Plage des Roquilles
France · Occitanie
The Roquilles beach in Mauguio, located near Montpellier in Occitanie, is a must-visit spot in the region for kitesurfers. It is a less crowded place than the nearby Grande Motte, offering a more tranquil atmosphere while benefiting from regular wind conditions. The spot has a 200-meter linear sandy area well-equipped for launching and landing.
This spot is known for its consistent waves and works particularly well with south and southeast winds. The area is certified and approved by the French Sailing Federation, ensuring safe and supervised practice conditions. It is a place rich in history as kitesurfing was born between Carnon and Grande Motte in the mid-1990s.
The Roquilles mainly work with southeast to southwest winds. With southeast winds, the shorebreak can be significant and the water surface often becomes choppy with waves breaking randomly due to the sandy bottom. With southwest winds, conditions are more consistent with more predictable waves. The spot also works with thermal winds from the south and with tramontane (northwest), although the latter is difficult to exploit in the bay.
Launching is done from the main beach with easy access. A navigation channel is established during the summer season and should only be used to reach and leave the shore, with navigation occurring beyond 300 meters. The area for preparing kites is not very wide and can be crowded with tourists in summer. A row of wooden stakes protects the dunes, located about a line length from the beach, which must be strictly respected.
West and southwest winds are rare but offer the best riding conditions as they are very consistent. The water surface is not protected from the swell coming from the open sea, resulting in a lot of waves that break randomly, particularly with southeast winds.
Fonti :mauguio-carnon.com · montpellierkitesurf.fr · zoomkite.com · sportihome.com · spots.universkite.fr
