Lake Garda is one of the most famous spot in the world for the practice of windsurfing thanks to the consistency of its thermal winds, Ora and Peler, that blow almost every day from April to October. Flat water, sun and thousands of people in the water. The conditions, regardless of the intensity of the wind, are always quite similar. But sometimes, the lake deliver days where the elements of nature are released and create prohibitive conditions for the practice of our sport, especially during winter. March 5th, 2015 was one of these days with gusts up to 40 knots and real waves to ride! Fabio Calo reports from the Lake Garda Storm.

Lake Garda is a perfect wind machine. Its particular territorial structure with a large area to the south, the Lower Lake which narrows towards the north, closed to the east by Baldo and to the west by the mountains of Trentino-axis Brescia which create a lot of air currents, winds and breezes which are usually very consistent and sometimes unpredictable, giving us so many fun days on the water.

I was at home working on the next number of 4Windsurf Magazine but still looking at the webcam of Pra, in which I noticed that the wind during the morning wasn’t getting weaker but stronger. Around 2 PM, I decided to get to the nearest spot, on the east side, just to have more light for the evening session. I drove pass Alberto’s house… and obviously I thought about him. During the drive to the spot, I noticed the streets were desert and the gusts were faster than my van, so around 40 to 45 knots!

When I arrived to Crero, there was only one windsurfer in the water with 3.3m² and he was struggling! I decided to rig my 3.7m² and to use my wave board who luckily was still in the van, so I could try for the first time in my life to ride a wave board on a lake. Fourteen degrees, water not too cold, sunny, super strong wind and chops almost as high as my mast… Incredible session! After a few hours I got out, de-rigged and quickly went back home to resume my work.

On the way back home, a friend of mine called. It was Fiore, an historical photographer who told me to go to Assenza where the conditions were sick and we could take some pictures. I immediately turned the van around and drove to him. The wind was even stronger there, it was an amazing show… I have been living here for 10 years and I have never seen something like this, especially sunny! My friend Fiore wasn’t alone, in fact there was also Angela Trawoeger, photographer for 360GardaLife, so it was just perfect for me to go in the water and deliver some action. I rigged the 3.7m² again and took the Kode Wave 77 liters and went in the water for the second session of the day. Fiore and Angela took some awesome pictures and at the end of the session we were all happy for the result. Alone in the water with sick conditions: a day to remember!

Words from Fiore:

"I always get really excited and full of emotions whenever I shoot windsurfing photos, as my passion for this sport is still very strong for me, even if it's been a few years since the last time I have been in the water. When I saw Fabio jumping the first few times, I didn't shoot. I just wanted to enjoy the moment and watch all its details. The hang time felt so long, like time had stopped. Once I started shooting, then, I almost never let go. I came back to my senses and realized this situation had to be taken full advantage of. To make things even more unique, Fabio was sailing all by himself, while doing his whole repertoire of tricks. In the duller moments, I'd shoot the seagulls flying by and the water being blown into a fine mist by the gusts, while the light colored the spray with the typical rainbow spectrum. It really felt like being at sea or even at the Ocean, with this bright light and clear sky, just like southern France during the stormy mistral days.

I'd like to dedicate these shots to Alberto Menegatti, whose premature loss baffled us all. Just like his sister Sara Menegatti wrote a few days ago, I'd like to think this unusually strong wind and magical rainbow was Alberto's way of waiving us his last goodbye."

- Pictures by Foto Fiore / Words by Fabio Calo -