L'Estaque (étang de Leucate)
France · Occitanie
L'Estaque, on the Leucate lagoon in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque in Occitanie, is an old seaplane base dating back to 1927. This spot south of the Salses-Leucate lagoon attracts kitesurfers for its vast space and stable conditions.
The remnants of the base now coexist with the navigation area, featuring a wide beach for setup. It is a popular place for schools and local riders who progress safely.
The Natura 2000 site is home to unique flora and fauna, which should be respected during sessions.
The spot is oriented for a side-shore to on-shore dominant wind from the NW, perfect for navigating without risking going offshore. The launch area is just behind the parking lot, on ground mixed with shells, small pebbles, and grass, which should be carefully checked before launching in strong winds.
Launching is easy on the fairly large beach, with cars parked downwind a few dozen meters away. The navigation area is wide and suitable for both learning and freestyle, with no influencing tide as it is a closed lagoon.
Schools like KiteSchool Leucate offer lessons with a boat and radios for safety. Prefer this spot when the sea wind is not ideal, as it works well with land wind.
Sources :zoomkite.com · spots.universkite.fr · campinglesgalets.fr · kiteschool-leucate.com
