Map › Hautes-Alpes › Lac de Serre-Ponçon
Spot · tier 3 · France
Lac de Serre-Ponçon
Serre-Ponçon is a mountain reservoir lake south of the Écrins national park, known for turquoise water and a reliable daily thermal wind (roughly 10-25 knots from the W/SW) that builds through the afternoon from April to August/September. It is one of France's best-known freshwater kite and wingfoil venues, with the always-flat water making it popular for learning as well as for foiling. Altitude Kite runs the main school on the Eaux Douces beach between Savines-le-Lac and Crots.
freshwater freeridebeginnersfoil/wingfoil
Wind
| best months |
|
|---|---|
| dominant direction | W/SW (afternoon thermal) |
| typical knots | 10-25 |
| thermal or synoptic | thermal |
Water
| type | flat |
|---|---|
| notes | Freshwater reservoir lake; described by multiple sources as always flat, ideal for learning and for foiling. |
Levels
| beginner | yes |
|---|---|
| intermediate | yes |
| advanced | yes |
Launch & crowd
| description | Main launch on the Eaux Douces beach between Savines-le-Lac and Crots, home to the Altitude Kite school (open May-September) |
|---|---|
| space | huge |
Travel basics
Sources: serreponcon.com · letskite.fr · altitude-kite.com