South Bay, El Medano (Tenerife)
South Bay
South Bay (Playa Los Balos) is the main launch beach and this is where all the windsurfing centres are located. It is about a five minute walk from town.
The prevailing north-east trade wind blows cross-onshore from the left. The undisturbed wind inside of the bay makes it ideal for landing and launching from the sandy beach, and launching is possible at all tides. The area is suitable for beginners and improvers when the winds are lighter and the water flat, and for intermediates to advanced sailors for bump and jump sailing in the chop and rolling swell when the trade wind kicks in.
The entry and exit area to the sea is about 100m long and right in front of all the windsurfing centres. The kitesurfing launch area is exactly downwind (in the north-east trade wind) to the right of the windsurfing section although this is not signposted. Once on the water and past whatever shore break there may be, windsurfers and kiters share the same area. Further downwind to the right from where the kitesurfers launch is Pigs Bay which is to be avoided due to its rocky shoreline.
To the left of the 100m wide windsurfing launch area and towards the town is the swimming area where windsurfing and kitesurfing are prohibited. The wind in this location becomes light and gusty due to all the buildings so it’s not a good spot to sail anyway.
During low tide the water in front of the launch spot is flat, and the Bay provides suitable conditions on the inside to learn and practise beach starting and waterstarting as well as first time jibing. At high tide there can be choppy water in this area when it’s over 20 knots resulting in a small shore break, although some flatter sections can be found upwind closer to the town where the wind becomes gusty. The chop is normally between 0.5 to 1m up to about 800m from the beach, and from there bigger swells can be found, typically ranging from 0.5 to 1.5m high, which are suitable for wave riding and jumping.
The shore break at the launch beach can become large and challenging to get through if there is a bigger swell running and the wind rises over 25 knots. If strong north-east trade winds between 20 and 40 knots have been blowing for several days, there can be significant waves coming inshore to the beach. Despite this, the town and headland to the north of South Bay protect it from the bigger waves that can be found further north at El Cabezo Bay. The wind is also a little bit less in South Bay than El Cabezo Bay because of this protection.
As well as the different windsurf, kite, surfing and kayak centres along the beach front, there are also restaurants, cafes, shops and public showers.
WIND:The prevailing wind in El Medano is the north-east trade wind that is at its strongest in July and August. It is the most likely wind when sunny and stable conditions prevail over the Canary Islands.
However, when there are low pressure areas around the islands, the flow of air which generates the north-east trade winds can be disturbed, and winds can blow from the other quadrants. When this happens, El Medano will experience winds from the south-east (onshore) and south-west (side-shore and cross-off), or from the west (offshore), which are generally less strong than the trade winds at no more than 20 knots.
This is the most common wind direction in El Médano that is windsurfed 90% of the time, and is side-onshore from the left. There is a further acceleration of this wind due to mount Teide. Some of the air that hits Mount Teide goes over the mountain, but the vast majority will be compressed and accelerates around it. This results in at least a five knot higher wind speed in El Médano compared to that found in the north of the island. However, as El Medano expands in its development, every additional building makes the wind near the shore a little bit more gusty and unreliable. Nevertheless, once you get out about 30-50 metres you will get pretty constant winds with smooth ocean waves.Sailing Centres
Windsurfing Centres
The windsurf centres are located at South Beach (Playa Sur), five minutes' walk away along a wooden boardwalk from the centre of town, the hotels and apartments. They are more or less next door to one another at the sandy beach launch location which is particularly convenient.
- Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Beginners Gear Rentals
- Kids Gear Rentals
- Walk-Up Rentals
- Hourly Rentals
- Adults Lessons
- Kids Lessons
- Safety Observers
- Rescue Craft
- Windsurfer Storage
- Kitesurfer Storage
Location of centre:- Walk from accommodation
- Beachfront
Facilites:- Showers
- Changing Rooms
- Lockers
- wifi
- Retail Shop
- Equipment Washing
Other equipment for rent:- SUPs
- Surf Boards
The Duotone Pro Centre was opened in November 2018 in conjunction with Tenerife Windsurf Solutions. It is the most recent windsurf centre to open. It is situated at South Beach (Playa Sur) in front of the 100m long sandy windsurfing launch beach. The centre offers over 70 storage lockers, equipment rinsing and washing area, showers, changing area, toilets, a shop Read more... - Ocean Calling Tenerife is located on the same 100m long stretch of sandy beach front as the other windsurfing centres on South Beach (playa Sur). It is a test centre for the RRD brand of boards and sails. Spanish, English, German and Russian are spoken. Opening Times: • Open every day from 10am until 6pm Services: • Rental • Lessons Read more...
- Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
Surf Centre Playa Sur is located on the edge of the grounds of Hotel Playa Sur Tenerife at the southern end of the windsurfing launching spot beside where the kiters launch. It is a family owned business that has been open almost forty years. Its guests can use some of the facilities of the Hotel Playa Sur. The staff speak Read more... - Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Adults Lessons
- Kids Lessons
Location of centre:- Beachfront
Facilites:- Showers
Other equipment for rent:- SUPs
- Surf Boards
Tenerife Windsurfing Solutions is located on the 100m long sandy windsurfing launching spot at South Beach (Playa Sur). It markets itself as a test and demo centre, because it provides so many different brands of equipment to use. It is also the only centre providing full race equipment, although this is during the winter months only. It is also unique Read more...
