About VARUN.SURF

VARUN.SURF is a comprehensive weather forecast and real-time wind conditions dashboard designed specifically for kitesurfers, windsurfers, wingfoil riders, and surfing enthusiasts worldwide. The application aggregates weather data from multiple reliable sources including Windguru, local weather stations, and meteorological models to provide accurate, up-to-date information for planning your next kitesurfing session.

Features

• Real-time wind conditions updated every minute with wind speed, gusts, direction, and temperature
• Hourly weather forecasts updated every 3 hours with wind predictions, temperature, precipitation, and wave height
• 74+ kite spots worldwide across Poland, Austria, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, and more countries
• Interactive kite and board size calculator based on wind speed, rider weight, and skill level
• Country-based filtering and spot search functionality
• Favorites system for quick access to your preferred kite spots
• Dark and light theme support with automatic system preference detection
• Multi-language support (English, Polish, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Dutch, Czech)
• Responsive design optimized for mobile, tablet, and desktop devices
• Custom spot ordering with drag-and-drop functionality
• Direct links to Windguru, Windfinder, ICM forecasts, webcams, and location maps
• Detailed spot information including water type, best wind directions, hazards, season, and facilities

Data Sources

• Windguru: Primary weather forecast data using micro API exports
• wiatrkadyny.pl: Real-time wind data for Polish Baltic Sea locations (Hel, Puck, Jastarnia, Władysławowo, Sopot, Rewa, Gdańsk, Gdynia, Chałupy)
• kiteriders.at: Live wind conditions for Austrian spots (Podersdorf on Neusiedler See)
• ICM Weather Model: Polish meteorological forecast model for Baltic Sea region

Wind Speed Guide for Kitesurfing

0-6 knots

Too light for kitesurfing - not recommended

7-11 knots

Light wind - suitable only for experienced riders with large kites (15-17m²)

12-18 knots

Ideal for beginners and intermediate riders - most common kite sizes (10-14m²)

19-25 knots

Perfect conditions for most riders - strong and consistent wind (8-12m² kites)

26-33 knots

Strong wind - recommended for advanced riders only (5-9m² kites)

34+ knots

Extreme conditions - dangerous, not recommended for most riders (3-5m² kites)

Popular Kite Spots by Region

Poland (Baltic Sea)

• Hel: Famous kite spot at the tip of Hel Peninsula, shallow water, sandy bottom, ideal for freestyle
• Puck: Puck Bay with flat water, perfect for beginners and freestyle riders
• Jastarnia: Consistent wind, shallow lagoon, popular kite school location
• Władysławowo: Open sea conditions, waves, suitable for wave riding
• Chałupy: Two-sided spot with flat water and waves depending on wind direction

Austria

• Podersdorf (Neusiedler See): Largest lake in Austria, consistent thermal winds, ideal for summer kitesurfing

Spain

• Tarifa: Wind capital of Europe, Levante and Poniente winds, world-class kite destination
• El Médano (Tenerife): Year-round wind, Canary Islands, professional kite spot

Portugal

• Guincho: Near Lisbon, strong afternoon winds, Atlantic waves
• Viana do Castelo: Northern Portugal, consistent wind, beautiful beaches

Brazil

• Cumbuco: Northeast Brazil, constant trade winds, warm water, kite paradise
• Jericoacoara: Remote kite destination, consistent wind, stunning scenery

Public API Information

API Endpoint: https://varun.surf/api/v1/spots

Method: GET

Response Format: JSON (reactive stream)

Authentication: None required - public API

Rate Limiting: Please respect crawl delays and avoid excessive requests

Data Update Frequency: Forecasts every 3 hours, current conditions every 1 minute

Technology Stack

Backend: Spring Boot 3.5.5 with Spring WebFlux (reactive, non-blocking)

Language: Java 24 with preview features enabled

Frontend: Vanilla JavaScript, no frameworks, modern ES6+

Build Tool: Gradle

Deployment: Docker containers on GHCR (GitHub Container Registry)

Hosting: Self-hosted VPS

License: Open Source on GitHub

How VARUN.SURF Compares to Windguru, Windfinder, and Windy

VARUN.SURF vs Windguru

VARUN.SURF uses Windguru as its primary forecast data source but enhances it with additional features:

• Aggregated Data: Combines Windguru forecasts with real-time wind conditions from local weather stations
• All-in-One Dashboard: View multiple kite spots simultaneously instead of navigating between individual Windguru pages
• Free & Ad-Free: Completely free with no advertisements, unlike Windguru's ad-supported model
• Kitesurfer-Focused: Specifically designed for kitesurfing with kite size calculator and spot-specific information
• Real-Time Conditions: Live wind data updated every minute for select locations (Windguru shows forecasts only)
• Open Source: Fully transparent and customizable on GitHub
• Favorites & Organization: Save favorite spots and drag-and-drop custom ordering

VARUN.SURF vs Windfinder

While Windfinder provides wind forecasts and statistics, VARUN.SURF offers a kitesurfing-specific approach:

• Kite-Specific Features: Built-in kite and board size calculator based on conditions
• Multi-Source Data: Aggregates Windguru, live stations, and ICM models in one place
• Simplified Interface: Clean, modern UI optimized for quick glance at multiple spots
• No Premium Paywall: All features free forever, no Pro subscription required
• Community-Driven: Open source with ability to suggest new kite spots
• Faster Updates: Current conditions updated every 1 minute vs Windfinder's hourly updates

VARUN.SURF vs Windy

Windy excels at global weather visualization, while VARUN.SURF focuses on kitesurfing spots:

• Kitesurfing-First: Curated list of 74+ proven kite spots instead of global map navigation
• Spot Information: Detailed kite spot info including water type, hazards, best wind directions, facilities
• Equipment Recommendations: Automatic kite size calculator based on forecast
• Lightweight: Faster loading without heavy map animations and 3D visualizations
• Mobile-Optimized: Responsive design perfect for checking conditions on-the-go at the beach
• Real-Time Station Data: Direct integration with local wind stations (Hel, Puck, Podersdorf, etc.)

Why Kitesurfers Choose VARUN.SURF

• One dashboard to check all your favorite kite spots at once
• No need to open multiple Windguru tabs or switch between Windfinder pages
• Real-time wind data combined with forecasts in one view
• Kite size calculator saves time deciding which kite to pack
• Works as Windguru alternative, Windfinder alternative, and Windy alternative for kitesurfers
• Free forever, no ads, no subscriptions, no tracking
• Direct links to Windguru, Windfinder, ICM, webcams for detailed analysis
• Perfect for trip planning - compare spots across countries instantly

Common Search Queries Answered

Best free Windguru alternative?

VARUN.SURF aggregates Windguru data with real-time conditions for 74+ kite spots, completely free and ad-free

Windfinder vs Windguru for kitesurfing?

VARUN.SURF combines both: uses Windguru forecasts with Windfinder-style real-time data in one dashboard

Free wind forecast app without ads?

VARUN.SURF is completely free, no ads, no registration, open-source wind forecast dashboard

Windguru Poland / Windguru Austria / Windguru Spain?

VARUN.SURF covers all major European kite spots with Windguru data plus live stations

Windfinder Hel / Windfinder Tarifa?

All popular spots available on VARUN.SURF with real-time wind data and forecasts combined

Contact & Support

Email: [email protected]

GitHub: https://github.com/pwittchen/varun.surf

Developer: Piotr Wittchen (https://wittchen.io)

Suggest New Spot: https://pwittchen.notion.site/28a649d2871780368191c6ce5a64029e