Wind surfers call Sandbanks best for wave riding

“Sandbanks Provincial Park, from September to mid-November, is one of the best windsurfing destinations in Canada for wave riding,” says Steeve Mallet, organizer of the first Free4All wave sailing event held last week. “It’s a gem,” he says. “It’s better than most prime spots on the east coast from Florida to N.B., with a few rare exceptions like Outer Banks in North Carolina and around Halifax, Nova-Scotia.
Mallet planned a simple event for the 25 participants, that would kick-in as soon as the wind forecast was predicted to be 25 knots or more.
“There were no registration fees and a lot of prizes.
I wanted to have a windsurfing event based on friendship and not competition, to share our passion and get together to the best wave sailing spot in Eastern Canada – and Sandbanks is probably the best.”
Prizes were awarded the rider of the day; the person who drove the most distance, (Quebec), the biggest wipeout, the King of the shorebreak (friendly name for the one who had a hard time with the white water) and the longest swim. At the end of the day, Mallet noted, the wind shut down and one participant swam for nearly an hour to reach shore.

“Next year we will connect with the community and invite them participate and hopefully have a lot of curious onlookers to watch and enjoy the show with us.”