Tenerife

The main kitesurfing spot is located on the beach area of El Médano, on the kite zone side, away from the swimming area. The beach is made of black sand with a wide area for rigging and launching. The dominant northeast wind arrives side-on from the port side, making the return to the beach quite safe, even on stronger days. Near the shore, the wind can be a bit gusty due to buildings and terrain, but it becomes cleaner when going slightly offshore.

The water surface is mainly in chop with more or less marked crossed chop depending on wind strength. At low tide, the water surface is smoother and waves are limited to small ramps, which is pleasant for freeride and freestyle. At high tide and in strong wind, waves of 1 to 2 meters can form in the bay, and up to more than 2 to 3 meters near the harbor wall or on reef areas at the edge of the bay.

The launch area is generally in front of the marked kite zone, on a section of beach reserved for kites. Schools often use the immediate shore for lessons, so you need to keep an eye on beginners and leave space for takeoffs and landings. The safety channel and swimming areas are clearly marked in season, and it is important to stay out of these sectors.

By heading left (upwind), you approach the harbor wall and a more wave oriented area with cleaner waves on swell days. By heading right (downwind), you find more chop and some submerged rocky areas to avoid. Further offshore, the water surface remains choppy but the wind is more stable, which is pleasant for long runs or foiling when conditions allow.

El Médano hardly depends on tides to function: you can ride at both low and high tide. However, the configuration of the water surface really changes with the water level and wind strength, going from playful chop to a real intermediate wave spot. The spot can support a high influx, but it can be very crowded in summer and during holidays, which requires staying vigilant in maneuvers and jumps close to the shore.