Of the many summer pleasures for which Austria has a world-class reputation, water sports and bathing are just one, not least because of the superb quality of the water in its lakes and rivers, making it a first choice for any water sport holiday. If water is your element, you can choose between the reinvigorating crystal-clear waters of a mountain lake or the relaxing tranquillity of the warm bathing lakes, which makes the pleasure of a water sports holiday in Austria second to none.
Kite Surfing
While a few years ago kitesurfers were merely made fun of, today kite surfing is considered - in Austria, too - as the water sport trend of the new millennium. Both athletes and audience alike are enthralled with the new extreme water action.
Kitesurfing differs from normal surfing by one essential feature: fastened onto the board is not a sail but a ‘water’ kite connected to the handlebar by tethers. In contrast to windsurfing one can already glide across the water surface with a wind force of 2 and jumps are possible at 3. With some practise the kitesurfer can fly up to 10 meters high in shallow water and for a distance of 70 meters– the world record is currently 7 seconds flying time.
Lake Neusiedl is considered the ‘Kite-Mecca’ of Austria. Courses are offered at the kite surfing school “Get High” in Podersdorf.
Diving
Thanks to strict environmental regulations Austria’s lakes are among the cleanest and purest in Europe – and are a paradise for divers.
It has long been known that it is not just the sea that harbours fascinating fauna but lakes, too, make for a wonderful diving experience. The fauna in Austria’s lakes and rivers is quite diverse: perch, pike, catfish, swan mussel, migratory shell, freshwater sponge, lake trout, grayling, freshwater hydra, crayfish - and in the summer numerous freshwater medusas - are among the colourful water inhabitants.
Many Austrian lakes are equipped with diving bases and diving schools, such as the Hallstättersee, which offers excellent diving opportunities. The fish world in its waters and the abundant flora give it a special flair. In addition to steep precipices in the south-eastern area, the famous lake offers shallower but no less interesting banks.
The Traunsee - the lowest lake in Austria with its 191m and surrounded by the romantic mountain scenarios of the Traunstein, Erlakogel and Sonnstein ranges, is an eldorado for the practised diver as well. Whether it is the steep precipices or shallower sediment areas in the northern part of the lake – partly even with freshwater sponges – it is simply a fascinating body of water.
With a surface area of 48 km² and a length of over 19 km the Attersee is the largest inner-Austrian body of water. It is quasi the heart and centre of the diving sport in the Salzkammergut. Due to its central location it is also an ideal starting point for excursions to neighbouring lakes such as Mondsee, Traunsee, Wolfgangsee and Grundlsee.
An interesting variant is river diving, for which the rivers Enns, Steyr and especially Traun are most suitable.
A number of diving schools and associations assist divers in finding their way around Austria’s lakes and rivers. ARGE Tauchen provides continuous up-to-date info on diving areas in consultation with the authorities, lake owners, biologists as well as the fishery, and leases diving permits in private waters thus enabling diving in Austria’s nicest lakes.
Rafting/White Water Canoeing/Canoeing
Every white-water aficionado dreams of negotiating swirling rapids, gliding beneath overhanging bushes and branches and shooting over waterfalls. The sport’s appeal lies in its direct confrontation with Nature, the roar and thrust of the tumbling water, and the excitement of going to your limits.
There’s no reason why your dreams shouldn’t’t come true - as long as your personal safety is assured. All of Austria’s rafting and canoeing schools have to comply with stringent requirements and ensure that thrills always go hand in hand with safety.
Sailing/Wind Surfing
Burgenland
Lake Neusiedler See has a loyal and committed fan community. Thanks to its great winds and strong waves the lake has turned into a mecca for freestyle windsurfers. The number 1 place to be is Podersdorf which, during the last years, has developed into a hot spot for kite surfers, a sports that fuses traits of wind surfing and kite flying with other influences.
Carinthia
Sailboating Aquila, Laser, Optima, Invader, South Wind – these are all sailboats. Top sailboats. There are a total of 15 sailing schools at six lakes (Wörthersee, Millstätter See, Ossiacher, Faaker and Pressegger See) offering instruction for beginners and experts alike. Some also offer instruction for kids from 6 years.