Kitesurfing Centres
- Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Beginners Gear Rentals
- Kids Gear Rentals
- Walk-Up Rentals
- Hourly Rentals
- Adults Lessons
- Kids Lessons
- Safety Observers
- Rescue Craft
- Windsurfer Storage
- Kitesurfer Storage
Location of centre:- Walk from accommodation
- Beachfront
Facilites:- Showers
- Changing Rooms
- Lockers
- wifi
- Retail Shop
- Equipment Washing
Other equipment for rent:- SUPs
- Surf Boards
The Duotone Pro Centre was opened in November 2018 in conjunction with Tenerife Windsurf Solutions. It is the most recent windsurf centre to open. It is situated at South Beach (Playa Sur) in front of the 100m long sandy windsurfing launch beach. The centre offers over 70 storage lockers, equipment rinsing and washing area, showers, changing area, toilets, a shop Read more... - Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Safety Observers
Other equipment for rent:- SUPs
- Surf Boards
Kite Centre Playa Sur is located on the edge of the grounds of Hotel Playa Sur Tenerife at the southern end of the windsurfing launching spot beside where the kiters launch. It is a family owned business that has been open almost forty years since it began as a windsurfing centre. Its guests can use some of the facilities of Read more... - Ocean Calling Tenerife is located on the same 100m long stretch of sandy beach front as the other windsurfing centres on South Beach (playa Sur). It is a test centre for the RRD brand of boards and sails. Spanish, English, German and Russian are spoken. Opening Times: • Open every day from 10am until 6pm Services: • Rental • Lessons Read more...
- Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Adults Lessons
Sunset Kite Centre is located in the town rather than at the beach. However, they conduct their lessons at the kite launching beach at South Beach in the same area as the other kite schools. They also specialise in conducting surfing courses. The centre is also a Cabrinha board and kite test centre. Opening Times: Open 7 days a week Read more... - Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
Surf Centre Playa Sur is located on the edge of the grounds of Hotel Playa Sur Tenerife at the southern end of the windsurfing launching spot beside where the kiters launch. It is a family owned business that has been open almost forty years. Its guests can use some of the facilities of the Hotel Playa Sur. The staff speak Read more...
El Medano Accommodation
El Medano has plenty of accommodation located within five to ten minutes walks of the windsurfing centres at South Beach.
The large resorts of Playa de Las Americas are 20km away for those that want a busier nightlife than that found in El Medano. These are the large resorts favoured by the European package holiday companies.
Featured Accommodation
- Beach Access:
- Beach-front
Room Types:- Single
- Twin
- Double
Property Facilities:- Restaurant(s)
- Bar(s)
Hotel El Medano is an Art Deco looking building built out over the water and the back of the building resembles an ocean liner. Rooms cater for 1 – 2 guests and have satellite TV, private bathroom (with a bath) and private balcony. The hotel features a sun terrace overlooking the ocean with sun lounges and deck chairs. Breakfast is Read more... - Star Rating:
- 3-star
Beach Access:- Beach-front
Room Types:- Single
- Twin
- Double
Room Facilities:- Private Bathroom
- Balcony or Terrace
- Views
- Non-Smoking
Property Facilities:- Child Friendly
- Restaurant(s)
- Bar(s)
- Outdoor Pool
- Communal Lounge Area
- Car Parking
Hotel Playa Sur is located on the beach at El Medano. Rooms are simple (accommodating single/twin/doubles) with pine furniture and all have a balcony with sea view. Facilities include an outdoor pool with sun terrace, bike & surfboard storage and a sauna (costs extra). There is a restaurant & poolside bar, massage services are available for an extra cost. Free Read more...
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- NE
- Flat Water Blasting
- Bump and Jump
- Freeride
- Freestyle
- Foiling
- Longboard Cruising
- Entry-Level Wave Sailing
The prevailing wind in El Medano is the north-east trade wind that is at its strongest in July and August. It is the most likely wind when sunny and stable conditions prevail over the Canary Islands.
However, when there are low pressure areas around the islands, the flow of air which generates the north-east trade winds can be disturbed, and winds can blow from the other quadrants. When this happens, El Medano will experience winds from the south-east (onshore) and south-west (side-shore and cross-off), or from the west (offshore), which are generally less strong than the trade winds at no more than 20 knots.
This is the most common wind direction in El Médano that is windsurfed 90% of the time, and is side-onshore from the left. There is a further acceleration of this wind due to mount Teide. Some of the air that hits Mount Teide goes over the mountain, but the vast majority will be compressed and accelerates around it. This results in at least a five knot higher wind speed in El Médano compared to that found in the north of the island. However, as El Medano expands in its development, every additional building makes the wind near the shore a little bit more gusty and unreliable. Nevertheless, once you get out about 30-50 metres you will get pretty constant winds with smooth ocean waves.
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Flat Water
- Small Waves
- Chop
- Bay
- Moderate Temp Water
- Salt Water
- Sand
El Médano
Tenerife
38612
Spain
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