Portugal
Fonte da Telha – Praia Azul is located south of Lisbon, on a long stretch of sand bordered by pine forest and a few beach bars. The beach is wide, with plenty of space to set up equipment and walk away from the more crowded areas.
It is a popular spot for riders from Lisbon and Costa da Caparica due to its consistent summer winds and accessible waves. The atmosphere is relaxed, with a mix of kite schools, locals, and passing riders enjoying the good conditions just a few minutes from the capital.
Les données de vent affichées ici proviennent d’ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) sur 4 ans, retraitées pour refléter des conditions réalistes.
👉 Le vent moyen a été calibré pour éviter la sous-estimation habituelle des modèles.
👉 Les rafales ont été corrigées par un ratio médian afin d’éviter des valeurs extrêmes irréalistes.
👉 Chaque jour est résumé par le vent médian (P50) observé pendant les heures utiles (8h–20h), puis classé dans des plages de vent.
👉 Le mode pondéré mélange vent moyen et rafales pour refléter au mieux le vent ressenti.
wavewaveThe spot of Fonte da Telha – Praia Azul is a large Atlantic beach oriented generally north–south, with the sea to the west. With the classic north to northwest wind regime, the wind arrives side-shore to side-on from the right, which is very comfortable for navigation and safety. The thermal often establishes in the middle of the day and strengthens in the afternoon, especially between late spring and early autumn.
Water entry is from a wide beach of fine sand, with no particular difficulty in walking and launching the kite. The launch area is vast, but one must consider the presence of swimmers in summer and slightly move away from the most central areas in front of the beach bars. Further south and north, the beach remains wide and allows finding space to launch and land kites without stress.
The water surface is typical of an Atlantic beach: near the shore, there is a shorebreak that varies with the swell, then a field of waves further out. Most often, one navigates in small to medium waves, with a choppy water surface between sets. With moderate swell, it is a pleasant playground for freeriding and for getting started in surfkite, especially since the waves are generally smaller here than at more exposed spots like Guincho.
The tides influence the behavior of the shorebreak and the width of the beach, but the spot remains kiteable at most coefficients. At low tide, the beach is very wide and there is more space to launch and land, but some bars may close more quickly. At mid-tide, the sandbanks often work better and the waves are more regular. At high tide, the beach narrows and the shorebreak can become more physical, especially with swell.
Navigation takes place over a completely sandy bottom, which is reassuring for falls and beginners. Further out, the water surface mixes chop and wave ramps, with enough space for maneuvers, freeriding, and a bit of old school freestyle. The width of the beach and the water surface allows for easy management of downwind drift and avoiding other users if one moves away.
In summer, cohabitation with swimmers and surf schools requires some organization. It is recommended to choose a slightly off-center area for kiting, to keep a good margin downwind, and to respect any navigation corridors or monitored areas set up by lifeguards. Outside of high season, the attendance is lower and navigation is more relaxed with plenty of free space.
The ideal conditions for this spot are found with an N to NW established wind, blowing side-shore to side-on between 18 and 25 knots. In this setup, the waves remain manageable, the beach offers plenty of space, and safety is good for most levels.
Summer days with a regular thermal, moderate swell, and clear skies are particularly suitable for freeriding, first sessions in waves, and downwinds to other sections of the beach.
The water surface is primarily a mix of chop and waves. With a fairly established north thermal wind and moderate swell, there are small to medium waves rolling over the sandbanks, with marked chop between sets. These conditions are interesting for wave freeriding and for progressing in surfkite without being immersed in a too-powerful shorebreak.
When the Atlantic swell strengthens, especially in autumn and winter, the waves become larger and more powerful, with a more technical shorebreak. The spot remains usable for riders comfortable in the waves, but navigation becomes more challenging, especially during the bar crossing and return to the shore. In summer, with more moderate swell, the spot is more accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of levels.
The currents along this coast are generally moderate, but they can vary depending on the swell and tide. A current parallel to the beach can set in, especially with cross swell, gently pulling north or south depending on the conditions.
Near the shorebreak, the water movement is mainly related to the wave backwash, which can be surprising during water entry or maneuvers near the edge. In strong swell or high tide, some rip currents can form on the sandbanks, and it is advisable to monitor the water conditions before venturing far offshore.
For an average-sized rider around 75–80 kg, the most commonly used kite sizes in summer generally range between 8 m² and 11 m², depending on the strength of the north thermal. On windier days or in winter, one can go down to 7 m² kites, while lighter wind days will require a 12 m² or foil.
Lighter riders can often kite in 7–9 m² in the summer thermal, while heavier riders will prefer 10–12 m² to make the most of the wind range.
The dominant wind regime in season is the Nortada, a wind from the N to NW sector that strengthens due to thermal effects along the coast. It often starts weak in the late morning and then gradually increases to kitesurfing strengths in the early afternoon, with the most powerful sessions in the middle or late afternoon during summer.
At Fonte da Telha – Praia Azul, this north to northwest wind generally arrives side-shore to side-on relative to the beach, creating comfortable conditions for all levels. Outside the thermal season, other regimes can come in, including southwest winds associated with depressions, which are more irregular and accompanied by stronger swell, more suited to advanced riders.
The climate in this part of the Lisbon coast is of the oceanic Mediterranean type, with mild winters and warm summers tempered by the ocean. In winter, air temperatures often hover around 12–16 °C during the day, with more disturbances and rain. In summer, maximum temperatures generally rise between 24 and 30 °C, with often clear skies and regular thermal breezes.
The spot is kiteable year-round in terms of climate, but the most comfortable conditions for riding in light gear are from spring to autumn. In winter, Atlantic depressions can bring more wind and swell, making the spot more technical and reserved for experienced riders.
The depth increases gradually over a completely sandy bottom. You can generally stand for quite a while as you move away from the shore, which is reassuring for waterstarts and initial maneuvers.
Depending on the tide and the profile of the sandbanks, it is possible to walk several dozen meters before no longer being able to stand. Further offshore, the depth quickly becomes significant, but without particular hazards related to rocks in the main navigation area.
The water temperature on this Atlantic coast remains cool year-round. In the heart of winter, the water often drops to around 14–15 °C, necessitating a thick full wetsuit. In spring, it gradually rises to 16–18 °C, before reaching about 18–21 °C in mid-summer depending on the year.
In autumn, the water remains relatively mild with values often close to 18–20 °C, extending the comfortable season for kiting. Even in summer, a light long wetsuit or a thick shorty is still recommended, as the wind and the Atlantic keep the water cool.
