Kite spot on water · Canada
Spanish Banks
Riders have kited it in E, W, NW.
- Works in
- E, W, NW
- Nearest airport
- YVRVancouver International Airport, 10 km
Forecast and webcams
Before you go
Forecasts often disagree. When Windguru, ALADIN and Windy agree, it is worth going.
Webcams nearby
Live images from cameras within 25 km of the spot. Click to open the camera on Windy.com.
Webcams: Windy.com
Tips for this spot
- Offshore wind carries you away from land. Do not ride it without a rescue boat.
- When a storm is coming, get out of the water and land the kite at once. Gusts before a storm are violent and a kite overhead is the highest point around.
- New spot: ask locals about shallows, currents and where people launch.
On site
Wind and riding area
worksno reports
Direction the wind blows from. Based on riders' experience, not a forecast.
Pparking
From riders
What you need to know
Where to launch
- In NW wind, launch by the Spanish Banks West concession standcommunity map
- In E wind, launch at the end of Tolmie Streetcommunity map
Parking
- Car park about 150 m from the spot, paid.OpenStreetMap
Rules and respect
- No kiteboarding during lifeguard season (June-August)community map
Conditions
- In summer (June-August), the wind is usually not very good herecommunity map
Riders' tips
- In summer (June-August), it is better to head to the Spitcommunity map
In riders' own words
- „Good with W or NW wind. Launch at the Spanish Banks West concession stand with NW wind on East wind, launch at the foot of Tolmie Street.“
- „Launch at the Spanish Banks West concession stand with NW wind“
- „on East wind, launch at the foot of Tolmie Street.“
- „OpenStreetMap way/116785514“
- „OpenStreetMap way/116785521“
- „No kiteboarding allowed here during lifeguard season (june-aug)“
- „wind is not great then anyway (go to the spit)“
- „No kiteboarding allowed here during lifeguard season (june-aug), but wind is not great then anyway (go to the spit)“
Photos from the area
Ruth Hartnup from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sambisnaire, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
bynyalcin, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Wind by month
When it blows
Average wind speed 10 m above ground from NASA POWER (MERRA-2, 2001–2025). The model works on a grid of roughly 50 km; on hills and by the water the wind is often stronger and gustier.
windiest monthsaverage wind in knots, NASA POWER; below the month in m/s
Values by month
| January | 4.4 knots · 2.3 m/s |
|---|---|
| February | 4.1 knots · 2.1 m/s |
| March | 3.9 knots · 2.0 m/s |
| April | 3.4 knots · 1.7 m/s |
| May | 2.9 knots · 1.5 m/s |
| June | 2.9 knots · 1.5 m/s |
| July | 2.6 knots · 1.3 m/s |
| August | 2.5 knots · 1.3 m/s |
| September | 2.9 knots · 1.5 m/s |
| October | 3.4 knots · 1.7 m/s |
| November | 4.1 knots · 2.1 m/s |
| December | 4.4 knots · 2.3 m/s |
Nearby
More spots within 60 km
Been there?
Add what you know
Parking changed, a new ban, a new obstacle in the water? Tell us, we will check it and update the page.
Sources: Community map “Kiteboarding launch spots map” (Google My Maps); Community map “USA NW Kite Spots” (Google My Maps). Wind NASA POWER, airports OurAirports, photos Wikimedia Commons (author and licence with each photo). As of 17 October 2026. These are riders' reports; local rules change, so look around before you ride and follow local signs.
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