Windsurfing Windsurfing is an extremely popular pastime in Carinthia. For some it’s the ultimate challenge, for others just pure, exhilarating fun. Windsurfing boards can be rented at almost every of the bigger lakes, and instruction is just as readily available, no matter whether aspiring beginner or more experienced windsurfer.
Upper Austria
Attersee When it comes to sailing, lake Attersee is second to none. With 46km2 and a length of 21km it is the Salzkammergut’s largest lake and an internationally acknowledged. The lake is popular with yachtsmen not only thanks to its large water surface, but also because of its great winds. Especially the so called “Rose Wind” (a constant easterly winds of approx. 4 BFT) ensure sailing and wind surfing fun at its best. The area’s yacht clubs organise many activities including regattas. There are a great number of marinas and buoys around the lake. Sailing boats of all types are readily available for hire.
Traunsee The Salzkammergut’s second largest lake (26 km2) also boats good winds making it popular with sailors and windsurfers. The so called “Oberwind” blows in the early mornings at a gentle speed of approx. 2 BFT, and the much brisker “Niederwind” in the afternoons. Even on sunny and calm days there are at least thermal winds. At westerly winds the waves at lake Traunsee can become really tall. A few times a year the wind blows at a speed of 7 – 8 knots (3 Beaufort).
Mondsee Lake Mondsee (14.3km2 and a length of 12km) is the Salzkammergut’s warmest lake. The largest sailing & windsurfing school of the entire German speaking area is located here offering 120 sailboats, 200 surfboards, sailboat moorings, and buoys. The north-western part of the lake offers average to good wind conditions. In the south-east there are good thermal winds between 3 and 5 BFT.
Wolfgangsee Lake Wolfgangsee (13km2) offers reasonable conditions for sailors and windsurfers (according to locals there is always “some kind of wind blowing”). “Bronnwind" is a good weather wind and blows at a speed of 4 knots. When cloudy there is a westerly wind blowing at almost the same speed.
Salzburg
Salzburg boasts a total of eleven lakes ideal for windsurfing and sailing. With a length of 11km and a depth of 100m, Lake Wolfgangsee is the larges and deepest lake of the Salzburger Land (Salzburg province). One of Austria’s oldest Yacht Clubs is also located here. The Flachgau Lake District with lake Wallersee and the Trumer lakes – a picturesque and hilly landscape just before the city of Salzburg. Thanks to its strong westerly winds the Lake District is an eldorado for windsurfers. Especially picturesque is lake Zeller See overlooking the majestic Kitzsteinhorn mountain. There are sailing and windsurfing schools as well as equipment rental stores at almost all lakes. Hintersee, Wiestalstausee, Badesee Uttendorf and Durlassboden reservoir are especially popular with wind surfers.
Styria
Styria’s largest lake, Grundlsee, boasts a Yacht Club and is the place to be for Tempest and race dinghy sailors; wind conditions are excellent in good weather thanks to thermal currents.
Austria’s First Wind Surfing School at Stubenbergsee offers instruction for children from 6 years as well as for novices and experts. Also available for rent: sailboats and windsurfing boards.
Tirol
Lake Achensee is Tirol’s largest lake and offers excellent sailing conditions. The TWV Achensee Sailing Club and the Achenkirch Yacht Club organise regattas (Austrian championships, special regattas, championships for different sailboat classes) on a regular basis. The reason why the lake is so popular with sailors and windsurfers are the brisk winds. In good weather southerly thermals develop (1-2 Neufort) in the mornings; in the afternoons (from approx. 2pm) there blows a strong northerly wind of 3-5 Beaufort.
Vorarlberg
With a surface of 539km2 Bodensee (Lake Constance) is Central Europe’s third largest lake. Thanks to its vastness and its unique location straddling three countries (Austria, Switzerland, Germany), Bodensee reminds more of the ocean than the lake. No other Austrian lake boasts as many yacht marinas and pompous boats. Sailing and windsurfing are a big part of the lifestyle here. However though, strict rules apply stipulated in the Bodensee Shipping Regulations.
Vienna
In Vienna sailors and windsurfers will also find plenty to keep them entertained! The popular Alte Donau offers all kinds of water sports as well as three sailing and windsurfing schools. Windsurfing boards are available for rent at the 42km long Donauinsel bathing beach at the Neue Donau.
