I was in Lake Garda for a week beginning on the 24th July this year. I had not heard much about the place, just the usual "winds are amazing", "It’s a lake", "Really"!?
Set in North Italy, very close to the Austrian Boarder; the first thing that blew my mind was the sheer beauty of the place. Seriously I have been to some places in my time, but nothing like this. It’s probably the most beautiful place I have been, EVER. The water has an intense turquoise Colour, which is surrounded by some of the steepest mountainsides and incredible Italian architecture. But where is the wind? It was super still. Not a breeze, which worried me.
I was lucky enough to stay in The Grand Hotel, which I thoroughly recommend if you don’t have a tight budget for the trip. It was a half an hour drive to the kitesurf, spot that is on the West Side of the lake, as soon as we’d checked in all I wanted to do was get on the water.
One name.. Campione. This is the location of the only real land and launch spot on the whole west coast. So that’s where I headed.
Driving up the side of the lake on the narrow Italian roads getting higher and higher looking down at the lake I began to see the wind on the water surface which was great, but it still looked light. Soon enough after driving some 25 minutes I began to see the windsurfers, then sure enough there they were, some 50 kiters on the water, maybe more.. What a sight. I nearly wet myself with excitement.
Campione is a hard place to find, and the junction is hard to miss, a very sharp unexpected turn off in a tunnel. The beach... well you can't really call it that. It’s a launch and land spot. Tiny and very dangerous along with gusty wind and lots of trees upwind. However it is very well organised, run by the kiteclub there owned by a legendary Italian bloke, Lucas. Top chap and very helpful.
To fly here you have to sign up as a member and show that you are a competent kiter. Luckily I am an IKO instructor. Otherwise I had no way to prove this. They ask for your kite boarder card that you got when you were learning to prove you are at a good level.
Wind
There are 2 winds here. A North wind and a Southerly wind. It’s quite amazing. In the morning the wind is the strongest and blows from the North some 25nts or more, a 7m session where you can just boost all morning. But you have to be up early to catch this 7am. Because it’s a valley the wind squeezes up between the mountainsides, which makes it so reliable and strong everyday.
In the afternoon the wind changes and comes from the South. Its lighter, usually 14 to 20nts and 11 – 14m session great to practise your freestyle. Hearing that the wind changes like that I found it hard to believe. But, sure enough without fail, the wind was just as predicted. Very strong in the morning. Then just as if someone flicked a switch it stops blowing. The flags go dead. Everyone comes in and mopes around on the beach. This is where I’m usually expecting everyone to pack away, but No. An hour later the Flags move again. It takes about another hour and the wind is blowing a lovely 15Nts from the opposite direction. Magic.
The wind usually finished about 5pm every afternoon like clockwork, so be sure you get ready to come off the water of you’l will get stuck out there and need rescuing.
There is a rescue boat out there all the time and is always in use. Looking after all the Nubies. You have to pay a 10euros a day deposit to the kiteclub to ensure rescue just incase the wind drops and its worth it because the land launch spot is so small you often find yourself caught out downwind, as after that launch spot there is now where. The rescue is not a problem and is very easy to use. A chap in a boat comes and picks you and your kite up.
Kiting
The best part... You would think it would be gusty being surrounded in rocks. But I only ever felt one funny gust during my whole week on the water. The wind can sometimes be on and off but usually it’s just perfect.
I can’t describe how amazing it is kitesurfing here. It’s just so surreal. You have these Huge Mountains on either side of you. It makes you feel Minute, everything is so vast. The water is a perfect temperature. Its not to warm and not too cold. I was in shorts and a Rashie all week but some people wear shorties. It’s so refreshing when you hit the drink. It feels so clean. It’s a brilliant colour and the best thing is. It’s fresh! Not salty. It’s like kitesurfing in EVIAN! Crashing hard was fun!
The only scetchy bit is landing and launching, which you eventually get used to. The area is shadowed by some big trees, so the wind is light here. They literally throw your kite up and you have to quickly run out to the water where you kite will suddenly kick into life as it catches the wind and you will be dragged along the gravel to the water edge. You have to be quick, as this is the only risky part.
The kiting community here is very big and friendly with some amazing talent. The crowds of locals and tourists line the beach and along the waters edge watching you on amazement.
Lake Garda is probably the most bizarre place I have ever kited, but it is equally the best. The beauty, the wind the water and the community all make it a place too good to miss. A 5 star spot, and I cannot wait to revisit it
