Wave champions at Guincho

With a forecast of light winds around Lisbon, I decided to try my luck at Guincho... As often, the 10 knots forecast at this famous spot turned out to be 20 knots on my windmeter, reason enough to admit that, even if it's far from being my favorite place to kite, it has a "special magic" in what concerns attracting winds...

(panoramic view - click to enlarge)

As soon as I got there, I saw a familiar face... Thinking it through for a little while, I figured out it was Abel Lago, RRD's waverider! I was guessing he had come to Portugal to enjoy some nice waves, when I ran into none other than Mitu Monteiro, having a orange juice and a sandwich before hitting the waves!

As I quickly figured, there were some of Portugal's and the world's best waveriders at Guincho, offering some serious kiting just before my eyes! I didn't understand why they were all there, until somebody told me they were training for the first run of the KSP World Tour, taking place in Guincho from the 1st to the 10th of June.
I wasn't quick enough to get my camera and take a picture of my smiley face together with Mitu, but later managed to get some pictures of his stylish riding, even if the full zoom in my point-and-shoot camera only allows a poor quality... Anyhow, it was a sight I won't soon forget! It sure beats seeing some of this guys on internet videos...

(Mitu on the waves)

A portuguese kite trip - Part II

After Alentejo and despite the good times spent together, most of us were felling the "itch" of the need for wind, so it was time to check the spots surrounding Lisbon to see if we had more luck there...

To start the hostilities, we chose a place I know well, Lagoa de Albufeira: flat waters on a beautiful lagoon that changes constantly with the tides and the possibility to get some waves on the ocean side (this option was left for a later visit in the trip...). 

And the choice proved right, 'cause we had here the first great session of the trip!

With our restless "kiter souls" more relaxed, I suggested we try the spot at Nova Vaga beach, normally a "sure bet" in Summer due to good thermal winds (and the only place in Caparica were kites are allowed during the high season!).
After some sunbathing, the light conditions started picking up force and we all jumped to the water for a great wave session, before running with sand still on our feet to get some friends at the Lisbon airport, arriving at night for the second week of the trip.

The next morning, with 11 of us now in the group, my apartment was transformed in a camping site and the terrace in a kiteshop (beautiful, don't you thing?)...

Being the first day for some but the last day for others that where cutting the trip short after one week, we did a little tour around Lisbon, with enough time for breakfast at the famous "Pastéis de Belém" and a funky snapshot that must also be in the vacation albums of a lot of foreign tourists that were around at the same time...

To finish up the second part of the trip, what better spot than the mythical Guincho? Despite the "rush hour" of the weekend in this windy beach, some couldn't contain the joy of unpacking the gear to kite one of the most famous spots in Europe!

(photos by Olive, Marc, Emilie and me)