Chałupy

About this spot

Chałupy is the heart of Polish kitesurfing. On the Puck Bay side of the narrow Hel Peninsula, a string of campsites, kite schools and surf shops lines the shore, each with its own launch. The inner bay is very shallow — standing depth for hundreds of metres in many places — and the peninsula blocks the open-sea swell, so the water stays flat to light chop. It is one of the best places in Europe to learn and to practise freestyle.

The bay lies to the south-west of the peninsula, so westerly, south-westerly and north-westerly winds blow across the bay onto or along the shore and are the main directions. Northerly and southerly winds run side-shore and can work with care. Easterly and north-easterly winds blow from the peninsula out over the bay; they are offshore at the bay launches and should be avoided unless a school with rescue is operating. Water level drops in prolonged offshore winds, exposing sandbars.

In summer the spot is extremely busy: many schools run lessons at the same time, so stick to the marked zones and the kiting corridors between campsites. Access is via the road along the peninsula (route 216) or by train to Chałupy station; parking is mostly paid at campsites. Zone rules and parking change between seasons and should be checked locally.