Snowkite spot · France

Les Grandes Platières

Name: Les Grandes Platières
Address: FR

Riders have kited it in S.

Show on the map45.9843, 6.7227

Works in: S
Watch out: SW
Nearest airport: NCYAnnecy Meythet airport, 49 km

Forecast and webcams

Before you go

Forecasts often disagree. When Windguru, ALADIN and Windy agree, it is worth going.

Under the snow

Surface and skis

Riders have not described the ground under the snow. Early in the season and after a thaw, expect things to stick out.

Rule of thumb: the smoother the ground, the less snow you need. On a mown meadow riders usually start from about 20 to 30 cm; on stubble, ploughed fields or dwarf pine you need much more.

Bring rock skis

For your first sessions, early in the season and anywhere the snow is thin, use old skis (“rock skis”) or an old snowboard. A stone hidden just under the snow can cut the base of new skis on the very first run.

Tips for this spot

On hills the wind is stronger and gustier than the forecast says. Behind a forest it breaks and swirls, so launch well away from trees.
Wind and frost add up: at −5 °C and 20 knots (10 m/s) it feels like about −14 °C. Goggles, a balaclava and spare gloves.
Frozen snow is hard: a helmet and back protector are worth it even on a flat plateau.

On site

Wind and riding area

worksdoes not work / gustyno reports

Direction the wind blows from. Based on riders' experience, not a forecast.

The marker shows the place riders name. We don't know the exact launch yet, please add it with the form below.

From riders

What you need to know

Watch out SW: In SW wind, the wind reaches the spot poorly and only fills in within a small zone right along the ridge.

Watch out for

Uneven terrain full of small bumps and snowdrifts; good visibility is essential.Facebook group Snowkiteurs des Savoie 2024

Getting there

Do not ride too low without ski touring gear, otherwise you face a long hike back up.Facebook group Snowkiteurs des Savoie 2024
Access via the DMC gondola; after exiting, the spot is straight ahead on the right.Facebook group Snowkiteurs des Savoie 2024

Rules and respect

A signposted nature reserve at the summit is off-limits (patrolled by rangers).Facebook group Snowkiteurs des Savoie 2024

In riders' own words

„ils annoncent du vent du Sud... Effectivement, les prevs semblent bien.“
„avec un vent de sud ouest, le vent rentre moyen, seulement la petite zone proche de la crête était ventée“
„Sinon en sortant du DMC, c'est droit devant, sur la partie droite.“
„Si tu n’es pas équipé rando ne va pas trop bas sous peine de faire une grosse marche.“
„Il y a pas mal de petits reliefs sur la zone et des congères, une bonne visibilité est nécessaire“
„Il y’a une réserve naturelle au sommet, un panneau est affiché. Merci de ne pas rider dans la zone... Les gardes faunes nous ont à l’œil“

Wind by month

When it blows

Average wind speed 10 m above ground from NASA POWER (MERRA-2, 2001–2025). The model works on a grid of roughly 50 km; on hills and by the water the wind is often stronger and gustier.

4.7Jan2.4

4.8Feb2.5

4.9Mar2.5

4.8Apr2.5

4.8May2.5

4.6Jun2.4

4.5Jul2.3

4.3Aug2.2

4.4Sep2.3

4.5Oct2.3

4.3Nov2.2

4.6Dec2.4

windiest monthsaverage wind in knots, NASA POWER; below the month in m/s

Values by month

January	4.7 knots · 2.4 m/s
February	4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s
March	4.9 knots · 2.5 m/s
April	4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s
May	4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s
June	4.6 knots · 2.4 m/s
July	4.5 knots · 2.3 m/s
August	4.3 knots · 2.2 m/s
September	4.4 knots · 2.3 m/s
October	4.5 knots · 2.3 m/s
November	4.3 knots · 2.2 m/s
December	4.6 knots · 2.4 m/s

Nearby

More spots within 60 km

Been there?

Add what you know

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Sources: Riders' reports in public kite groups on Facebook (Snowkiteurs des Savoie). Wind NASA POWER, airports OurAirports, photos Wikimedia Commons (author and licence with each photo). As of 17 October 2026. These are riders' reports; local rules change, so look around before you ride and follow local signs.