspots around Gran Canaria, including Vargas and the famous world cup spot, Pozo Izquierdo, which are both great for wave sailing, guests can easily rent their equipment and have the freedom to travel around the island, hunting for the best conditions. As Gran Canaria is one of the windiest islands, on average it has a fantastic 70-80% of days throughout the year that are windy (over 4 Bft) with strong northeast trade winds in summer. The wind in Playa del Aguila just in front of the Center is usually side shore from the left (East). From October to April there is about 60 to 75% of the days enough wind for freeride sailing (4-7 Bft). The wind usually picks up around 11.00h. Before you’ll have time for a round on the Stand up Paddle board. The wind comes in strongly to provide perfect side-shore conditions with a moderate to strong wind wave.
Contrastingly, in summer, the strong northeast trade wind often does not reach Playa del Aguila because the wind shifts in Castillo de Romeral on the Atlantic Ocean. This tends to be more suited to beginners with the moderate breezes helping beginners to improve their skill. For intermediates and advanced windsurfers, the Dunkerbeck Windsurf Centre provides a mobile rental service and lessons at the speed beach located in Arinaga.
For those days where there may not be enough wind for sailing or foiling, Dunkerbeck also offers Stand Up Paddleboarding, allowing the island’s beautiful coastline to be discovered, or surfing on the great waves Gran Canaria has to offer. These are available as both equipment rental and lessons for those looking to harness a new skill. As part of Gran Canaria Blue, the Dunkerbeck Windsurf Centre is just one of many activity centres located on the island. The association Gran Canaria Blue works with local nautical activity providers to bring together the widest offering of water activities, along with a varied choice of accommodation options in the island all-year-round. With the best price guaranteed and certified quality standards by all associated companies, this is the go-to and most comprehensive resource for any watersport enthusiasts. Offering its guests activities including sailing, boat excursions, dolphin & whale watching, surfing, powerboating and scuba diving, these are just some of the many activities offered. With research proving that all individuals have a ‘Blue Mind’, whereby spending time by the ocean leads to an improved sense of well-being, there’s no better place to discover the healing power of water. Gran Canaria Blue works with visitors to create a bespoke itinerary filled with exploration and a sense of adventure.
GRAN CANARIA | A WINDSURFING HOTSPOT
To find out more about Gran Canaria Blue visit – grancanariablue.com
For information and booking for the Dunkerbeck Windsurfing Centre, check out – www.surfbd.com/windsurfing
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Facebook: @DunkerbeckWindsurfCenter