10 Places to Waterski on your Summer Holiday in France
- Jacky Jongenelen
- Jun 12, 2019
- 5 min read
Did you know that France is the most visited country in the world? Every year, 82.6 million people visit France because of the historic sites, the beautiful scenery and the cuisine. There is so much to do for the whole family! France has also many places to ski. There are lots of ski schools and clubs were visitors can come by for a ski set or more. So it is well worth bringing your ski on your summer holiday. Here are 10 places that you should visit while spending your holiday in France.
This club is situated 45 minutes west from Paris. It is a ski school and a club. There are three lakes. Two lakes are for visiting skiers and one lake is for members only. All coaches are recognized by the French Federation. They also organize camps for kids and they host tournaments. Price for one ski set is € 50. They have packages.
Of course Paris is the main attraction here. But Ezy sur Eure is also a charming little town and Vernon, on the banks of the river Seine, is also a nice town to visit. More info about the area can be found on the France This Way website.
Ezy Lake
Situated 50 minutes southeast from Paris, this site is also a ski school and a club. Non members can ski by set, by day(s) or by week, always with a coach in the boat. The price of a ski set is € 45 during the week and € 55 in the weekend. There is also an option to buy a 60 minutes pass (this is about 6 sets), which costs € 180 during the week and € 215 in the weekend.
For tourism, a must see place in the area is Fontainebleau. This town southeast of Paris, is about 40 minutes from the ski site. A lovely historical town, famous for its Château de Fontainebleau, with beautiful gardens with fountains and sculptures.
Aqu'aventure
Lacanau Ski Club is one hour drive west from Bordeaux. They have two lakes, they offer skiing with coaching on both lakes. One set is € 49. They also offer packages for those who want to stay for a couple days or a week. There is a small restaurant and a swimming pool and they have houses for rent. There is a camping site with mobile homes on walking distance.
Lacanau Océan, only a 15 min. drive from the ski school, is famous for surfing. It is one of the best surfing beaches in France. There are numerous surf schools and kite surfing lessons, but in addition to these you can also find around 150 km of cycle pathways, hiking trails and golf courses.
Lacanau Ski Club (pictures by Eudes Metivier)
The ski school is situated in the middle of the famous Bordeaux vineyards and only 15 minutes from downtown Bordeaux. There are two slalom courses and they offer coaching. There is a club house with lounge chairs to relax between the sets. A ski set starts at € 41 for 15 minutes.
Of course Bordeaux is the obvious city to visit when you are visiting Baurech and you should absolutely visit it. Here are 10 reasons why you should. But if you are into wine, then Saint-Émilion is not to be missed. A medieval village in the middle of the Bordeaux wine area, where everything is about wine. You can visit a wine chateau, do a wine tasting, have a good meal (with wine of course), walk around the narrow medieval streets with lots of shops that sell… wine.
Ski Nautique Bordeaux (pictures by Nicolas Rousselot)
The Plan d’Eau is 50 minutes southeast from Bordeaux. There is a camping site next to the ski site with mobile homes to rent. The ski school teaches slalom, tricks and jump, there is always a coach in the boat. The ski school hosts two international tournaments per year, with lots of international skiers visiting just for the competition. A ski set will cost you € 3 per minute, around € 36 - € 42 for a ski set of 6 – 8 passes. There is a small restaurant and bar at the ski school.
Situated in the French Alpes, 35 km directly east-southeast from Geneva, this is a ski school on a man-made lake open to everyone. A ski set will cost € 50 but you if you ski more sets, you can buy a card or a membership so it will be cheaper. After skiing you can hike into the mountains or visit Lake Geneva.
Crystal Lac (pictures by Jenna Gay)
Albertville is best known for hosting the Winter Olympics in 1992. It is situated in southeastern France, 90 km from Geneva or 160 km from Lyon. The ski club is a little outside Albertville with a beautiful view on the mountains and crystal clear water. It is both a ski school and a club. They have club members, but they also welcome outsiders to come and ski. The cost is € 50 per set.
If you are into winter sports, the House of Winter Olympics has a permanent exhibition about the Winter Olympics. And the medieval city of Conflans, only a short drive from Albertville, is also worth visiting. And of course the mountains and villages around Albertville offer lots of outdoor activities.
Ski Caraibes
8 Monaco Wake and Ski, Roquebrune-sur-Argens
Roquebrune-sur-Argens is situated in the south of France on the Côte d’Azur, close to the city of Fréjus. Don’t be fooled by the name “Monaco Wake and Ski”, the country of Monaco is actually 90 km from the ski site. It is a club and a ski school. Club members pay an annual fee and benefit from lower ski prices and preferred times. Non-members can ski outside of members times and the price is € 50. Non-members can contact Genevieve de Stadieu at mws83@orange.fr to reserve a ski slot.
This ski club hosted last year’s U21 and Disabled Europeans and this year they are hosting the U14 and U17 Europeans. So if you happen to be in the area between 27 and 31 August 2019, you can visit and watch it.
The Côte d’Azur, or French Riviera, has so many things to see and do. You can go to the beach or visit cities like Nice, Cannes and Monaco.
Monaco Wake and Ski (pictures by Jean-François Gilles)
Camargue Paradis is situated in the South of France, 40 minutes from Montpellier. The ski school offers waterskiing at all levels. One set of slalom will cost € 48 for 6-8 passes. It has a nice sun deck with lounge chairs and a small restaurant.
The Camargue area is well known for its wetlands. There are lots of lakes and lagoons, where you can see flamingos and many other birds. This area is also known for its salt (fleur de sel). You can book tours to find out all about this special salt. Another interesting thing to visit is Aigues-Mortes. This is a fascinating little town because of the medieval walls that surround the entire historic town.
Camargue Paradis
This ski school is situated in the South of France, 35 minutes southwest from Toulouse. Vincent Soubiron is a well known waterski coach, who coaches Sacha Descuns and many other high level competition skiers. The rates vary from € 36 for beginners to € 60 for professionals with Vincent in the boat. The lake has two slalom courses so they can choose where to ski depending on the wind.
After skiing the city of Toulouse is the obvious place to go, if you have more time then I would say drive to the famous fortified city of Carcassonne (1 hour and 15 minutes drive from the ski site).
Vincent Soubiron Ski School
This is our pick of places to ski when you are in France. But of course there are many more places to ski in France. Have you been to any of these yet? Which one is your favorite?
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