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Mid-October in northern Denmark. Since the beginning of the week, we have been watching the forecasts with interest to see that a powerful low is on its way. The wind and wave forecasts are constantly being revised upwards: From 30 knots to 40 and instead of two metres of waves, we can now expect an official three metres.
When the day arrives, we rig our smallest sails in Hanstholm and trim them until the mast is shaped like a banana. We all have a lot of respect because we've never been windsurfing in waves this big before. Nevertheless, we throw ourselves into the surf. After an exciting session with a lot of swimming - fortunately without any damage to the protagonists or equipment - we all need a break and after a hearty lunch we decide to go flat water: We want to go to shallow water so that the U-11 group can also have fun. But where to go?
Instead of taking the familiar route to Krik on the Limfjord, we take the path to Førby Sø near Vorupør after a look at Google Maps. What awaits us there as we bump along the gravel path to Førby Sø looks promising: bronze-coloured water, glistening whitecaps, a belt of reeds and rustling coniferous forest. The sun slowly dips into the windswept clouds on the horizon, casting the lake in a golden glow.
Top spots for beginners and children too
We park on the meadow right by the lake and know immediately - these are great flat water conditions for freeriding and freestyling! We set up and head out. While I put the mast into my 4.4, my little brother immortalises the mast in the paintwork of our car with an audible crunch as he frantically rigs it up - there's always a bit of shrinkage. I would have helped the little ones too, but they are always so highly motivated and want to do everything themselves. Soon surfers big and small with sails between 4.4 and 1.5 square metres were whizzing across the lake.
The session turns out to be even better than expected, especially because the little ones also have a lot of fun here and the whole family can get out on the water together. In the evening, we look at the photos we took that day at Førby Sø and are thrilled: the moves, the light and especially the scenery - it really was a perfect day at a new spot, not even three kilometres from Vorupør! Now we know: If you want to escape the wild North Sea in the Cold Hawaii region and are looking for flat water, you don't have to drive half an hour to the Limfjord. The small Førby Sø, a few kilometres inland, also does its job and doesn't even have a seaweed problem, as is usually the case with Krik.
If you too want (or need) to escape the waves of the rough North Sea, this guide will show you the best escape spots around Cold Hawaii.
Shallow water spots around Klitmøller and Thisted
1st Førby Sø
56.93007, 8.41594
If you can't have any more fun in the North Sea wave in heavy conditions, you can sit on the beach and watch - or let off steam on the water yourself not far from the wave spots. Førby Sø, a small lake with reed banks just a few kilometres from Vorupør, is perfect for this - so you can often save yourself the long journey to the famous Limfjord.
Just like Hanstholm, Førby Sø works best in westerly to north-westerly winds. In principle, however, all wind directions from west to north-north-east are possible at this alternative spot. Only when the wind is more southerly than westerly do you have to expect gusty winds, as a small coniferous forest that stretches from the eastern to the southern shore prevents the wind from arriving consistently. You can park and set up on a meadow on the eastern shore, just a few metres from the water's edge. There is also a toilet here. It is best to walk into the water through one of the existing reed beds so as not to destroy this important habitat. At the entrance, a gently sloping sandy bottom offers a comfortable entry point and there is also a small standing area. As westerly winds blow onshore, there is no risk of drifting. The northern shore of the lake also slopes slowly, especially in the eastern part. There is only a very small standing area on the southern shore. Overall, the lake becomes deeper and deeper towards the centre, making it suitable for foiling. In summer, Førby Sø is a popular swimming and fishing lake.
2. Krik Vig Strand
56.77513, 8.26648
In the north-west of the Kriks mole, there is a shallow outcrop of land with a bend at the tip. This creates a shallow lagoon open to the west. Like Krik Mole, this spot also works from south-east to north-west winds. The spot is at its best in southerly winds, when you can enjoy perfectly flat water with a standing area behind the head of the headland. Overall, the spot offers a larger standing area and is less choppy, making it more suitable for beginners than Krik Mole. In extreme easterly winds, the water level is very low, turning the buoyed channel into a tideway as the rest of the spot dries out. This tideway is a great shallow water slope that is rarely found. However, the wind is gusty as it blows offshore and thus over the village of Krik. Important: pack a weed fin!
3rd Krik Mole
56.77145, 8.27426
The south-facing jetty offers a good opportunity for parking and setting up. The spot is best approached with wind directions between south-east and north-west. After setting up, you can enter the water either to the east or west of the pier. On the west side, you can enter the standing area close to the shore via a narrow beach. If you don't have shoes and/or a long fin, you need to be careful of the fist-sized stones on land and near the shore. To the east of the pier, the entrance is both sandier and shallower, making it more suitable for beginners. There are large amounts of seaweed on the shore on both sides, which is the main problem with the spot. A weed fin is recommended for every session. On the water there is a wonderful slope for heating, manoeuvres and freestyle, with only small chops.
4. sennels
56.96014, 8.79096
Sennels is about ten minutes from Thisted. At the entrance to the village, turn right to "Mallestrand", where there is a meadow for rigging and a few parking spaces. The beach consists of coarse pebbles and slopes steeply into the water - the standing area here is limited to a few metres. You are in the right place here when the wind blows from the north-east to the east, it comes in sideshore from the left, small chop builds up in the shore area, and further out, with the right wind strength, swell can also build up, which you can use for jumping and tricks. Southeasterly to southerly winds are also easy to ride and then blow onshore.
