Windsurfing lake Garda

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

Posted by: webguy

1 Map of Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake 1	2 Peggy viewing the Lake from the balcony of our hotel room 2	3 Panorama of Lake Garda from our hotel 3
5 One of a number of boats that ferries passengers between town on the Lake 5	6 Shaka Windsurf Center, where I rented gear, hosts frequent meets and competitions 6	7 New selection of JP boards in Shaka's rental fleet 7
8 Owner, Mike, shows Barrett his latest & favorite board, the Naish Starship 100 8	9 Rigged & ready 9	10 Launching ramp at Shaka. The ramps are padded to minimize gear damage. 10
11 Lake Garda is a spectacular setting that feels uncrowded despite 100-200 windsurfers being on the... 11	12 Afternoon wind during my visit was in the 7.0 to 7.5m range, but most sailors rigged smaller.... 12	4 Town of Torbole, where we stayed 4
16 Windsurfers start learning early. We saw many families with kids joining parents on windsurfing... 16	17 Mute swans at night in front of hotel 17	18 There are plenty of places to stay, including this 4 star hotel catering to sailors 18
19 There are two windy periods on the Lake, early morning and afternoon. In the lull as the wind... 19	20 We climb above Lake Garda during the mid-morning lull for a hike and views of the Italian Alps. 20	21 The trail hugs the slopes providing spectacular views. In places such as this, metal stars allow... 21
22 Back at the Lake, windsurfers rigging up and heading out early in the afternoon 22	13 Peggy orders lunch from windsurfer's cafe. The meals were delicious and affordable. 13	14 Thermal winds are funneled during the afternoon between mountains flanking the Lake 14
15 Conditions progress from flat water to lake waves as the wind ramps up 15	26 Lunch at the windsurf café 26	27 Torbole Town of Tórbole as darkness falls. During the evening, there's an après-windsurf dinner &... 27 Torbole
29 Enjoying the morning in town. 29	30 This windsurfer vacationing from England parks his car and avoids crowded launch conditions at the... 30	31 We rent mountain bikes and pass another windsurfing beach on our way to the neighboring town of... 31
32 Cute little boy starting out early biking & windsurfing 32	23 Back on the water again. I brought a shorty wetsuit - just right for 70F water in the afternoon. 23	24 The Lake is big. Get away from shore and you can sail in solitude. 24
25 After sailing it's time to relax 25	38 Lucky for me Peggy made me turn around, because the wind came up! And the last day was the best on... 38	39 Last photo of Lake Garda as the sun sets over the mountains 39
33 One of many windsurfing schools around Lake Garda. It makes me wish I'd been sent to windsurfing... 33	34 Girls jumping off a very high bridge. They landed without getting hurt, but one had to swim for... 34	35 Peggy cruising past beautiful Riva del Garda 35
36 Garda is also a mt. biking mecca. Here we climb a trail cut into the side of a mountain. The... 36	37 This is the easy part of the trail. After this it gets steeper & more exposed. My wife... 37	28 Bike paths were a fun way to get around and explore the N. end of the Lake 28