Germany

St. Peter-Ording

St. Peter-Ording (SPO) St. Peter-Ording lies on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, between Hamburg and North Frisia. With its roughly 12 km of sandy beach, SPO is "Germany's largest sandbox" and one of the country's best-known watersports areas — among other things, host of the Kitesurf World Cup. The spot is split into two areas: at the main beach in the Ording district you'll find the infrastructure and, with the H2O surf school, a fixed point of contact, though it gets crowded in summer. In the more southerly Böhl district the walk to the water is longer, but it's much less busy. At both spots the way to the water can be long depending on the tide, so a trolley for your gear is an advantage. Windsurfing: SPO still works very well. The spot runs in all westerly winds, with the offshore sandbanks smoothing the water at the right tide level. Surfable flat-water sections form between the sandbanks now and again — but only briefly and often not deep enough. The North Sea swell stays unpredictable, since nothing sorts the waves or makes them break in the same place. Kitesurfing: The enormous beach area, the numerous waist-deep sandbanks and the moderate North Sea swell make SPO one of the most popular kitesurf spots in northern Germany. The designated kite zones matter: two lie at the start and end of the main beach — one by the surf school and one at the start of the FKK (naturist) beach, clearly marked by white-and-yellow buoys. The bathing zone directly in front of the beach car park in Ording is to be avoided. In strong winds a considerable current develops, which makes the spot less suitable for beginners then. Most local kite schools work mobile and teach at the best spot of the day depending on wind and tide. Wing foiling & SUP: Thanks to the waist-deep areas, SPO is considered a safe area for beginners and advanced wing foilers alike. On the flat, sheltered sandbank sections you can wing and paddle well at the right water level. Tides — be sure to note: Unlike many inland or Baltic spots, ebb and flood play the central role here. The best wind is north, south and west; during storm surges and very high water the beach car park floods and then offers a perfect flat-water track — but you should move your car to safety beforehand. Kiting and surfing are usually only sensible in the window a few hours before and after high tide. Getting there & infrastructure: You can drive right up to the spot and rig your gear on site; the day ticket costs around €12 (car and two adults) plus visitor's tax, and the municipality offers an annual ticket for €55. Public toilets and a snack bar are available, and overnight stays in a camper are possible at the spot for a fee.