5th Vandet Sø
57.00617, 8.58170
A stone's throw from Klitmøller is Vandet Sø, one of the most popular fishing spots in the area. The water is closed in winter, but is a worthwhile destination in the summer months. The south-east shore of the lake is the most popular entry point for westerly to northerly winds. Thanks to the large standing area, intermediates and kids can surf here in complete safety, even in stormy conditions. The "West Wind" mobile surf school also regularly pitches its tents here. The ground is sandy, with small stones and small chops - ideal for freestyling, heating or practising water starts and other manoeuvres.
6 Amtoft
57.00633, 8.94067
Amtoft is a small village on the northern shore of the Limfjord, about 35 minutes from Klitmøller. You can park free of charge at the harbour. The ideal entry point is on the sandy or pebble beach to the right of the harbour, but apart from a small standing area, it gets deep quite quickly here. South-westerly winds work best here, coming sideshore from the right, but all directions from south (onshore) to north-east (sideshore from the left) are also possible. If the wind blows strongly onshore from the south, it creates small swells on the beach, whereas the water remains smooth if the wind blows from the west or east to northeast. All in all, Amtoft is a nice spot for heating or freestyling and foiling. There is a beautiful sandy bay on the east side of the harbour, which offers a little more standing room. There is even a hose with fresh water on the shore to rinse off your equipment, toilets and a cheap pitch for legal overnight stays. There is a small supermarket in the immediate vicinity, so you can easily spend a few days here.
7th Løgstør
56.96460, 9.24160
The mussel town of Løgstør is about 45 minutes by car from Thisted. The town can be reached via the Aggersund Bridge, surfing takes place in front of the Limfjord Museum ("Limfjordsmuseet"), where there are also parking facilities. The white beach is not made of sand, but of small pieces of crushed shells. A westerly wind is ideal, as it comes onshore here. Because there is a long sandbank a few hundred metres off the shore, the spot is protected from larger waves and you can freeride, freestyle or use the huge standing area on the left-hand side of the bay to hone your basic manoeuvres. Depending on the wind direction, the left-hand part of the bay can be too shallow for long fins or even foils; check the water depth here before your first speed run. In the right-hand (northern) part of the bay, the water is also deep enough for long fins, but you should keep an eye on the small channel. Shoes are advisable, as there are some mussel beds in the otherwise sandy water. The village offers accommodation, a campsite, restaurants and shops. Even with winds from the north and south-west, it is easy to get out on the water here; only easterly winds are unsuitable due to the hilly hinterland.
Spot info Denmark/Thy
Arrival, accommodation & camping
The spots described here can be reached from Hamburg in just over 4.5 hours via well-maintained country roads.
The area is now also popular outside the water sports community, so it can get crowded during the holiday season - camping sites and holiday homes should therefore be booked in good time. Nearby campsites are:
- Vorupør Camping vorupoercamping.dk
- Nystrup Camping Klitmøller nystrupcampingklitmoller.dk
- Camping Thisted thisted-camping.dk
- Hanstholm Camping hanstholm-camping.dk/
- Thy Minicamping thy-minicamping.dk
- Amtoft Havnecamping www.amtofthavn.dk
- Løgstør Camping www.logstor-camping.dk
- Bygholm Camping www.bygholmcamping.dk
In recent years there have always been problems with wild camping. Regular checks are carried out, especially in the high season, so please use the official sites for overnight stays.
The area is also well developed with holiday homes - if you book outside the holiday periods, you can stay here very cheaply and comfortably:
Wind & Weather
The north of Denmark is one of the windiest parts of Europe, with statistics showing more than 60 per cent winds above twelve knots all year round. Even when Central Europe is sweltering in the heat at the height of summer, Cold Hawaii is often brushed by low-pressure systems that provide the necessary ventilation. However, this also means that you can get into your car in Hamburg at 28 degrees and wearing shorts, only to realise a few hours later at 16 degrees and wind force seven that a jumper and sturdy shoes in your luggage might have been a good idea after all. A long 5/3 neo is also recommended in summer, and a bonnet and shoes should also be in your luggage in spring and autumn. Shells and small stones can also leave permanent marks at all spots, so shoes are also a good idea.
In general, the area is surfable in all wind directions, but by far the most common wind direction is south-west to west. Every Denmark local knows: "If you're travelling to Klitti, always pack the small cloths too!"
The waves are particularly high when the wind blows from the south, west or north-east. Spots such as Hanstholm, Klitmøller, Nørre Vorupør or Agger make wave fans' eyes light up, but also require a lot of experience if the wind is strong enough. The alternative spots presented here are well worth a visit, as the shallow and sheltered fjords are ideal for children, adult intermediates, freestylers and freeride fans alike.
Surf schools & shops
The "West Wind" surf school offers courses for adults and children on Vandet Sø not far from Klitmøller during the summer months. Replacement equipment is also available from "West Wind", where you can also hire surfers, SUPs or other water sports equipment - to be found in Klitmøller and Vorupør.
Alternative programme
The village of Vorupør has a surf shop, a few restaurants, a national park centre, a large seawater aquarium with unfortunately very limited opening hours and a few fishermen who supply the local fish shop with seafood, fish, crabs and lobsters. You can also book a fishing trip on one of the cutters in gentler weather or hire a rowing/fishing boat at Førby Sø to explore the lake. Surfing is also a sport that is worth considering, although not at the spots described, but especially often in Vorupør.
The large dune landscapes and beaches around Bulbjerg are also worth a trip and are ideal for hiking or biking. Sightseers should pay a visit to Aalborg, around 60 kilometres away, with its beautiful old town, the Jomfru Ane Gade pub street and the Museum of Modern Art. And hot water? That's available in the family fun pool at Danland Vigsø.
