Cornish Kitesurfing

If you’re looking for the best kitesurfing spot in Cornwall, look no further than Watergate Bay, near Newquay. Kitesurfing at this location is an exhilarating experience that offers some of the most stunning views in the UK. This article will provide you with enough information to get started and show you why it’s worth making arrangements to come out here!

Watergate Bay is situated on the North Coast of Cornwall, just a couple of miles from the vibrant town of Newquay and just a few minutes from Newquay Airport.

This is one of the most well-known kitesurfing spots in Cornwall, if not the country due to its wide variety of conditions, but also due to the fact that all Kitesports are possible with the exception of snowkiting, for obvious reasons!

It is CS Watersport’s main kitesurfing teaching beaches due to its huge expanse of beach, and easy access from our Newquay-based shop. There are plenty of bars in the surrounding area and a café on the beach for your daily refreshments, once at Watergate Bay, there really is no need to leave!

Best Wind Directions For Watergate Bay

South West, West , North West, North North West

Tide Restrictions

Kitesurfing is only not recommended for 2 hours on either side of high tide, due to the large cliffs.

Kite Zone

The ‘Kitesports Zone’ is located to the north of a small group of rocks on the beach. It is advised that all kitesurfers please stick to this designated area at all times.

Kitesurfing Styles: What’s On Offer?

Freeriding

Watergate Bay offers awesome conditions for freeriding, zipping along the flat sections between the waves means it is a great area to work on your upwind ability and your first tricks! Or if you are feeling a little more adventurous, riding out through the waves gives you a real thrill!

Freestyle

Working on your freestyle tricks at the bay can really make you into a great rider. Having to pick your moment between the waves in the flat water helps your timing and for those seasoned riders really ups your level!

Wave Riding

Being a beach that is hammered by the Atlantic swell on a daily basis, wave riding here can be exceptional!

Watergate can be some of the best conditions in Cornwall! A NNW is cross-shore from the right with a slight bit of onshore, which makes for a great angle for the regular footers, the waves begin to clean up a little and you can enjoy some long rides out the back on some of the bigger sets.

You will also find that the waves reform a lot on the inside for riders wanting to advance their skills.

A SSW can be slightly gusty due to the surrounding cliffs, but for the more advanced goofy-footer, it can throw up some cracking cross-shore wave conditions.

It is not uncommon for national events in the wave-riding discipline to take place here, such as the ‘Legend of The Bay’.

Big Air

When the storms start to roll in from the Atlantic, Big Air becomes a real treat here. With the prevailing SW wind, you will be riding out into some nice kickers on a big swell, but do be aware of your distance from the beach!

Things To Look Out For

There are 2 groups of rocks on the beach that only become exposed for 2 hours either of high tide, please be aware of these when launching and landing. The cliffs can also create a wind shadow so try and set up as close to the water as possible. The beach can be very popular in the summer, so please respect the kite zone and stay well clear of any holidaymakers that may be on the beach or in the water.

This area is also very popular with sports, such as surfing and paddle boarding, so be careful of other beach/water users.

Top Tip From CS Watersports

When pumping your kite near to the first group of rocks, you will see that the cliffs protrude out a lot more than the rest of the beach, this interferes with the wind and on many occasions, it will feel like there is no wind at all, head out to the water’s edge before rigging so that you can get a clear feel for the wind before rigging your kite!

Watergate Bay Local Weather

Wind and wave weather forecast for this area from Windy.app. This contains detailed information about local wind speed, direction, and gusts. Wave forecast includes wave height and period. Windy.app also provides general weather forecast: temperature, air pressure, cloud cover, precipitation, and tides.

These forecasts are based on the GFS model and were created for windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing and other extreme sports activities. All data updates 4 times a day. Predictions are available in steps from 1 to 3 hours for up to 10 days.

Where To Stay

The Watergate Bay Hotel is situated right on the beach and is ideal for easy access to the water. You can quickly be relaxing in the pool after a kite session.

Other activities

As well as being perfect for kitesurfing, the area is excellent for swimming, cycling and walking.

Conclusion: Kitesurfing In Cornwall

No matter what you love to do, or how many places you have been in the world, Watergate Bay will always be one of your favourite spots for kitesurfing, we guarantee it. This place has it all: waves that are perfect for kite surfing, wind direction patterns that allow beginners as well as experts to practice their skills and a breathtaking sunset over the ocean, whilst you sit back with a beer every evening. What more could you want.

Do You Want To Learn To Kitesurf?

CS Watersports is a company that provides safe, high-quality kitesurfing lessons around Cornwall. We are situated close to some of Cornwall’s best (and most beautiful!) locations to learn how to kitesurf, including Watergate Bay, Par Sands and Hawker’s Cove.

If you are looking for an unforgettable experience in the UK then we have just what you need! Our instructors will teach you everything from the basics of getting up on your board all the way through advanced tricks and manoeuvres. You won’t regret it!

Book a lesson with us today by telephone call, by email or online here!