Wayra Snowkite

Wayra Snowkite is a snowkite school based at the Col du Lautaret, in the Serre Chevalier valley (Briançonnais, Hautes-Alpes). It is run by Rodolphe Pottier, a ski and snowboard instructor (BEES 1st degree, 2006) and federal snowkite and land-kite instructor (2011).

Lessons start with the first snowfall, sometimes in November, and continue until the snow has gone. Depending on wind and snow conditions, the school also guides sessions in the Écrins and Queyras massifs.

Beginner lessons start at a base camp with a training kite, then a traction kite with a safety release, before moving onto skis on a marked course; children from age 7 are welcome. The improvement level lets riders practise independently on different spots under supervision, and rando-kite takes riders touring to passes, plateaus and high valleys with radio contact. Rando-kite requires your own touring skis and avalanche safety gear (transceiver, shovel, probe).

The school provides the harness, a land kite and a radio from the first lesson; kites and safety gear can be rented on request. Riders bring skis (freeride or touring) and a helmet.

Lessons by booking, from the first snow (sometimes November) until the snow melts, depending on wind.