France
The beach of Houlgate, located on the Normandy coast in Normandy, offers a large stretch of fine sand facing the Atlantic Ocean. It is a popular spot for riders due to its wide beach and wind exposure, with a friendly atmosphere animated by the Houlgate Plein Vent festival every year.
Close to the mouth of a river, the spot alternates between calm waters and small waves depending on the conditions. Belle Époque villas line the beach, adding a unique charm to this destination accessible from Deauville or Cabourg.
Ideal for regular sessions, Houlgate attracts intermediates and experts thanks to its reliable side-on wind in season.
The wind data shown here comes from ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) over 4 years, reprocessed to reflect realistic conditions.
👉 Average wind has been calibrated to avoid the usual underestimation of models.
👉 Gusts have been corrected by a median ratio to avoid unrealistic extreme values.
👉 Each day is summarized by the median wind (P50) observed during useful hours (8am–8pm), then classified into wind ranges.
👉 The weighted mode mixes average wind and gusts to best reflect felt wind.
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flatThe Houlgate spot works well with a South-West to West (WSW) wind, which comes in side-on perfect for navigation. For a North-West wind, it is also side-on port along the entire coast, regular with a small swell. A rare but strong North-East wind offers a side-on starboard, but be cautious of disturbances from the Black Cows cliff; move towards Franceville for a better flow.
The launch is done on a large sandy launch area, wide and easy to access. The navigation area extends in front of the beach, with a flat and shallow water surface at low tide, ideal for tricks. At high tide, the current intensifies near the mouth of the river, making the water less pleasant; prefer two hours before/after high tide if strong SW/West wind for powerful waves formed by the river-sea opposition.
Avoid the area disturbed by the cliffs. The summer thermal can rise to 16-17 knots late in the evening, perfect when the NW is lacking. Boats and currents to watch out for during tidal changes.
The ideal conditions are a WSW wind at 15-25 knots, regular side-on without excessive gusts. Stable North-West or light summer thermals also work perfectly.
The water surface is flat, choppy with small waves, shallow and sandy. Powerful waves may occur two hours before/after high tide with strong SW/West winds.
The current is strong at the mouth of the river, especially during tidal changes. At high tide, it is strong and makes navigation tricky. Stay vigilant near the channel.
Opt for sizes from 9 to 11m² in moderate Normandy winds, up to 7-9m² for strong NW or thermal winds. Adjust according to your weight and level.
The prevailing winds come from the South-West side-on in the bay, regular and glassy in lagoons at high sea. The North-West, a blessed wind for kitesurfers, is side-on port with small swell. North-East is rare but strong, and summer thermals are capricious up to 17 knots.
The Normandy climate in Houlgate is oceanic, mild in summer with temperatures around 20-25°C and cold in winter dropping to 5-10°C. The intermediate seasons offer a good compromise for kiting, with more consistent winds from September to April.
The depth is gradual and shallow with a sandy bottom. You can stand for a long time from the shore, perfect for safety.
In summer, the water reaches 18-20°C, ideal with a shorty wetsuit. Winter around 10-12°C, 5/4mm neoprene required. Spring/autumn 14-16°C.
