Windsurf & wing spots in Eastern Switzerland
The Engadin's Maloja wind at Silvaplana and Sils, the foehn fjord of the Walensee, the mountain lakes of Davos and Lenzerheide: Eastern Switzerland is thermal country at altitude.
Silvaplana
The windiest lake in the Alps (1791 m) and Switzerland's windsport capital. The thermal Maloja wind delivers 4–6 Bft from the southwest almost daily from May to September, starting shortly before noon and easing in the later afternoon. Kite and wing launch at the Mulets sports centre (member club), windsurfers launch at the Surfcenter. Home of the Engadinwind festival — the oldest windsurfing regatta in the world.
Wind: 14–27 kn · SW, S — Sports: windsurf, kite, wing, SUP — Level: all levels — On site: school, rental, food, rescue
Rules: Official zoning plan with marked launch corridors (buoys/posts). Kite: member club at Mulets is mandatory (day CHF 15 / season CHF 100), VDWS level 4 / IKO 3J. Liability insurance with Swiss coverage required.
Caution: Cold mountain water (rarely above 16 °C — 4/3 wetsuit+), gusts around 6 Bft on classic days, up to 6–7 Bft with SW upper-level flow; south foehn days are strong but very gusty. Northerly winds are rarely rideable.
Silsersee (Sils Maria)
One lake upwind of Silvaplana, the Silsersee catches the Maloja wind first. At Sils Maria the wind blows offshore over flat water in a small bay — ideal terrain for beginners, families and beach starts, with the same thermal engine as its famous neighbour. Windsurfing Silvaplana runs its Station 2 here.
Wind: 12–22 kn · SW, S — Sports: windsurf, wing, SUP — Level: beginner — On site: school, rental
Rules: Offshore wind — stay within reach of the station, follow school briefings. Nature reserve shores around the lake: launch only at the designated bay.
Caution: Offshore wind pushes away from the launch — self-rescue skills or school support needed. Cold water at 1797 m, weather can flip quickly.
Davosersee
Davos' mountain lake at 1560 m is a classic Swiss thermal spot: on sunny summer days a N–NE thermal of 3–5 Bft builds in the afternoon, best when a light NW gradient supports it. Compact, easy to read and popular with windsurfers, wingers and kiters alike — with the MeteoSwiss Davos station less than a kilometre away for a perfect live check.
Wind: 8–17 kn · N, NE — Sports: windsurf, kite, wing, SUP — Level: all levels — On site: food
Rules: Follow the official spot board of the Swiss Kitesurf Club (launch zones, bathing area separation).
Caution: Thermal dies quickly when clouds roll in; cold water; busy bathing shore in high summer.
Walenstadt (Walensee)
The fjord of eastern Switzerland: sheer Churfirsten walls funnel south foehn and westerlies along the lake with real violence, and the Quinten station on the opposite shore reads the wind mid-lake. Big-wind terrain for experienced riders, launching at Walenstadt's flat east end.
Wind: 12–30 kn · S, SW, W — Sports: windsurf, kite, wing — Level: advanced — On site: food
Rules: The Seez delta itself is off-limits — launch north of the delta behind the water pipeline; 150 m shore distance outside the corridor. Military firing range 'See' adjoins the spot: on shooting days the spot is closed (check the official firing calendar).
Caution: Foehn gusts off the cliffs, abrupt collapses, cold deep water, few exits on the north shore.
Heidsee (Lenzerheide)
The wing-foil playground of Lenzerheide at 1484 m: valley-axis thermals from north or south serve compact afternoon sessions over cold, clear water. Small, scenic and family-friendly — with the Valbella station 1.7 km away as your honest live check.
Wind: 8–16 kn · N, S — Sports: wing, windsurf, SUP — Level: all levels — On site: food
Rules: Respect bathing areas and the fishing zones; local tourism rules apply.
Caution: Cold mountain water; thermal collapses with cloud; small lake — short runs.