Where to Wingfoil around Bordeaux

1. Lake Lacanau

Located less than an hour’s drive from Bordeaux.

Club de Voile Lacanau-Guyenne: Nestling between the sea and the forest, this club offers introductory wingfoil courses. A small beach makes for easy starts. The inland waterway remains calm, whatever the conditions. Here you can learn the basics of this new sport and even try out the electric foil, also known as a “flying carpet”.

Plage du Moutchic: This is also the starting point for wingfoil lessons in Lacanau. After a safety briefing, you’ll set off by boat to the ideal learning area. Take advantage of this opportunity to discover the pleasure of flying over water.

With these two spots facing each other, you can sail all year round, whatever the wind conditions. The best period is spring, when thermals are abundant.

2. Lake Hourtin

UCPA Bombanne water sports center: Only an hour’s drive from Bordeaux, the UCPA Bombanne water sports center offers direct access from the parking lot just behind the center. The lake is completely secure. Although the westerly wind is slightly blowing, the northerly or southerly wind blows in perfectly, creating a nice chop when the wind is strong enough.

Wingfoil spot near the port of Hourtin: This spot is ideally located between La Pointe de Grave and the Arcachon basin. It offers perfect conditions for learning wingfoil, with a shallow lake and sandy bottom. The westerly winds are well oriented and blow regularly on this spot. The best time to take advantage is in spring, when thermals are abundant, or in winter, when there are lows.

3. Lac de cazaux near the Arcachon basin.

Nestled between the ocean and the Bay of Arcachon, this region offers a unique atmosphere. Enjoy the calm waters along the peninsula, or set off on an adventure in the heart of the Bassin. To organize your foil session from Cap Ferret, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Le Pyla-sur-Mer: Set against the backdrop of the famous Pilat Dune, Le Pyla-sur-Mer is a magical place for surfing foil. At low tide, sandbanks emerge in the middle of the water, forming wave-sheltered lagoons ideal for foil. It’s our favorite spot for lessons all year round! Pyla-sur-Mer is a seaside resort at the entrance to the Arcachon basin.

Lac de Sanguinet: A well-known spot for windsurfers and kitesurfers. The lake always offers a sheltered spot, and is a perfect fallback if conditions are too complex on the Bay of Arcachon. To take advantage is spring, with abundant thermals, or winter during depressions.

But you also have

• Plage des Bardets: If you want to take advantage of the summer heat and westerly winds, Plage des Bardets is the place to be. After consulting the locals, you’ll discover places protected by Landes pines (aka “alios”).
• Gaste (westerly wind): With a southerly wind, the spot at Sainte Eulalie en Born works well.
• Maguide (easterly wind): If the wind is easterly, Maguide lake is a good choice.
• Port de l’Estey: This spot is less exposed to the wind, making it ideal for northerly winds. However, for the full experience, it’s best to sail out to sea.

4. Lake Biscarrosse

The beach at Gastes, on the Lac de Biscarrosse-Parentis, offers shallow, fresh water, with temperatures reaching 26° to 29°C. It’s an ideal spot for beginners, offering optimum safety. As throughout the region, the prevailing westerly winds in spring are ideal for wingfoiling.

Most of the lakes in this region run parallel to the ocean. So, if you encounter a northerly or southerly wind, you’ll easily find plenty of places to sail. If the wind is from the west, choose the northern or southern tip, or even the eastern shore of the lake, to benefit from a more constant wind.