GUIDE: KITE SPOTS IN NOIRMOUTIER AND FROMENTINE.
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Disciplines: Freeride / Waves / Freestyle / Foil / Wing
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Rider Level: Beginner to expert, depending on conditions and specific spots
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Wind orientation: Noirmoutier's beaches face all 360° of wind.
Map created by https://www.fromentinekite.fr/
🎯 In short: This Guide
Noirmoutier Island is a kite and wing paradise, exposed to all four winds. It offers over 250 sessions per year. Barbâtre, Le Gois, and Fromentine provide shallow waters perfect for learning. Luzéronde and Les Sableaux round out the island's spots. Find GPS points for each spot in the guide.
Live Conditions
GlissEvolution brings you live wind data, high-resolution forecasts, tides, and webcams on our dedicated weather pages:
► Live Weather & Wind Fromentine · Plage de la Grande Côte
► Live Weather & Wind Noirmoutier · Luzéronde
► Live Weather & Wind Noirmoutier · Barbâtre
► Live Weather & Wind Noirmoutier · Les Sableaux
► Live Weather & Wind Noirmoutier · Le Gois
► All spots: Weather & Spot Guide (74 spots across France and Europe) Kite and wing equipment is in our Kitesurf and Wing Foil worlds.
► GPS points for Fromentine & Noirmoutier kite spots:
Fromentine / Plage de la Grande Côte:
46.88504273237055, -2.1548017126168357
Barbâtre / Plage des Boucholeurs:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//46.903333, -2.157352
Luzéronde:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//+47.0047576083948+-2.292915365677883
Les Sableaux:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//+47.0032283107585+-2.2207201282553584
La Digue:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//+46.91567403877429+-2.1508463411391827
The Noirmoutier peninsula is famous for its salt marshes, which yield coarse sea salt and fleur de sel. It is also famous for its renowned early potatoes. Beyond that, its beautiful white sandy beaches make the island a true paradise for kite and wing surfers.
The island's topography is key to Noirmoutier's appeal, with its expansive sandy beaches exposed to all four winds. You'll discover spots perfect for kitesurf, wing, and foil. You can also find spots for windsurfing and sand yachting. Plus, there are dedicated wave spots for Surf.
In short, all watersports spots are enjoyed here.
► Introducing the three main spots:
Let's start with the three favorite spots of the island's school instructors: Barbâtre, Le Gois, and Fromentine. These locations offer several advantages, including shallow waters over sandbanks. These are perfect for discovering the joys of watersports. Noirmoutier Island consistently delivers over 250 sessions per year.
► Barbâtre Spot:
Barbâtre is a long beach of fine sand, facing west-northwest. This spot is best at low tide when the wind is from the N, NW, W, or SW. As mentioned, a sandbank creates a large lagoon here, with depths around 1m. The weak current and small waves make it ideal for learning to glide. It is also ideal for practicing kitesurf freestyle.
► Gois Spot:
The spot of Le Gois can be ridden with wind from NE, E, or SE. Again, you can enjoy immense sandbanks in the center of the bay (between the deck and the Gois road) that allow you to stand at high or low tide. It's a spot that ensures safe rides.
► Fromentine Spot:
This is certainly the best spot in the region. You can ride it at high tide with winds from N, NW, W, SW, and S. The ideal is to go at low tide (2 hours before, 2 hours after), especially for beginners looking for new sensations. The water is perfectly flat. This is ideal for kitesurf lessons in complete safety.
Currents are usually minimal, but be cautious during strong coefficients: at rising tide, the current pushes north towards the deck. At falling tide, it pushes south towards Notre Dame de Monts.
Waves are generally small, but you can find some on the left side of the water during the first half of the rising tide with west wind. A dedicated take-off area for Kites is located to the right of the beach access, heading towards the deck.
These three spots are the largest, but there are other great options to explore.
► Noirmoutier Island's hidden spots:
Luzeronde Spot:
This spot is great with wind from the NW or W. Here, aim for low tide, as the water gets very choppy at high tide. Be aware: this spot is closed from May 15th to September 15th.
Les Sableaux Spot:
At Les Sableaux, it's best to go kiteboarding with wind from N, NE, E, or SE. You should only visit this site at low tide (2 hours before, 2 hours after). Note: this spot is also closed during the summer season, from May 15th to September 15th.
Map created by https://www.fromentinekite.fr/
► Dangers:
- Strong tide coefficient: less space to land at high tide. Rocks (towards the deck) are exposed at
low tide
. - Very popular spot. -
Spot allowed all year round. Kite zone only to the right in summer (swimming area to the left marked by buoys). Caution: navigation is strictly prohibited in the shuttle channel for Ile d'Yeu.
