France
Mythical seaside resort on the Opal Coast, the Touquet-Paris-Plage beach is a vast, elegant, and very busy spot, offering a huge expanse of fine sand facing the English Channel. Known for its sporty atmosphere and openness to the sea, it allows for long freeride sessions in an airy and spectacular setting. The spot can offer very nice sessions when the wind is well oriented, but it requires good space and timing management, especially during the high 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.
chopchopNavigation takes place in open sea, on a very wide beach at low tide and significantly narrower at high tide. The wind mainly comes from west to southwest, arriving side to side-onshore. At low tide, the space is immense and take-offs are comfortable. At high tide, the navigable area is greatly reduced, imposing more rigorous navigation. The water is generally choppy, with regular waves when swell is present.
Wind from west to southwest, side to side-onshore, between 14 and 24 knots, with tide and traffic well anticipated.
Water conditions are choppy to rough depending on the swell. Well-formed waves can occur from west or southwest swell, making the spot interesting for freeride and accessible wave riding.
Currents present and directly related to the tide. The drift can be noticeable during rising or falling tide, especially during long crossings along the beach.
The most commonly used kite sizes range from 8 to 12 m² depending on the size and wind strength. Versatile kites are ideal for managing chop and waves.
Dominant wind from west to southwest, often steady, with typical intensities between 14 and 24 knots. North winds can be gusty and less favorable.
Temperate oceanic climate, with mild and sunny summers and cool, windy winters. The wind is frequent throughout the year, making the spot navigable for long periods, with an optimal window from spring to autumn.
Progressive depth with the tide, regular sandy bottom throughout the navigable area.
Water temperature ranges from 8–10°C in spring to 18–20°C in summer. Full wetsuit recommended outside of peak summer.
