Lake Balkash

At Tasaral, the water surface mainly depends on the wind intensity over Lake Balkhash, which is a huge inland lake without tides. The spot works well when the wind sets in steadily, with generally more pleasant riding away from exposed shore areas. The dominant wind to look for is often from the W to NW sector, which most often corresponds to a side-shore to side-on orientation depending on the shoreline used for launching.

Launching generally takes place from a clear shore, with a simple launch if one chooses an area without obstacles and with enough space to rig. It is important to keep a good margin downwind, as the lake can be very wide but visual landmarks are limited, and returning to shore can become lengthy if the wind drops. The spot is especially interesting for freeride and fast edges, with little relief on the water when the wind is clean, but an inland sea that can quickly become choppy with small waves as the wind strengthens.

One must also take into account the isolated nature of the site. The spot can give a sense of total freedom, but it requires autonomous riding, with careful setup and real distance management from the shore. Sessions are most comfortable when the wind is well established and the direction remains sufficiently regular to allow for long and safe back-and-forth rides.