In Switzerland you kite on lakes. One spot stands above all the others: Lake Silvaplana, in the Engadine, where a steady thermal wind, the Maloja wind, blows in summer.
Elsewhere the wind is more irregular and the rules change from one canton and municipality to the next. It is not the easiest country to start in.
At Silvaplana the season runs from June to September. The Maloja wind picks up in late morning or around noon and blows through the afternoon. May can work too, with much colder water.
On the other lakes the wind depends on passing fronts and is forecast day by day.
Best period : June to September
In November: 3% kiteable days
Historical monthly averages, not a forecast.
These averages come from a coarse-grid weather model. It does not see valley thermal winds such as the Maloja wind at Silvaplana. For the season, trust the text.
Lake Silvaplana, in Graubünden, a few kilometres from St. Moritz, is the reference spot. You ride in a high-mountain setting. In the morning the lake is calm. In the afternoon it fills with kites.
Lake Neuchâtel, the largest lake entirely in Switzerland, is the other popular water. Our spots also cover Lake Geneva, Lakes Biel and Murten, Lake Constance and several lakes in central Switzerland.
Rules. Regulations are federal, cantonal and sometimes municipal. At Silvaplana kiting has its own zones, and you launch from the official beach. Check the spot rules before you rig.
Cold water. At Silvaplana the water stays between 14 and 16 °C in summer. Bring a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit.
No wind in the morning. The thermal only picks up around midday. No need to arrive at dawn.
Kiteloopers référence les spots, les écoles, les hébergements et les voyages de la destination, avec la météo en direct. Tout ce qu'il faut pour partir au bon moment.
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