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Spot de Lesser Slave Lake | Bird Observatory

Lesser Slave Lake | Bird Observatory kitesurf and windsurf spot

Canada · Alberta

55.38 | -114.79

Overview

The Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation is on the north shore of Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta's second-largest lake (1168 km²). This massive lake stretches nearly 100 km east to west, at 580 m altitude.

Lesser Slave Lake is one of Alberta's most impressive lakes for kitesurfing. Its east-west orientation generates enormous fetch with dominant west or east winds. The Bird Observatory on the north shore is an access point with clear lake views. Demanding conditions due to the lake's size. Season from June to September. Isolated spot in boreal forest.

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Lesser Slave Lake | Bird Observatory: when to go?

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

The season runs from September to January, peaking in December: 21 rideable days a month and 173 hours of usable wind, at 1 °C. The low point is August, at 16 days.

Rideable days per month

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 77% 13-20 knots · 22% 21-30 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 77% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is December, at -11 °C. The wettest month is July, with 93 mm. Bar height is the month's rideable days; the split shows how its wind hours break down by strength.

Monthly averages — Lesser Slave Lake | Bird Observatory — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 19.5 156 h -8 °C 28 mm
February 16.5 130 h -7 °C 12 mm
March 21.0 167 h 0 °C 16 mm
April 19.0 168 h 10 °C 38 mm
May 17.0 158 h 16 °C 58 mm
June 21.0 200 h 18 °C 83 mm
July 17.5 199 h 23 °C 93 mm
August 16.0 136 h 22 °C 74 mm
September 21.5 167 h 18 °C 23 mm
October 20.5 157 h 9 °C 54 mm
November 20.0 152 h -1 °C 20 mm
December 24.5 173 h -11 °C 62 mm
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Technical details of Lesser Slave Lake | Bird Observatory spot

Spot currently open :-)
Spot opening date

Open all year round

Required level

Advanced

On the water

Fresh water. Temperature of 17-21°C in summer. Sandy to muddy bottom. ENORMOUS fetch (up to 100 km E-W) — waves can be very well-formed in sustained winds. Shallow lake (avg. 10 m) amplifying chop. Conditions can resemble ocean-like water in strong winds.

Hazards

Immense lake — ocean-like conditions possible in strong wind. 1-2 m waves possible. Very isolated spot — no rescue services nearby. Violent thunderstorms. Cold water except at peak summer. Black bears in boreal forest. Isolated access roads. Intense mosquitoes and black flies.

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Spot forecast for Lesser Slave Lake | Bird Observatory
07:40 19:17
Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

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Live data from SLAVE LAKE RCS weather station (wind, gusts, history) is reserved for Premium members.

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