French Southern Alps: A Paradise for Board Sports

Kitesurfing, paddle boarding, water skiing and sailing at Serre-Ponçon? Rafting on the rapids of the Ubaye? Or canyoning in the Vallée de la Roya? For board sports, the French Southern Alps never disappoints!

Serre-Ponçon: Board sports A-plenty!

With its almost daily thermal breezes, the Lac de Serre-Ponçon is a real playground for kitesurfing – you can get equipment and tips at Kite Légende or Altitude Kite. If you are more into the paddle board, head to Glisscool, Serre-Ponçon Aloha or La Baille. As for water skiing, the place to be is Ancre Bleue or at the Port Saint-Pierre Marina. Finally, for canoes, kayaks and rowing, there’s the Club Nautique at Chanteloube.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Une publication partagée par Serre-Ponçon (@serreponcon) le 28 Août 2019 à 8 :15 PDT

Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Une publication partagée par Rapid’eau Raft (@rapideau_raft) le 19 Août 2019 à 7 :46 PDT

Rafting on the Ubaye

Between Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye and the Lac de Serre-Ponçon, raft to your heart’s content on 52 kilometres of rapids with lip-smacking names (Main Course, Spring Roll, Pop-Corn, Champagne, Trou Normand) and original names (Hollywood, The Shark’s Tooth, The Little Wood). To explore them, Anaconda Rafting Ubaye offers rafting, hydrospeed, inflatable kayak and canyoning trips from Lauzet-Ubaye, at the gates of the Vallée de l’Ubaye.

Canyoning in the Vallée de la Roya

In the Alpes-Maritimes, canyoning is king, with more than 200 canyons and 70 routes alternating between clear turquoise pools and churning boiling gorges. In the Vallée de la Roya, the Canyon de Maglia has a series of 10-metre jumps, slides and acrobatic abseiling (rappelling). To get equipped and hire a guide, contact Air Eau Terre Nature, Mat et Eau or Roya Evasion.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Une publication partagée par Royaevasion (@royaevasion) le 22 Juin 2019 à 8 :43 PDT

Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Une publication partagée par Mylène Bau (@mylene.bau) le 26 Juil. 2016 à 3 :04 PDT

Wind in your Sails

For sailing in the French Alps, head to Lac de Serre-Ponçon! With its wide expanse of turquoise water and its daily breezes, the lake is a windsurfing paradise. Contact the Club Nautique Alpin Serre-Ponçon, the École Française de Voile at Savines-le-Lac Youth Hostel or the Base de Nautisme et de Plein Air. Most of these providers also offer trips in Optimist boats. At Serre-Ponçon à la Voile[5], you can also rent a sailboat.