I will be heading up to Okanagan/Shuswap/Armstrong area this summer. Any recommended places for a summer windsurf spot?

TURTLE wrote:I will be heading up to Okanagan/Shuswap/Armstrong area this summer. Any recommended places for a summer windsurf spot?

Not sure you can call it wind "surf" out there, mostly uncontrolled drifting.....Osoyoos gusty afternoons, Merrit - Nicola (some wavelets) and Stump (flatish) lakes decent thermals, don't drink any of the water (or eat the fish) the pesticides from the ginseng farms are lethal

Here is a bit of info for Nicola. If you look at the link for google maps and zoom in to the point you will see the launch is a small pull out on the highway. This is actually a windsurfer memorial site for one of the locals. There is a small picnic table there and a plaque. There will probably be a few cars there on a good day. It's very gusty but I've had some great days there, it can be 4.7-4.2 and whens it like that you get some nice sell. It's nice and warm in the summer as well!

Info on Thewindsurfer.

http://thewindsurfer.com/?q=node/1763

This sensor is up the road at the sailing Centre

http://www.wunderground.com/personal-we ... =IBCQUILC3
Map

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Quilc ... e572?hl=en

Thank-you both. I was hoping' for something closer to Falkland, but I will drive so I do not have to "drift".

Thanks Kus (long time no hear)
Thank-you Tsawassen
This helps a lot

Tsawwassen wrote:small pull out on the highway. This is actually a windsurfer memorial site for one of the locals. There is a small picnic table there and a plaque. very gusty but I've had some great days there, it can be 4.7-4.2 and whens it like that you get some nice sell.

yes, this is true and it comes up super fast, the airport readings are helpful. I have actually been blown off the water there on a 4.5 (I mean, who knew or would take a smaller sail?) and the lake swells coming in from the river were near 4', pretty impressive for a lake/river but it tends to not last long or is up/down, usually decent 6.0. If it is a bit of a drive for you, you can camp at Monk Park directly on the other side, super nice campground!! grass areas and gravel beaches, better on weekdays sans redneck factor, but wind is slightly lighter there, so you should be fully amped once you get to the other side and when it drops you can limp home with a floaty board.
Stump is great for freestyle, kinda like Klickitat (gorge), but it does have ....you guessed it.....don't go too far across the lake. It at least had a washroom last I was there. Both sites are quite reliable May til late June, early July as I recall. Killer country side with great highway & no fees (used to have to pay Coq tandem axle fees for my trailer, not a happy thing for a young, broke dad), lots of fishing, get a late snowmobile ride in, ride a few bulls river raft, I think the Mtn Music Festival is no longer but was quite the hit, interesting transition topography/climate in that area. I have always liked Merritt for these things. And hey "What's new?
http://www.merritt.ca/news/annual-cemet ... y-5-9-2014
Most excellent

I once heard someone sailed on Kalamalka (1hr drive vs 1.5 to Stump from Falkland) but then, every once in a while you can sail on the puddles on Main Street in Dawson Creek too

Falkland hey, nice place but a bit out of the way for wind. You might get some light wind sessions in at Monte Lake just down the road. To get you stoked for the drive to Nicola here are a few photos from last summer.

Just click the next button to go through the gallery. Click on a photo if you want to see it full size. Photos by Chris Klohn.

http://thewindsurfer.com/?q=node/10875

Once and a while Okanagan Lake can go off and it's awesome.

More photos from last summer. Launching from the boat in the middle of the Okanagan Lake, I had the whole place to myself. The boat almost got swamped though when the waves picked up. My dad who is 84 took these photos and was completely soaked by the time we got in.


http://thewindsurfer.com/?q=node/10822