Where to Kite in Russia: Gulf of Finland, Black Sea, Azov and Reservoirs
Russia has more kiting than people expect, and it is not only a summer story. A guide to the four main kinds of place and when each works.
Gulf of Finland, St Petersburg
The busiest scene, with 13 spots in our guide. Shallow water, a lot of flat sections and a long season from spring to autumn, then snowkite on ice in winter. Wind comes from fronts, so you ride the forecast, not the thermal.
Black Sea: Anapa
Blagoveshchenskaya is the best known kite spot in the country. A 300 m spit gives butter-flat water, the thermal wind runs from May to September, and you can pick the side with flat water. Winds are on the light side: take a big kite.
Azov Sea
A shallow, warm sea where long sand spits stick out into the water. It is good for practice and freestyle, and the water warms early in June. Spots such as Dolgaya Spit are still a work in progress for us.
Reservoirs near Moscow
Ivankovo Reservoir near Dubna is about 120 km long, with open water from late April to October. Plenty of fetch, but check direction and bank before going.
How to plan
| Season | Where |
|---|---|
| Dec–Mar | Snowkite near St Petersburg and Lake Ladoga (ice), or fly south. |
| Apr–May | Gulf of Finland shoulder season, Anapa from May. |
| Jun–Sep | Anapa and Azov for warm water; Baltic and reservoirs for weather days. |
| Oct–Nov | Gulf of Finland autumn fronts: strong, cold, dry suits. |
Spots mentioned
Conditions, rules and access change. Always check on the beach, ask local schools and ride within your level.