Podersdorf am See sits on the Neusiedler See, the steppe lake in the east of Austria, about 30 minutes from Vienna. The lake is shallow, at about 1.6 metres, with a sandy bottom that slopes very slowly, and a wide reed belt limits where riders can get onto the water. Surf Magazin calls the north beach at Podersdorf the number one surf spot on the lake.
The record is modest here, but the station on the shore reads more wind than the model alone did. WindChaser’s record is a 9 km model corrected by month and hour against GeoSphere Austria’s Podersdorf station, 1.3 km away. January to April are the windiest months, when between a third and two in five days clear 12 knots for three daylight hours, and April is the pick; the rest of the year sits between a quarter and a third. The mean over those rideable hours is 16 to 18 knots, and the wind builds through the morning to peak from around midday to mid-afternoon. The guides call the lake reliable in spring and autumn; the record agrees on spring, and autumn sits at about a quarter of days. Pick the day from the forecast, and on a good one it can be properly lit.
From 10 May to 20 September, the bathing season, kitesurfing is prohibited within 200 metres of the shore, inside the yellow buoys, under § 16 of the provincial regulation.
36% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
In January the wind most often sits at 4 to 7 kt (33% of daylight hours). No daylight hour is over 12 kt on at least half the days. The best hour is 1pm, on 28% of days. See both charts in the full report
January on the record
The month's own figures, not the year's average.
Rideable days11 of 31Ten Januaries in the record
Strongest measured gust56 ktJanuary 2022, GeoSphere Podersdorf station, 1.3 km away. Twelve Januaries measured, 2015 to 2026. Station, not the beach.
Wind, rideable hours18 ktMean over daylight hours at 12 kt+
Air3.5°CMaximum
Take it with you
The full Podersdorf report
Seven sections over six pages, built from the same record as this page. A PDF you can read on the plane.
01Hour-by-hour & month-by-month wind02The month's own records03Full stays, schools & kit04The kite zone rules05Shallows, reeds & storms06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits
WindChaser spot reportPodersdorfBurgenland, Austria · January36% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
When it gets busy
Crowds
Mar · Low
Busiest from May to September, the lake season; the kite zone on the north-north beach gets crowded on windy days. Compiled research, not a count.
On the water
What January usually does
Wind directionW to NWThe prevailing north-westerly is onshore; west to south-west is best at the kite spot. North winds make launching harder.
Wind strength16 to 18 ktThe mean over rideable daylight hours, January to April, corrected against the Podersdorf station.
When it blowsMiddayBuilds through the morning and peaks from around midday to mid-afternoon in the record.
Your playground
Launches & safety
Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.
Launch
Hazard
Parking
School
Stay
Webcam
Approximate
Local intel
Getting there & on the ground
Nearest airportVienna (VIE)Podersdorf is about 30 minutes from Vienna.
On the groundJanuary to AprilThe windiest months in the record. April is the pick; the rest of the year is lighter.
Getting aroundTrain and busHourly trains from Vienna to Neusiedl am See, about 45 minutes, then bus 290 to Podersdorf, about 15 minutes.