► Miscellaneous:
- Restrooms
- First aid station
Now you know all about the many kite spots in the Noirmoutier/Fromentine region, each with its unique setting. All that's left is to load your gear and to inflate your kite to discover or rediscover them!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main kite spots in Noirmoutier?
The three spots most popular with schools are Barbâtre (long south beach), Le Gois (sandbanks of Bourgneuf Bay), and Fromentine (Grande Côte beach). Also popular are Luzéronde to the northwest and Les Sableaux to the east.
Is Noirmoutier suitable for beginners?
Yes: the sandbanks of Barbâtre and Gois offer shallow waters perfect for discovering kite and wing. Fromentine also has schools on site. The island features more than 250 sessions per year.
Which wind direction is best for riding in Noirmoutier?
360 degrees: the island's topography exposes its beaches to all four winds. There is always a spot that works, regardless of the direction (be aware of summer restrictions on certain beaches like Les Sableaux and Luzéronde).
Where can I check live wind conditions in Noirmoutier?
Check the GlissEvolution weather pages for each spot: Fromentine, Luzéronde, Barbâtre, Les Sableaux, and Le Gois. You'll find live wind, high-resolution forecasts, and tides.
Key Features
| Section | Key takeaway |
|---|---|
| In short, this guide | Noirmoutier Island, exposed to all four winds, is a kite and wing paradise with over 250 sessions per year. Barbâtre, Le Gois, and Fromentine offer shallow waters, ideal for… |
| La Digue | https://www.google.com/maps/dir//+46.91567403877429+-2.1508463411391827 The Noirmoutier peninsula is primarily known for its salt marshes, which produce coarse salt and fleur de sel… |
| Overview of the Three Main Spots | First, we'll cover the three favorite spots of the island's school instructors: Barbâtre, Le Gois, and Fromentine. |
| Barbâtre Spot | Barbâtre is a long, fine sandy beach, oriented west-northwest. |
| Le Gois Spot | The Le Gois spot is great for riding with NE, E, or SE winds. |
| Fromentine Spot | This is undoubtedly the best spot in the region. |
| Luzeronde Spot | This spot is ideal with NW or W winds. |
| Les Sableaux Spot | At Les Sableaux, kitesurfing is excellent with N, NE, E, or SE winds. |
Consider this
Key considerations and limitations noted in this article:
- Normally, there is little current, but be careful during large coefficients: on a rising tide, the current pushes north towards the deck, and on a falling tide, it pushes south towards Notre Dame de Monts.
- Warning: This spot is closed from May 15 to September 15.
- Warning: This spot is also closed during the summer season, from May 15 to September 15.
- There's always a spot that works, regardless of wind direction (just be aware of summer restrictions on certain beaches like Les Sableaux and Luzéronde).
Frequently Asked Questions
In short: key takeaways from this guide
Noirmoutier Island is a kite and wing paradise, exposed to all four winds. It offers over 250 sessions per year. Barbâtre, Le Gois, and Fromentine provide shallow waters ideal for learning. Luzéronde and Les Sableaux complete the island tour. Find GPS points for each spot in the guide.
What to Know About La Digue?
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//+46.91567403877429+-2.1508463411391827 The Noirmoutier peninsula is primarily known for its salt marshes, which produce coarse salt and fleur de sel, and for its famous early Noirmoutier potatoes. It's also renowned for its beautiful white sandy beaches. This makes the island a paradise for kite and wing surfers.
Top 3 Spots: What You Need to Know
We'll start with the three favorite spots of the island's school instructors: Barbâtre, Le Gois, and Fromentine. These locations offer several advantages, including shallow waters over sandbanks, which are perfect for discovering the joys of watersports.
Barbâtre Spot: What You Need to Know
La Barbâtre is a long, fine sandy beach that faces west-northwest. This spot is ideal at low tide when the wind blows from the N, NW, W, or SW.
Gois Spot: What You Need to Know
The Gois spot can be ridden with NE, E, SE wind. Again, you can enjoy immense sandbanks in the center of the bay (between the deck and the Gois road) that allow you to stand at high or low tide.
Fromentine Spot: What You Need to Know
This is arguably the best spot in the region. You can ride it on a rising tide with winds from the N, NW, W, SW, and S.
Got a question about the gear mentioned here?
The GlissEvolution team rides what they sell. They are available to answer your questions in person at the Pornichet store or by phone.
