Gabriele Steindl: Professional Kitesurfer & Freelance Writer - Action, Lifestyle & Travels

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Spotguide Portugal

Portugal, previously the prominent sailor nation and homeland of great discoverers, had already been for quite some time right on top of my “trip-wish-list”. Today the small country on the Iberian peninsula, at the most western corner of Europe is a popular destination for millions of holiday-makers. Most travel to the well known beaches of the Algarve in the south, whose bizarre rock formations are considered as the most beautiful on our continent, and to the impressive sites of interest in Lisbon, the center of the world discoveries. With the rest of Portugal both have very little in common.

The surging Atlantic coast here counts with almost uncountable surfspots to Europes top-surf locations and the Portuguese value their surfing beside their football highly. Amongst windsurfers Portugal has been a popular Europe-destination for decades due to its rather consistent wind statistics (particularly in the summer months) and also in the kitesurfing-scene it has lately become increasingly popular.

I took the Wavemasters competition in September 2007 in Guincho, a notorious wavespot not far from lisbon, as an opportunity to explore those – to me until then still totally unknown – kitegrounds and have to admit: I was truly impressed!