So I will be moving to one of these three cities next year, and I have to rank them. Does anyone have any information on kite surfing in these three cities?

From what I could find myself:
Athens:
- 3 hours away for good kite surfing and waves (www.surfsalad.eu/navarino-sea/kite-surf/)
- 30 min from the CBD for rocky beaches and no waves (www.windfinder.com/forecast/loutsa)
- 8+ months of good wind/year
- great weather whole year round

Rome:
- Everything is in Italian
- Possibly ok kite surfing 1 hour north of Rome (4-6 months of the year)
- Cold water
- Cold winter

San Francisco
- Great kitesurfing and normal surfing, with waves
- Entire Californian coast + Mexico
- Very cold water
- Miserable weather
- How far south do you have to drive until it becomes bearable??

So lucky to have the choice

Greece with wind and weather sounds nicer... though you won't get to hang with the Village people in San Francisco
Or make extra pocket money doing down winders from Mexico to San Fran

Select to expand quote

raw996 said..

..Does anyone have any information on kite surfing in these three cities?..

In this three cities maybe some fountain? Plenty in Rome.

Seriously, if you moving to any of those, I would concentrate on some other opportunities. But that's me.

Rome looks really old.........
Athens everyone is broke........
And San Fran is just a sausage fest!

The kiting wouldn't be the reason I would move to any of them but they're all great places..But i'd only go on holiday to Athens and Rome whereas I would definitely live in San Fran.

But then I grew up in Europe so been there done that - Don't think kiting really comes into it.

Thanks for the feedback on other aspects of the places, but I've lived in a bunch of countries, and I'm now totally fed up with culture and experiences and everything. The only thing I care about anymore is warm weather and a nice beach to either surf or kite in! So as it stands, I'm leaning most towards Greece...

For surf and kiting San Francisco wins. The coast south to Santa Cruz has many good spots - Waddell Creek is a quality gutsy beach break that is also kited. Yes it can be cold but the sun does shine and all you need is a decent wettie. Right in the city you've got Ocean beach which pumps some awesome waves when it's on. San Fran has some great local flavour.

SAN FRAN without a second thought

Dude San Fran but naked kite loops with Alcatraz in the back ground well worth a $100.... There is also a dude that does massive wheelies on a Harley "Jason pulling stunts" is his name I loved my time there :-)

San fran is also fairly expensive with an average monthly rent of over 3kUSD alone and has significant mental health, homeless and drug problems. Loads of culture and tourists too

Still it's not such a bad place but if it's purely for kiting why not just move to Gero if you don't care about life

Haha, I wish! I'm just following my girlfriend around -- she gets posted to new cities every 3 years. Pros: housing is free. Cons: Gero isn't on the list

Ok, decisions have been made. SF was decided to be too cold, and the girlfriend vetoed Greece.

New ranking:
#1. Colombo, Sri Lanka

Then for #2 and #3 it is either Rome or Kuala Lumpor.

#4. Jakarta
#5. Rio

Wow I'd take San Fran over Colombo any day. You want heat, you are going to get it in Sri Lanka. It was 27 degrees in ocean water down south when I was there last. 40 + most days with humidity. Traffic and roads are chaos. European holidays are mental with crowds. Locals are great though. Nice problem to have though. Sounds like a win win. ?? KL would never be on my list beach to their own. Maybe look at political stability and safety for your lady. Just a thought ??

If it was me I would put San fran back at the top of that list, especially if you have housing sorted that is the biggest expense and challenge there- getting an affordable house in a place you would want to live.

Kl why bother? Jakarta no f**king way ( unless you want to meet/ hire some hot indo girls but I don't think your girlfriend would be ok with that)

San Fran - beautiful city - amazing food, culture and nightlife- raw powerful ocean and surprisingly uncrowded surf- strong winds - driving distance to great snow and short drive to epic surf of Santa cruz- epic surf and flatwater kiting- kiting under the golden gate bridge
And let's not forget of course that oooooooeeeee sweet sweet medical marijuana

San Fran is cold but you will still get plenty of hot sunny days- the water is always cold but a good wetty will sort that out

The fog can be an issue but it can also be really cool and trippy watching it spill in over the hills and into the bay as it encases the Golden Gate Bridge

( I would reccomend a good dosage of medical marijuana to get the full effect on that one)

Well thats taken a downward turn.

Sri lanka has awesome waves and kiting but they're a long way from Colombo. I have nothing good to say about KL other than there is some nice shopping!

I haven't been to Jakarta but is massive and but there is some good surf on the south coast

Rio is hectic but not a place to go to with your girlfriend

Where do you live now - I would compare San Fran to Melbourne climate wise - having grown up in England its really not that bad

Well I've been pretty much everywhere you've mentioned and I'd go San Fran in a heartbeat. Good kiting, good city and surrounded by awesome stuff in all directions.

I Can't comment on the other options but San Fran seemed like a very liveable place and from what I saw cruising the coast down from Washington state, if you are well suited up there are unbelievable options for adventure kiting. Also the bonus feature of this location is the options for snow kiting.....the Sierras (tahoe) are very close and the cascades to the north and wilds of Idaho are within reach.

As a testimony to the appeal of the coast and snow combo the original pipeline charger Gerry Lopez Lives in Oregan.

Cold yes, but the concept of a surf in the morning and a snowboard in the afternoon does appeal...

Both KL and Jakarta have really good Durian. I would put that as a second priority after kiting/surfing.

Legal green beats durian fruit any day !!

Athens here ....

notice our main kitespot Loutsa is 30min from Athens Centre and its the best you can
find in Greece where is windy 300days per year wave + flat spot (between the small islands )


another 2 spots in half an hour distance
1 works in summer months and
2 works in Sep - Jan with south winds

costa navarino spot its nice but no wind comparing with the other

and many many other spots if you like to take a car and go
http://kitespots.gr/ here all the info you want
i hope it helps

ps. broke is the EU system not Greek (this goes to fellow told that)