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A windsurfer on Lake Garda off TorboleWindsurfers in front of Torbole at the north end of Lake GardaA windsurfer below the mountains of Lake GardaThe beach and cliffs at Campione del GardaLake Garda from Navene, north of Malcesine

Chapters / Europe Open, 1 of 1 remaining

Ride Lake Garda, keep it open

Two winds you can set a clock by: the Pelér down the lake in the morning, the Ora up it in the afternoon. Lake Garda is one of Europe's great wind lakes, split between three regions, and kiters ride it through clubs, boat lifts and tightly limited hours.

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234 riders call this homeKite, WingMalcesine

Everything you need to know about Lake Garda

Live conditions

Why riders love it

What brings people here, from the people who manage it and the people who ride it.

  • The Pelér blows from the north in the morning and gives way to the Ora from the south around mid-to-late morning, which blows until evening.
  • At Retelino, north of Malcesine, the Pelér averages 20 to 25 knots. A 75 kg rider might use a 9 m kite in the Pelér and a 12 m in the Ora.
  • Campione works in both north and south winds. Campagnola, a rocky beach north of Malcesine, only works in a north wind.

Sources: 360 Garda Life

See the wind right now
Windsurfers in front of Torbole at the north end of Lake Garda

Access and rules

Local governments and environmental agencies set the terms. The chapter works with them, not around them.

  • Navene requires membership of the Kitesurfing Club Malcesine, and only one kiter may take off at a time. Campione requires membership of the Kite Campione Association.
  • In Trentino, kiting is allowed from sunrise to sunset from mid-October to late February. From March to mid-October it is by boat lift only, before 10:00 and after 17:00, and never during regattas.
  • At Retelino riders must be back on the beach by 9:00 in high season.

Sources: 360 Garda Life

Help hold the launch
A windsurfer below the mountains of Lake Garda

Ecology and habitat

Protected lagoons, wetlands and the species that depend on them. Stewardship days keep launches clean inside the protected zones.

  • Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake, with its waters divided between three regional jurisdictions.
  • Sailing is a major activity around the lake, and regatta areas already overlap with the narrow northern basin where the wind is strongest.

Sources: L'Adige

Fund stewardship here
The beach and cliffs at Campione del Garda

Good to know

Location, facilities and history.

  • Lake Garda lies in northern Italy and is shared by three regions: Trentino at the northern tip, Veneto on the east shore and Lombardy on the west.
  • The main kite launches are around Malcesine on the east shore, including Navene about 5 km north of town, and at Campione on the west shore.
  • A boat lift takes a rider from shore out to the kiting area and back, and is mostly used by beginners. One 2020 report put the cost at €35 per person.
  • Navene is staffed from 11:00 to 18:00, from spring to the end of October.

Sources: 360 Garda Life; L'Adige

Meet the riders
Lake Garda from Navene, north of Malcesine

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Schools that teach on this water

Beekite

Lake Garda

The morning Pelér averages 20–25 knots before the Ora takes over.

Source: 360 Garda Life

Know the spot

Lake Garda

Summer kiting in Trentino is by boat lift only, before 10:00 and after 17:00

Source: 360 Garda Life

Know the spot

Lake Garda

One lake, three regions , each with its own rules for kites.

Source: L'Adige

Know the spot

Why Lake Garda needs a chapter

A windsurfer on Lake Garda off Torbole
Europe

The mountains around the northern end of Lake Garda make two reliable winds: the Pelér blowing south in the morning and the Ora blowing north in the afternoon. Windsurfers have ridden here for decades, and kitesurfing has grown fast since.

234riders call this home
1local schools teach on this water
Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Lake Garda chapter, World Wind Sports

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Windsurfers in front of Torbole at the north end of Lake Garda
Europe

The lake is divided among three regions, each with its own rules, and space is tight. Launches are run by clubs that require membership, Trentino allows kites in summer only by boat lift before 10:00 and after 17:00, and in 2020 Malcesine officials publicly complained about kiters from Trentino crossing into their waters.

234riders call this home
1local schools teach on this water
Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Lake Garda chapter, World Wind Sports

Back this chapter
A windsurfer below the mountains of Lake Garda
Europe

A chapter gives riders from all three regions one voice, works with the clubs and sailing associations that already manage the water, and keeps riders trained so the existing launches stay open.

234riders call this home
1local schools teach on this water
Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Lake Garda chapter, World Wind Sports

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Photographer credits Back this chapter

The riders, schools and crew of Lake Garda

Riders from Malcesine, Brenzone sul Garda, Torri del Benaco, Garda, Lazise, Peschiera del Garda, Torbole, Nago-Torbole, Riva del Garda, Arco, Limone sul Garda, Tremosine, Gargnano, Salò, Salo, Desenzano del Garda, Desenzano, Sirmione, Mori, Rovereto, Trento, Verona, Brescia and the schools that teach them.

