Where to Snowkite in Chamonix, France

France's Chamonix Valley may be famous for the legendarily dramatic downhill skiing on its surrounding peaks -- Mont Blanc, for example. However, Chamonix's world-renowned snow invites less-vertical, more-aerial playtime, as well: specifically, snowkiting. Two official snowkiting sites, both inside the regulated environment of a local ski resort, invite skilled snowkiters to play in -- and above -- the snow.

  1. A Choice Spot

    • The authority on snowkiting in Chamonix is Thomas Ligonnet, a sponsored rider with Ozone Kites and long-time resident of the beautiful resort village. Sponsored for kitesurfing during the summer months, the half-French, half-Spanish athlete spends the snow season slashing powder around "Cham," teaching at Ecole du Ski France and guiding private clients to the best kiting spots. "Chamonix is a great destination for snowkiting," Ligonnet asserts. "There's plenty of wind, good snow conditions and lots of height." In fact, the quaint village of Le Tour in Chamonix Valley is the snowiest in France. Even on the off-chance that there is no wind, it's one of the best places in the country to ski or snowboard.

    Pass Required

    • If you want to snowkite in Chamonix, you won't be able to do it without a pass. The snowkiting areas in Chamonix are all located within the ski resort of Le Tour Balme, which sits at the lofty end of the Swiss-bordering Chasm Valley. To access the snowkiting areas, athletes must at least purchase a pedestrian pass to the resort; however, most will prefer to purchase a full lift pass. "You have to take two lifts up to reach the snowkiting areas," says Ligonnet, "if you don't want to spend the day hiking." Beyond access, the investment holds additional benefits: Passholders enjoy parking, warming rooms and access to rescue services.

    Intermediate-to-Advanced Snowkiters Only

    • Chamonix's snowkiting areas are all located on mountain slopes, making them inappropriate for beginners in the sport. "The slopes are too aggressive for beginners," Ligonnet explains, "and the snow can be quite deep." Gus Hurst, another prominent snowkiting athlete, remembers a day when a less-experienced snowkiter could have "flown to Switzerland" on the wings of a strong Chamonix gust front. Stones and trees can also present hazards, and kiters must demonstrate sufficient control to stay at least 400 feet from all pistes, or tracks, and lifts.

    Col des Posettes and Col de Balme

    • One of Ligonnet's favorite spots is Col des Posettes. "It's the widest area that we use for kiting. It's nice, and not too strong," he explains. "Col des Posettes works better when the winds are coming west-northwest from the Chamonix Valley; then, if the winds are too soft, you can crank it up going to the Balme Pass, just on the border with Switzerland." Col de Balme, right on top of the mountain, is another of Ligonnet's local favorites. "It's a little, smaller spot," he says, "but it takes a wider variety of winds than Col des Posettes. You can kite there when the winds are westerly, northwesterly, easterly and northeasterly." The space can be a little claustrophobic, however, and the mountaintop winds can be overpoweringly strong for nonexpert kiters.