DEUTSCHLAND – NORDSEE
Kitesurfing at St. Peter-Ording
Kilometres of sandy beach, partly driveable, with sandbars offshore. At low tide wide standing-depth channels open up – that is the learning area; at high tide there is wave over the bars. Host of the Kite World Cup.
At a glance
| Water | flat water |
| Wind quality | steady enough |
| Typical wind | 17 kn |
| Usable directions | North-west and south-west, side-onshore (200–340°) |
| Season | April to October |
| Tide | large tidal range |
| Depth | partly standing depth |
| School | several schools on site |
Which kite size does this spot call for?
The table below is not copied from a chart. It is the same calculation the calculator on the front page runs, applied to this spot: flat water and steady enough wind both shift the size, and so does your body weight. The rule of thumb everyone quotes is calibrated to a 75 kg rider – above roughly 100 kg it drifts, which is why the table goes to 140.
| Rider | 12 kn | 17 kn | 23 kn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 11–12 m² | 8–9 m² | 5–6 m² |
| 75 kg | 13–14 m² | 9–10 m² | 7–8 m² |
| 90 kg | 15–17 m² | 11–12 m² | 8–9 m² |
| 105 kg | 17 m² | 12–13 m² | 9–10 m² |
| 120 kg | 17 m² | 14–15 m² | 10–11 m² |
| 140 kg | 17 m² | 15–17 m² | 12–13 m² |
Work this spot out with my own numbers
What is it doing right now?
Forecast wind for this spot, and – in Germany – the value actually measured at the nearest DWD station Where the tidal range matters, the current gauge reading from the federal waterways administration is shown too – a measured level with its direction of travel, not a tide prediction.. Nothing is fetched until you ask for it: press the button and your browser contacts the services, not before.
How often does it actually work here?
A wind statistic tells you how often the wind blows. That is not the same question. What matters is how many days your own kites carry you here – between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., for at least two hours, and only from the directions this spot can actually use (200–340°). The calculator works that out from five years of recorded hourly wind and tells you which size is missing from your quiver.
Count the rideable days for my quiver
What to watch out for
Wind and tidal current can run in the same direction – which means serious drift. Never go out alone, and check the tide table first.
All figures are researched regular conditions, not a forecast, and no substitute for a local briefing. Wind and water can look different here on any given day.