Lido Plage (Lake Bourget)

Lido Plage on Lake Bourget is a clean freshwater spot with small, narrow shoreline access, and it works primarily when the wind is aligned for North/Northwest conditions. For kitesurfing, the water is reported as flat with chop, supporting freeride and freestyle sessions, while the overall setup is technically demanding because of the tight launch area and nearby obstacles. A key feature is the afternoon thermal called the Traverse. It is reported to rise in late afternoon, typically between about 5pm and 9pm, creating consistent conditions in the shoulder-to-summer season. Sources highlight kiteable conditions in April, May, and June (about 60–70 kiteable hours per month), and kiting on this spot is also described as best in the summer thermal window (with the thermal active roughly from April through September). Safety planning is important here: the launch is very narrow and setup errors are harder to recover from. Trees and structures sit immediately behind/around the launch zone, and there are stone wave breakers near the waterline. Local guidance emphasizes pre-flight checks with careful attention during launch and prioritizing swimmers and beach users; life jacket or a wetsuit is reported as mandatory beyond the shoreline zone, and cross the shoreline zone perpendicular to shore at moderate speed.