| 🌍 Country | Austria |
| 📅 Season | March, April, May June, July, August, September |
| 💪🏼 Skill | Advanced |
| 🔮 Forecasts | Gamsjaga • Regenradar St. Gilgen • Windfinder |
| 📹 Webcams | Gamsjaga • Lindenstrand – Addicted Sports St. Gilgen • Panomax • UYC Wolfgangsee Zinkenbach • St. Wolfgang – Panomax • Strobl – Panomax |
Wolfgangsee is one of the lakes in Austria many tourists come to visit because of its crystal clear water and its beautiful mountain scenery. No wonder some shots of the famous movie Sound of Music were taken at this area.
📍 Kite Spot: Gamsjaga
ℹ️ Spot description
The Kitespot is named after the Restaurant Gamsjaga next to it. It works with wind coming from NW direction, which is especially the case after a change in the weather from warm to cold conditions. If the pressure difference is big enough this can cause stormy winds with 40 knots or even more. The position of the front can be observed best in Regenradar. If this weather phenomenon happens the wind can pic up quite fast. Be aware of fast changing weather conditions.
Gamsjaga is a spot for advanced kite surfers only.
The spot is really small, with lots of trees and barely big enough for 25m lines. Depending on the angle of the wind the rider has to launch the kite from the parking lot through the gap of two trees. After launching, the kite must not be pulled up all the way. Instead keep the kite at the edge of the wind window until entered the water through a metal stairs.
For getting back on land it is necessary to land the kite on the spot while still being in the water, wich makes it quite tricky to manage in gusty conditions.
During sunny days many people come here for a swim. So during summer season when the wind picks up there might be some swimmers off and in the water to watch out for and be carefull.
Downwind are two public swimming areas which are declared through buoys. In case it’s needed they can serve as emergency exit.
🧭 Arrival
The spot is about 30 minutes driving from Salzburg city center.
The parking lot is so close to the spot you can / sometimes have to literally start your kite from there. It costs about 4,50€ to park there for the whole day. Cash and card payment is possible.
🏘️ Infrastructure
Food & Drinks
📍 Kite Spot: Strandbad St. Gilgen
ℹ️ Spot description
This spot works with wind coming from the south-east. The closer it gets to summer season the more boats will be anchoring close to the entrance. But they are not a real obstacle since passing them is usually quite easy and then there is plenty of boat-less space.The spot at Strandbad St. Gilgen is only recommended when the wind and the weather are not suitable for swimming. Otherwise the locals don’t enjoy kites flying over their heads.
Since the wind is coming in almost perpendicular to the spot, you can use the gras area to launch your kite. It spacious enough to launch one kite at a time. After launching enter the water through the wooden sometimes slippery floating platform. It’s recommended to go north first to escape the anchoring boats.
🧭 Arrival
The spot is about 30 minutes driving from Salzburg city center.
Right next to the St. Gilgen Strandbad is a public parking space. Make sure to take some coins with you since the card payment function for the park ticket sometimes is failing.
🏘️ Infrastructure
Food & Drinks
📍 Kite Spot: Zinkenbach
ℹ️ Spot description
Zinkenbach is another spot at Wolfgangsee which is quite unknown even among locals. It offers a dried out river bed wich serves as a wide treeless gravel starting point. It works with south and south-east wind conditions.
On the opposing side of this narrow spot of the lake at St. Wolfgang several ferry boats are departing. This traffic should not be an issue for a great kite session though.
🧭 Arrival
Taking the street next to the Wolfgangsee in take a turn in Abersee to get as close as possible to the Zinkenbach spot. There is a public parking space in “Seestraße” close to the church. Other parking possibilities closer to the spot are private and therefore not be used.
From there it is about 10 minutes of walking, so consider that when deciding weather or not to bring your gear. Head towards the public swimming area using a small path through the woods (signs will show the way). After that cross the mouth of the dried out / shallow Zinkenbach river bed.