Windsurfing lake Garda

Barrett & Peggy vacation at Lake Garda in N. Italy, Sept. 2013

Posted by: webguy

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Map of Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake
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Peggy viewing the Lake from the balcony of our hotel room
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Panorama of Lake Garda from our hotel
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Owner, Mike, shows Barrett his latest & favorite board, the Naish Starship 100
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Rigged & ready
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Launching ramp at Shaka. The ramps are padded to minimize gear damage.
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Lake Garda is a spectacular setting that feels uncrowded despite 100-200 windsurfers being on the...
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Afternoon wind during my visit was in the 7.0 to 7.5m range, but most sailors rigged smaller....
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Town of Torbole, where we stayed
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One of a number of boats that ferries passengers between town on the Lake
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Shaka Windsurf Center, where I rented gear, hosts frequent meets and competitions
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New selection of JP boards in Shaka's rental fleet
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There are plenty of places to stay, including this 4 star hotel catering to sailors
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There are two windy periods on the Lake, early morning and afternoon. In the lull as the wind...
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We climb above Lake Garda during the mid-morning lull for a hike and views of the Italian Alps.
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The trail hugs the slopes providing spectacular views. In places such as this, metal stars allow...
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Back at the Lake, windsurfers rigging up and heading out early in the afternoon
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Peggy orders lunch from windsurfer's cafe. The meals were delicious and affordable.
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Thermal winds are funneled during the afternoon between mountains flanking the Lake
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Conditions progress from flat water to lake waves as the wind ramps up
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Windsurfers start learning early. We saw many families with kids joining parents on windsurfing...
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Mute swans at night in front of hotel
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This windsurfer vacationing from England parks his car and avoids crowded launch conditions at the...
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We rent mountain bikes and pass another windsurfing beach on our way to the neighboring town of...
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Cute little boy starting out early biking & windsurfing
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Back on the water again. I brought a shorty wetsuit - just right for 70F water in the afternoon.
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The Lake is big. Get away from shore and you can sail in solitude.
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After sailing it's time to relax
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Lunch at the windsurf café
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Town of Tórbole as darkness falls. During the evening, there's an après-windsurf dinner &...
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Enjoying the morning in town.
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One of many windsurfing schools around Lake Garda. It makes me wish I'd been sent to windsurfing...
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Girls jumping off a very high bridge. They landed without getting hurt, but one had to swim for...
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Peggy cruising past beautiful Riva del Garda
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Garda is also a mt. biking mecca. Here we climb a trail cut into the side of a mountain. The...
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This is the easy part of the trail. After this it gets steeper & more exposed. My wife...
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Lucky for me Peggy made me turn around, because the wind came up! And the last day was the best on...
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Last photo of Lake Garda as the sun sets over the mountains
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Bike paths were a fun way to get around and explore the N. end of the Lake