ANNECY GUIDE

ANNECY GUIDE

With great infrastructure and fantastic flying Annecy is the beating heart of paragliding in the French Alps

Photo: Marcus King

Tour du Lac

The classic route here is the Tour du Lac, which comes in big and small sizes. Launch about 1pm from Forclaz, then surf the forested slopes and climb out above the limestone peaks to pick your way first north to the Dents de Lanfon and Mt Veyrier, then across the lake to connect with the Semnoz ridge. Turn left, soar up, get high, then head over to the Roc des Boeufs where you can climb high and head back to your starting point. A true XC classic of about 40km and a must-do for any aspiring Alpine cross country pilot.

SIV

Annecy is an SIV mecca. The Forclaz launch is 800m above the lake, and it’s a short but focused glide out to the SIV box where you will have around 500m to play with

ESCAPE THE CROWDS

Hike-and-Fly

A one-hour walk from Planfait launch brings you to the Col des Frêtes at 1,650m. It’s just one of dozens of hike-and-fly missions in the area

La Sambuy

Head 7km south from the lake and you come to La Sambuy, a quiet resort with a chairlift and grassy launch that is perfect for flying crosscountry missions into the wild Massif des Bauges

Vol-Visa

Head out of the valley and connect with the Aravis, a paragliding highway that leads towards Mont Blanc (4,804m) and beyond into Switzerland. Keep going until you reach Slovenia, 800km east

Cross Country Promotion

Lakeside Airbnb

Situated in Glières, between Talloires and Doussard this bright, modern studio is perfect for a couple. On the ground floor of what was an old French hotel, the building has its own private jetty which is perfect for swimming from. As well as the flying, which is in easy reach, there is swimming, cycling, climbing, sailing, walking and water-skiing, as well as shopping, restaurants, cafes and all the historical and cultural sites. Book through Airbnb or contact Sarah directly.

Email Sarah Ward at Velcro_knees@yahoo. co.uk or search for ‘Bright Annecy Lakeside studio with private jetty’ on Airbnb

Paratroc

Paratroc is one of the most famous online paragliding stores in France, and they are happy to ship worldwide. You can visit their realworld shop in Doussard where you can check out all the new kit from the the major brands, arrange demo flights, buy new equipment and trade in your old gear. Through Doussard Parapente they can also take care of your entire trip, providing shuttles, weather briefing and guiding for solo pilots or groups. If you’re on your own it’s a great way to meet other pilots. Weekend guiding from €150pp, plus €30 to join the local club.

paratroc.com, doussardparapente.fr

Ripair

With more than 26 years in the business Ripair is a world leader in repairs, re-lining, servicing and safety checks for all paragliding equipment, including wings, harnesses and reserves. They operate to the highest standards of quality control and repair work, and have a huge depth of knowlegde about the sport and its gear. Their latest service is a Ripair-Approved system for buying secondhand wings. If you are looking for a deal, check the Ripair website – all the wings have been checked and approved as safe to fly by Ripair themselves.

Ripair.com

Photo: Jérôme Maupoint