Riding an eFoil or jetboard on Medina Lake
Medina is the prettiest lake near San Antonio and the most temperamental. When it is full it is deep, clear Hill Country water with steep limestone shoreline and very little traffic. When drought pulls it down, ramps close and the lake shrinks dramatically.
An electric board is the honest answer to that problem. We carry it to whatever the waterline is and ride.
Check the level before you drive
This is the one Texas lake where we say it twice. Medina swings harder than Canyon or LBJ. Check the current percentage-full and ramp status before you commit to the drive out FM 1283. If it is low, we will usually route you to Canyon Lake instead and nobody wastes a morning.
The water
Medina is deep and narrow through the middle with the Medina River arm running up toward Bandera. The shoreline is steep, which means less shallow shelf and fewer places to stand — worth knowing on a first eFoil session.
Traffic is light compared to Canyon. On a weekday morning you can have real stretches of it to yourself, which is the argument for coming here at all.
When to ride
Mornings. Steep terrain means the lake sits sheltered early and picks up wind later.
Spring and early summer after rain, when levels are up and the water is at its clearest.
Weekdays. Medina is quiet midweek in a way Canyon never is.
Who this lake is for
Medina makes sense if you are on the north or west side of San Antonio — Helotes, Boerne, Bandera, Fair Oaks — or if you have property on the lake. From central San Antonio, Canyon is usually the more reliable drive. See our San Antonio guide for the full comparison.
What to ride here
Awake RÄVIK — jetboard. Forgiving, fast, and the safer pick given the steep shoreline and limited shallows.
Awake VINGA — eFoil. Excellent here on a calm morning, and Medina gives you the empty water to learn on.
Wave-Vo — electric watercraft, available in Texas through Divine Voltage.
FAQ
Can you launch when the ramps are closed?
Usually. A board is carried in by hand from accessible shoreline or a private dock. That is the practical advantage on a lake like this.
How far is Medina from San Antonio?
Roughly 45 minutes to an hour from the north side, depending on where you start.
Is it good for a first ride?
Yes on a calm morning at a decent level. If the lake is down, we will suggest Canyon instead.