See the rider directory Talk on the board
BBeekiteLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.BBeekiteLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.
Pierpaolo PoloInstructor Level 2, bresciaTommaso PedoneInstructor Level 2, veronaDavide BertoliInstructor Level 1, desenzanoAndrea ZanoloInstructor Level 1, VeronaValter RuzzeneInstructor Level 1, BRESCIAAndrea ColomboInstructor Level 1, ArcoDenis BenedettiInstructor Level 1, VeronaLuca AntonelliInstructor Level 1, VeronaCristian MinenLevel 4W, BresciaMarco WachtlerLevel 4O, Riva del Gardanicolas zaniniAssistant, bresciaFrancesco ArsuffiLevel 3M, VeronaFederico LovisonLevel 4X, Peschiera del gardaAndrea CellerinoLevel 4Q, Desenzano del Gardatullio nicolettiLevel 3L, roveretoKarla Romero RomeroLevel 3J, Riva del gardaUmberto MazzolaLevel 4V, Peschiera del gardaEdoard EspenLevel 3L, BresciaMarco BerselliniLevel 3N, ArcoArianna FumanelliLevel 3M, ArcoBasilio ZusiLevel 3N, VeronaBeatrice DalriLevel 4T, RoveretoEnrico MonicelliLevel 3J, BresciaSimone BertaminiLevel 3K, ArcoVieri FacchinettiLevel 3M, BresciaLouise demey DemeyLevel 3J, TrentoMarco Battaglia BattagliaLevel 3L, VeronaFederico Andres Secchi MarinoLevel 4R, Nago-TorboleMatteo Costantini costa91vrLevel 4V, Veronasimone ZusiLevel 4W, VeronaEmiliano MunozLevel 3K, ArcoFederico stampiniLevel 4P, Riva del GardaMathias Davide BelliniLevel 3J, RoveretoPatrycjia MaroszekLevel 3L, ArcoPietro GallonettoLevel 4Q, VeronaMaurizio BortolameottiLevel 3K, Riva del GardaTommaso RavieleLevel 4Q, VeronaAlberto AnnichiniLevel 4V, VeronaCarlo MaregaLevel 4Q, TorboleLuciano QuarantaLevel 3J, BresciaPierpaolo PoloInstructor Level 2, bresciaTommaso PedoneInstructor Level 2, veronaDavide BertoliInstructor Level 1, desenzanoAndrea ZanoloInstructor Level 1, VeronaValter RuzzeneInstructor Level 1, BRESCIAAndrea ColomboInstructor Level 1, ArcoDenis BenedettiInstructor Level 1, VeronaLuca AntonelliInstructor Level 1, VeronaCristian MinenLevel 4W, BresciaMarco WachtlerLevel 4O, Riva del Gardanicolas zaniniAssistant, bresciaFrancesco ArsuffiLevel 3M, VeronaFederico LovisonLevel 4X, Peschiera del gardaAndrea CellerinoLevel 4Q, Desenzano del Gardatullio nicolettiLevel 3L, roveretoKarla Romero RomeroLevel 3J, Riva del gardaUmberto MazzolaLevel 4V, Peschiera del gardaEdoard EspenLevel 3L, BresciaMarco BerselliniLevel 3N, ArcoArianna FumanelliLevel 3M, ArcoBasilio ZusiLevel 3N, VeronaBeatrice DalriLevel 4T, RoveretoEnrico MonicelliLevel 3J, BresciaSimone BertaminiLevel 3K, ArcoVieri FacchinettiLevel 3M, BresciaLouise demey DemeyLevel 3J, TrentoMarco Battaglia BattagliaLevel 3L, VeronaFederico Andres Secchi MarinoLevel 4R, Nago-TorboleMatteo Costantini costa91vrLevel 4V, Veronasimone ZusiLevel 4W, VeronaEmiliano MunozLevel 3K, ArcoFederico stampiniLevel 4P, Riva del GardaMathias Davide BelliniLevel 3J, RoveretoPatrycjia MaroszekLevel 3L, ArcoPietro GallonettoLevel 4Q, VeronaMaurizio BortolameottiLevel 3K, Riva del GardaTommaso RavieleLevel 4Q, VeronaAlberto AnnichiniLevel 4V, VeronaCarlo MaregaLevel 4Q, TorboleLuciano QuarantaLevel 3J, Brescia
iSportsKite, WingiWind spotMalcesineiKnow thisLake Garda, northern Italy, with kite launches around Malcesine, Navene and Campione at the northern end.iKnow thisPelér from the north in the morning, Ora from the south in the afternoon; the Pelér averages 20 to 25 knots.iKnow thisMost launches require club membership; in Trentino, kiting in summer is by boat lift only, outside midday hours.iSportsKite, WingiWind spotMalcesineiKnow thisLake Garda, northern Italy, with kite launches around Malcesine, Navene and Campione at the northern end.iKnow thisPelér from the north in the morning, Ora from the south in the afternoon; the Pelér averages 20 to 25 knots.iKnow thisMost launches require club membership; in Trentino, kiting in summer is by boat lift only, outside midday hours.

Live conditions

Wind right now at Lake Garda

Full forecast

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