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Scarborough kitesurf, wingfoil and surf spot

New Zealand · Canterbury

Spot currently openAdvanced level -43.57 | 172.76

Overview

Scarborough is a kitesurf spot located south of Sumner, on the Christchurch coast in Canterbury. Scarborough Beach is nestled between the cliffs of Sumner Head and offers a wilder atmosphere than neighboring beaches. The Canterbury Nor'wester (NE) is the dominant wind but can be disrupted by the surrounding cliffs, creating turbulence. South and southeast winds are more consistent at this spot. South Pacific swell can be significant, creating good wave conditions. Spot reserved for advanced riders due to potential turbulence and nearby rocks.

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Spot forecast for Scarborough

Sunrise 06:29 · Sunset 19:58

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 4 km from the spot.

6:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:00Wed 21Thu 22Fri 23Sat 24Sun 25 Now01:021.8 m07:070.6 m13:222 m19:400.6 m01:471.9 m07:540.6 m14:052 m20:230.5 m02:311.9 m08:390.5 m14:492 m21:040.4 m03:162 m09:240.4 m15:342 m21:460.4 m04:012.1 m10:090.4 m16:212.1 m22:290.3 m
  • Wednesday 21 October High tide · 1.8 m Low tide · 0.6 m High tide · 2 m Low tide · 0.6 m
  • Thursday 22 October High tide · 1.9 m Low tide · 0.6 m High tide · 2 m Low tide · 0.5 m
  • Friday 23 October High tide · 1.9 m Low tide · 0.5 m High tide · 2 m Low tide · 0.4 m
  • Saturday 24 October High tide · 2 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 2 m Low tide · 0.4 m
  • Sunday 25 October High tide · 2.1 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 2.1 m Low tide · 0.3 m

Scarborough: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

321h

in January · 27.5 rideable days

The season runs from October to March, peaking in January: 26 rideable days a month and 321 hours of usable wind, at 20 °C. The low point is July, at 16.5 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 January: 27.5 rideable days27.5 d J February: 25.5 rideable days F March: 26 rideable days M April: 22 rideable days A May: 17.5 rideable days M June: 19.5 rideable days J July: 16.5 rideable days16.5 d J August: 18.5 rideable days A September: 22.5 rideable days S October: 23.5 rideable days O November: 26.5 rideable days N December: 26 rideable days D 0 10 20 30 January: 27.5 rideable days27.5 d J February: 25.5 rideable days F March: 26 rideable days M April: 22 rideable days A May: 17.5 rideable days M June: 19.5 rideable days J July: 16.5 rideable days16.5 d J August: 18.5 rideable days A September: 22.5 rideable days S October: 23.5 rideable days O November: 26.5 rideable days N December: 26 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 80%13-20 knots · 20%21-30 knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 80% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is July, at 11 °C. The wettest month is April, with 89 mm.

Monthly averages: Scarborough
Monthly averages — Scarborough — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 27.5 321 h 20 °C 63 mm
February 25.5 250 h 21 °C 29 mm
March 26.0 220 h 19 °C 57 mm
April 22.0 182 h 17 °C 89 mm
May 17.5 114 h 14 °C 60 mm
June 19.5 131 h 12 °C 83 mm
July 16.5 135 h 11 °C 42 mm
August 18.5 151 h 12 °C 53 mm
September 22.5 174 h 15 °C 43 mm
October 23.5 186 h 17 °C 86 mm
November 26.5 290 h 20 °C 39 mm
December 26.0 279 h 21 °C 70 mm

Photo gallery of Scarborough

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Technical details of Scarborough spot

N: Depending on conditions NNE: Depending on conditions NE: Rideable ENE: Rideable E: Depending on conditions ESE: Depending on conditions SE: Depending on conditions SSE: Rideable S: Rideable SSW: Rideable SW: Depending on conditions WSW: Not rideable W: Not rideable WNW: Not rideable NW: Not rideable NNW: Depending on conditions N E S W

The spot works with winds from NE, ENE, SSE, S, SSW.

Depending on conditions: N, NNE, E, ESE, SE, SW, NNW.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
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Nearby spots

All spots: Canterbury

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