I know Hannes and Rik from the Freak Surfstation from the EFPT contest in Palekastro. I have some fond memories of that contest as I came fifth and we had good wind every day! When Hannes asked me at the beginning of the year if I would come and visit him again, I immediately said yes! In the summer of 2009 we had a good mix of conditions ranging from super flat water conditions for 5.3s to full power bump & jump conditions with 4.0s. I was looking forward to these conditions - warm water at a cool freestyle spot.
Immediately after the Bonifacio Freestyle project in Corsica, I packed my suitcase at home in Holland and nine hours later I was already on the plane to Crete. The two-hour transfer from the hectic airport in Heraklion and the north coast, which is characterised by mass tourism, over to the east of the largest Greek island is perfect preparation for what awaits you in Palekastro. The landscape becomes ever more unspoilt and the views ever more breathtaking.
And Palekastro is what you would imagine a picturesque Greek village on the coast to look like. No more hotel castles, cosy tavernas, flats surrounded by olive groves. And a beach that is heavily ventilated by the strong Meltemi wind almost every day in summer.
The very morning after our arrival, my five-person sail was used. So beautiful! After the long winter, I had almost forgotten how pleasant it is to surf in board shorts. At Kouremenos Beach, the Meltemi blows sideshore from the left. The water is completely flat on the shore and the further out you go, the more small waves there are to jump into. The Meltemi starts around nine in the morning and is at its strongest at midday. It's usually windy all day, and it's only from five o'clock in the afternoon that the wind picks up a little. So the wind quickly set our daily rhythm. A morning session, then a Greek salad with souvlaki (tip from Hannes) in the taverna right on the beach and then, after a short break, back on the water for the afternoon session.
During our time in Palekastro, we also got to know all the alternative spots in the area, which I would like to introduce to you here. What they all have in common is that you won't find the hustle and bustle, parties and space problems on the water that you would find at other "in" spots.
We describe these spots in the PDF download below:
1. Kouremenos 2. Chiona 3. Xerokampos 4. Sitia (town) 5. Sitia (the hotel) 6. Faneromeni 6. Tenda
