Kitesurfing in South France

[kitecrazy_007]

A call-out to the knowledge-base of kite-travelers. In June/July I am off to South France for 2 weeks with the in-laws. We are going to be staying in Cannes (or just outside). Your guessed the question: Does anyone know whether there are any good kitesurfing spots close to Cannes, and if so where. What are the predominant winds during the summer (supposing it does blow), and any other useful information.

Thanks in advance.

[voodoospirit]

well, hum, the kitesurf spots are wayyy more to the west of cannes, and in the summer the wind is pretty light.... there r some kitesurf spots but the beaches r small, roads or railway just downwind of them...

in cannes, a kite got caught in the electric lines of the railway so kitesurfing is not very appreciated

if u speak french, try to get some assocation or clubs around those towns:
-Club france 4 rue des suisses 06000 nice
- Palmbeachkitesurfing 6 rue du Dr gonin 06800 cagnes sur mer alain.island@free.fr

in summer, laws r kinda restrictive about kitesurfing as well.
can t help u more, try the second one first, it has an email, i usually kite more towards montpellier/beauduc.

i hope it helped u.

[kenny KAF]

june july is not the best period to get good winds but if you are lucky, you can still have some.
Other drawback is that during summer, most of the beaches are closed to kitesurfers. Some of them benefit of agreements in the morning (till 9 or 10am) and in the evening (from 6 or 7pm) allowing you to ride.

Best way to get answers is to post a request on this forum: http://forum.flysurf.com/le-bar-vf1.html

post it in english, most people will understand it.

[kenny KAF]

Hey, Voodoo, arretes de mater les forums et retournes bosser!

[Dirk]

I guess the wind is hard to predict in June/July but I would take my gear with me as there is always a chance. I was there last year in August and there were a couple of really good days with medium strong mistral (in Almanarre) and 32°C of air and 24°C of water.

Not sure if the restricitions already start in June or in July with the start of the French summer holidays.

Round the corner from Cannes there is St.Aygulf (40min drive) in the Frejus area (have a look at kitebeaches.com) which has a designated kite zone and a nice wide beach. That beach is good for wind with easterly direction in it.

Most frequented kitebeach is Almanarre (approx. 1:30h drive from Cannes) which has a kitezone all year round. Good in westerly winds.

[voodoospirit]

if the mistral is not present, it s light wind days = i use my speed² 15 most of the time since the wind can be between 8/13 knots in july/august.
the days, the mistral is blowing, wind can go up to 30/35 knots.


kenny: j ai 4 jours de libre, 4 jours pas de vent au semnoz, en fait 6 nds, rien que pour faire chier :p
je bosse ce week end et je suis sur que ca revenir ce week end......

[Aleph]

Buy the kite and windsurfing guide to Europe ( http://www.kitebeaches.com/index.php ).

I've been in South of France 18 months ago and had lots of fun in Beauduc and in a place called L'ainse carteau.

http://blog.arendsen.net/index.php/2007 ... ip-europe/

alef