Wind riders: Kiteboarders flock to Greek coast as August gales churn sea

ARTEMIDA, Greece (AP) — Strong August winds swept the eastern coastline near Athens on Thursday, drawing dozens of kiteboarders who performed impressive jumps against a cloudless sky.

Gusts of up to 60 kilometers per hour (37 miles per hour), turned the beach at Agios Nikolaos — a rugged strip east of the Greek capital, near the port of Rafina — into an open-air playground for wind sports enthusiasts eager to catch the seasonal “meltemi” winds.