Snowkite spot · France

Solaison

Name: Solaison
Address: FR

Practical notes from riders: launch, parking and what to watch out for.

Show on the map46.0334, 6.4276

Watch out: SE, W
Nearest airport: NCYAnnecy Meythet airport, 28 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

does not work / gustyno reports

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

Pparking

Approximate location, based on the place name riders used. We don't have the exact launch yet, please send it with the form below.

From riders

What you need to know

Watch out SE, W: Unstable wind between SE and W (2 to 30 knots (15 m/s)), poor riding.

Watch out for

Clods of dirt in the snow when snow cover is thin.Facebook group Snowkiteurs des Savoie 2024

Parking

Car park about 50 m from the spot, free.OpenStreetMap

Conditions

Sticky snow with dirt clods in unstable wind.Facebook group Snowkiteurs des Savoie 2024

In riders' own words

„Aujourd'hui sortie de moins d'1H à Solaison (vent entre SE et O, entre 2 et 30Nds), en 4m, neige qui colle et qui botte avec mottes de terre intégrées. Nul.“
„OpenStreetMap way/1335210421“
„OpenStreetMap way/459030581“
„neige qui colle et qui botte avec mottes de terre intégrées“
„neige qui colle et qui botte avec mottes de terre intégrées. Nul.“

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

Parking changed, a new ban, a new obstacle in the water? Tell us, we will check it and update the page.

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.