Kitesurfing in Annecy is a recent sporting discipline. Practiced on lakes or by the sea, kitesurfing requires a fairly strong and constant wind as well as good physical condition. Lake Annecy is a pleasant spot for practicing this sport despite some constraints due to the lake’s traffic.
Kitesurf Equipment
The equipment for practicing kitesurfing on Lake Annecy consists of a fairly light board and a sail with bladders to prevent it from sinking in case of a fall. A harness, lines, and a bar complete the equipment. A life jacket is mandatory.
- Board
- Sail
- Harness
- Bar
- Life jacket
The idea of this demanding sport is to be pulled fast enough by the sail to glide on the water. With a bit of practice, it is then possible to perform tricks several meters above the water.
There is no kitesurf club in Annecy nor a place to rent the necessary equipment, so it is essential to own your own gear.
For kitefoil enthusiasts, this practice is apparently no longer allowed on Lake Annecy. However, the regulations are vague regarding this sport, and it is not uncommon to see boards coming out of the water thanks to their foil near the Albigny beach in Annecy-le-Vieux.
How to practice kitesurfing in Annecy?
Practicing kitesurfing on Lake Annecy has certain particularities that must be taken into account.
- The wind: the bise, the local wind, rarely blows strongly and not consistently enough. Therefore, one must seize every opportunity to launch onto the lake.
- The surroundings: the edges of the lake are quite cluttered with traffic, large trees, and numerous roads. This requires good control to stay on the water surface.
- The traffic: during the summer season, there are so many users on the lake: paddle, pedalos, divers, sailboats, bathers… that practicing kitesurfing is not possible everywhere for safety reasons.
The Lake Geneva, much larger and therefore more suitable for this sport, has fewer constraints during the summer season.
So, when to practice kitesurfing in Annecy?
At Lake Annecy, four sites are accessible for practicing kitesurfing, according to specific hours:
- Doussard Beach: possible from September to June, from 1:00 PM until sunset. Be careful not to enter the nature reserve at the end of the lake where access is strictly prohibited.
- Albigny Beach in Annecy-le-Vieux: open all year round, from sunrise to sunset.
- Saint-Jorioz Beach: possible in July from 1:00 PM until sunset and in August from 7:00 PM until sunset. Note that this spot, well-oriented in windy weather, is not recommended for beginners.
- The rowing launch area in Sevrier: open all year round and every day, from 1:00 PM until sunset. Note that launching is tricky due to the presence of large trees.
Good winds!
Want something else? Annecy and its surroundings offer many sports activities.
