We've had a couple of Kiting trips to France now, once for buggying a long time ago and once more recently to visit the much hyped Col du Lautaret. 

 Lacanau Ocean

After spending a couple of days up at Mont Saint Michel in kind of grotty weather, we decided to cut our losses, pack up the car (this was the days Pre-Van) and head for Bordeaux. A wise choice weather-wise but the beaches down there aren't much good for buggying. On the other hand, we suspect there is some fun to be had on the water but haven't got a clue what the set up is nowadays as it was 7 or 8 years ago when we went! Much use as a chocolate teapot? Thought so.

Col du Lautaret 

Perhaps we were just unlucky with the weather and the snowfall the year we went (2004) but we both felt that the Col is most over-rated. In a week, we didn't get a decent wind to actually get on the boards at the top of the mountain but we both felt that there wasn't that much space anyway. There were loads of obstacles to collide with including some large rocks, a house, some power lines and a main road. There is a field at the bottom of the pass that goes up through the Col du Lautaret which you can use if the wind's the wrong direction for the top. Be prepared for swirling, gusty blasts that will vary between 5 and 30mph in the blinking of an eye! We recommend saving up a bit longer and going to Norway! Or Silvaplana, global warming permitting.

Getting there

Go to Norway! As regards kitesurfing, we really don't know what the situation is these days but having a look at http://www.kiteboardingholidays.com/europe/france.php is probably a cunning place to start. Tom's bro, who is currently learning to kitesurf, has family and friends in France so will probably do some kitesurfing in France soon and will no doubt provide us with an update at some point. Watch this space...