Get better at reading your forecast - WestWind Guide

Choose the right provider

There are many different providers when it comes to weather forecasts, but the graphics are decisive for how user-friendly they are: "It's about finding one with a good color scheme, so it's easy to understand how windy it is. So you don't need to have been a nerd for many years to understand it. Then it's just a matter of finding someone who suits you," asserts Rasmus Fejerskov. He has a personal favorite: "I always use windy, they have some good weather maps where you can look ahead one hour at a time. But I know many also use DMI. The important thing is to choose someone with whom you become familiar.”

Description	Link to the service
Windy.com works well as an overview tool. Provides accurate weather data for all locations in the world.
Surfline.com is a good website if you need to control waves and wind at the same time.
Windguru.com gives you an overview of the wind from spots around the world. Has long forecasts.
dmi.dk is the Danish meteorological weather service. They have long-term prospects and have good control over the weather and wind in DK.
The Norwegian weather service yr.no is a brilliant alternative to DMI. Sometimes Yr wins over DMI.

The local roller coaster or exploration

When it comes to windsurfing, kitesurfing and wingfoil, there are two crucial disciplines: jumping on the waves and riding the wave in. It requires a good crosswind, perhaps with a slight hint of crosswind. "You should ideally be able to sail right on the wave on the way out to sea, it provides good jumping opportunities, and then you have to be able to ride the wave on the way back in," explains the experienced surfer. And there are many opportunities to find those conditions on the Danish coasts. Both because there is a lot of coast and because the coastline winds in bays and coves. "You can either drive to the local spot that you know and know how it works under which conditions," explains the surfer. Otherwise, you can go out and explore new places: "Then you look at the weather map and see which direction the wind is blowing from, and then you can look at the map and see where it gives a good crosswind. If you e.g. living in Aarhus, you have all of Djursland around, so you can drive around and see where there is a side-shore. Then it doesn't matter if it's from starboard or port," explains Rasmus Fejerskov, who himself started his surfing career as a windsurfer based in Aarhus.

Classic spots

• Middles at Hanstholm on westerly winds.
• Fornæs at Grenaa with a northerly wind.
• North Zealand by west-southwest-west-northwest.

Tips from Rasmus Fejerskov

" If you surf Wingfoil , you have to look for the same wind direction for a long time, but it doesn't require nearly as much wind before you're flying. That's a huge advantage of wingfoil, then it's only the level that sets limits"

" On a hot summer's day , when it is warm from the morning, but there is a sea breeze during the day, you may be lucky to experience thermal wind . It occurs when the warm air over land rises as steam and meets the cold wind that pulls in from the sea. It can be used for surfing, but it only happens on very hot summer days."

How much wind must it be?

When you have to surf with the wind, you can get slapped. Therefore, you must always check how much it is blowing, so that you do not venture into something that exceeds your abilities.

Here is a guideline:
Beginner: From 5 m/s and up to 10 m/s
Easy practice: From 10 m/s and up to 20 m/s
Expert: From 20 m/s and up

Keep an eye on wave height and current

Besides wind strength, there are other factors to keep an eye on when going out on the water with a sail. "You have to look at the wave height, so you don't get into something you're not ready for," Rasmus Fejerskov asserts and continues: "It's also important to check the current. As a general rule, you can say that the more windy, the more current there is. But sometimes there is also side current, e.g. at the Great Belt, therefore you must always check the direction of the current. If the current is against the waves, the sea can stand and boil up," explains Rasmus Fejerskov.

"The weather must be surfed forwards but understood backwards"

You can get countless good advice from the long-time surfer, but there is one piece of advice that is more important than all of them if you want to become good at reading your weather forecast: "The most important thing is that you always read your weather forecast when you arrive home from a trip on the water. Then you find out what you were actually getting into. How strong was the wind, where did it come from, was there a current, what was the wave height, etc. That way you get the real data into your own head. That's where you get smart about the weather. You always surf before you know what you have surfed," points out Rasmus Fejerskov and states that: "The weather must be surfed forwards but understood backwards."

How early can you start packing the car?
We've probably all tried it; checking the weather forecast during the week and seeing that there are fantastic conditions for the weekend. Only to be sorely disappointed when the day comes. You therefore have to wait a bit before setting expectations. "Today, the providers are so good that you can see five days in advance if there will be a low pressure. Three days before, you can be pretty sure. A day before, you can start packing your board bag," says the surfer.