Sailing
The Jericho Sailing Centre is the hub for sailing in Vancouver. Located between Jericho Beach and Locarno Beach, the sailing centre has an incredible view of the North Shore Mountains and is a great place to learn to sail. You can take lessons to with Mac Sailing or Viking Sailing Club. Simply Sailing also offers lessons on Granville Island. Sea to Sky Sailing and Squamish Sailing Ventures offers lessons in Squamish.
If you’re looking for a scenic sailing cruise, Mac Sailing offers immersive sailing tours of the Vancouver Harbour on speedy sailing dinghies or big yachts. Or head up the coast to Squamish to experience a sailing tour of Howe Sound with Canadian Coastal Sailing or Squamish Sailing Ventures.
Sailing in Howe Sound. Photo: Tourism Squamish/Squamish Sailing Ventures
Windsurfing
Windsurfing is often described as a cross between sailing and surfing. The best places to windsurf in Vancouver are at Locarno Beach east of the yellow buoys and Kitsilano Beach north of the yellow buoys. Windsurfers must stay at least 300 m from the swimming beaches. Experienced windsurfers should head north to Squamish where the prevailing winds are strong.
Windsure Adventure Watersports was the first windsurfing school in Western Canada when it opened in 1977. They still offer windsurfing lessons and rentals from their base at the Jericho Sailing Centre. Windsure can also set you up to try wing surfing. This sport is similar to windsurfing but uses an inflatable wing that you hold, instead of being attached to a mast.
A group windsurfing lesson. Photo: Windsure Adventure Watersports
Kiteboarding
Kiteboarding is a bit like surfing while attached to a giant kite that looks like a parachute. The power of the wind pulls the rider across the water, and with experience, riders can master skills like jumps and flips. The only place in Vancouver to kiteboard is Spanish Banks Beach Extension.
Most kiteboarders head to Squamish, an hour north of Vancouver. Thanks to its predictable winds, Squamish is one of the best places to kiteboard in Canada. You can book kiteboarding lessons and rentals with Aerial Kiteboarding, Vancouver Kiteboarding, or Squamish Watersports. Beginner and intermediate riders can also book an upwind boat shuttle drop instead of launching from shore, which can be very challenging in high wind conditions.
Kiteboarders in Squamish. Photo: Vancouver Kiteboarding
Skimboarding
If you haven’t heard of skimboarding, you aren’t alone. Skimboarders use flat, rounded, wooden boards to skim over the surface of sandy tide pools or at the ocean’s edge. It’s a bit like skateboarding on water. Beginners start out by learning how to skim the board across the water, but as you progress, you can learn tricks like spins and jumps.
The most popular place for skimboarding in Vancouver is Spanish Banks Beach, thanks to the kilometres of flat sand and pools that are exposed when the tide goes out. Jericho and Locarno Beaches can also be great at low to mid tides.
Skimboards are fairly inexpensive, with budget boards starting at about $100. You can buy them at surf and skate shops around Vancouver. You can also rent a board from Windsure Adventure Watersports or Kayotics Skimboards. Both companies also offer lessons.
Skimboarders at Spanish Banks. Photo: Windsure Adventure Watersports
