Snowkite spot · Spain

Portalet

Name: Portalet
Address: ES

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

Show on the map42.8059, -0.4185

Nearest airport: LDETarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport, 53 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

Pparking

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

Who it suits: Recommended for complete beginners looking for flat terrain on skis.

Parking

Park at the Portalet parking lot by the Formigal ski resort.Facebook group Snowkite Pirineos 2023
Car park about 150 m from the spot, free.OpenStreetMap

Getting there

The spot is located across the road from the Portalet parking lot at the Formigal resort.Facebook group Snowkite Pirineos 2023
The spot is located near the town of Jaca and the Valle de Tena valley.Facebook group Snowkite Pirineos 2019

Conditions

Good space and good wind.Facebook group Snowkite Pirineos 2019

Facilities

Campsite accommodation available in Valle de Tena, dialysis in Jaca or Senegüé.Facebook group Snowkite Pirineos 2019
Snowkiting lessons available.Facebook group Snowkite Pirineos 2019

In riders' own words

„Soy novato con mayusculas y busco zonas llanas donde poder meterme los skis e ir aprendiendo! ... lo mejor es el portalet“
„Debes aparcar en el parking del portalet de la estacion de formigal“
„OpenStreetMap way/223253238“
„OpenStreetMap way/297008976“
„Debes aparcar en el parking del portalet de la estacion de formigal y es al otro lado de la carretera.“
„Jaca esta cerca de Formigal/portalet que es el spot de alli.“
„lo mejor es el portalet que tiene buenas zonas y buen viento.“
„Si eres novato total igual te puede interesar dar un curso, yo doy clases“
„diálisis en Senagüé, alojamiento en camping valle de Tena y snowkite en Portalet“

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.

6.0Jan3.1

6.2Feb3.2

6.3Mar3.2

5.7Apr2.9

5.4May2.8

4.7Jun2.4

4.5Jul2.3

4.6Aug2.4

4.7Sep2.4

5.9Oct3.0

6.1Nov3.1

5.9Dec3.0

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

Values by month

January	6.0 knots · 3.1 m/s
February	6.2 knots · 3.2 m/s
March	6.3 knots · 3.2 m/s
April	5.7 knots · 2.9 m/s
May	5.4 knots · 2.8 m/s
June	4.7 knots · 2.4 m/s
July	4.5 knots · 2.3 m/s
August	4.6 knots · 2.4 m/s
September	4.7 knots · 2.4 m/s
October	5.9 knots · 3.0 m/s
November	6.1 knots · 3.1 m/s
December	5.9 knots · 3.0 m/s

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 (Snowkite Pirineos). 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.