Swisskite

Swisskite (Swisskite Club Portalban) is the local association of kitesurfers, wingfoilers and pumpfoilers at the Portalban spot (municipality of Delley-Portalban, canton of Fribourg), on the south shore of Lake Neuchâtel. A non-profit association, it had 141 members at the end of the 2025 season. Its statutes, revised in January 2026, cover kitesurfing and related disciplines (kitefoil, wingfoil, parawing, pumpfoil, supfoil); wingfoiling was formally brought into the club at the January 2026 general assembly.

Its first purpose is to keep the spot open: the club represents riders before the municipality, which officially recognises the spot, publicises the rules (a zone reserved for kite, wing and windsurf, no kiting in the swimming area, no entry into the Grande Cariçaie nature reserve marked by buoys) and supports the Association romande de kitesurf (KA), the umbrella body of French-speaking Swiss clubs. Members can use an 8 hp motorboat that needs no licence, moored in Portalban harbour, for safety and rescue, as well as a pumpfoil platform set up on the lake in 2025, authorised by the canton, funded by the municipality and maintained by the club.

The spot is side-onshore in south-west to north-west winds and suits independent riders. To help members progress, the club offers accompanied sessions offshore with the boat, group sessions with tips, awareness of the navigation rules and a WhatsApp group to follow the sessions. It also runs a welcome evening for new members, a self-launch demonstration (T-Launch), a pumping platform party, kite and wing trips (Sardinia and Crete in 2026) and the King of the Lake competition, whose 2026 edition took place from 18 to 20 September. On site: paid parking, cold showers on the beach and hot showers at the harbour, a beach bar, restaurants and SUP rental.

2026 annual membership, paid online in the club shop:

• Swisskite 2026 membership: CHF 42 (including CHF 2 transaction fee)
• Financial support for the club (optional): CHF 100
• Membership of the Association romande de kitesurf (KA) for club members: CHF 10, thanks to a CHF 20 discount; it gives access to the KA's third-party liability and hull insurance

Membership includes use of the club boat and unlimited access to the pumpfoil platform, which has been reserved for members since 2026 (the QR code on site leads to the membership page). Accompanied sessions require a small contribution; the amount is not published.