Sylt is a North Sea island off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein, reached by car train over the causeway from Niebüll. It has two coasts a short drive apart. The west side faces the open North Sea, with beach break, groynes and current.
The east side looks onto the Wadden Sea, shallow and flat but ruled by the tide. The wind decides which coast, and the tide decides when.
Duotone Pro Center Sylt says it works in north, north-west, west, south-west and south winds, that the shorebreak can reach 2 to 3 metres, and recommends it to advanced riders only.
82% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
In December the wind most often sits at 12 to 15 kt (29% of daylight hours) and is over 12 kt from 8am to 6pm on at least half the days. See both charts in the full report
December on the record
The month's own figures, not the year's average.
Rideable days26 of 31Nine Decembers in the record
Strongest measured gust100 ktDecember 1999, DWD List auf Sylt station, 6.5 km away. Thirty-one Decembers measured, 1995 to 2025. Station, not the beach.
Wind, rideable hours18 ktMean over daylight hours at 12 kt+
Air5.9°CMaximum
Take it with you
The full Sylt 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 & kit04Per-launch tide windows05Groynes, currents & the national park06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits
WindChaser spot reportSyltSchleswig-Holstein, Germany · December82% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
When it gets busy
Crowds
Jan · Low
Busiest from June to September. The Kite-Surf World Cup runs at Brandenburger Strand from 25 to 30 August 2026. The windiest winter months are the quiet ones. Compiled research, not a count.
On the water
What December usually does
Wind directionAnyThe west coast from north round to south; the Wadden side, Königshafen and Möwennest, in the easterlies.
Wind strength18 to 19 ktThe mean over rideable daylight hours, October to February, corrected against the List auf Sylt station.
When it blowsAll dayThe share of windy days barely moves from 8am to 6pm 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 airportSylt (GWT)On the island at Westerland. Scheduled flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and others.
On the groundOctober to FebruaryThe windiest months in the record. January is the pick.
Getting aroundCar train, then a carThe DB Sylt Shuttle carries cars from Niebüll to Westerland over the causeway in about 35 minutes.
