Avoriaz

Avoriaz launches at about 1,819 m from the edge of this Haute-Savoie ski resort in the Portes du Soleil, a short but well-used site built by French mountain-rescue pilots in the late 1970s. It's a short takeoff - a two-to-three-foot run gets you away - but the wind often feels like it's coming from behind because of a strong thermal that sits right in front of launch, so pilots need to glide out over the trees before powering their wing. In the morning, launch toward the golf-course side; later in the day, launch closer to the cliff on the left. Conditions favour north-east winds most (great thermals) and north or north-west winds are also good; south, south-west and west winds are only average and can mask a Foehn effect, while east winds bring odd turbulence, excess tailwind at launch and weak thermals. Winter is the strongest season here; summer can be huge too, but pilots are advised to fly nearby Morzine instead when safety margins matter more, since Avoriaz sits close to a resort heliport with regular plane and helicopter traffic. Landing is near the cable-car station, with several options - but because it sits below a large north face, expect mixed winds off the slopes and off Morzine to complicate the approach.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is short - a two-to-three-foot run is enough - but a strong thermal sits right in front of launch, so the wind often feels backwind; glide out over the trees before powering the wing. Launch toward the golf-course side in the morning, or closer to the cliff on the left later in the day.

Getting there & local rules

The takeoff sits near the entrance to Avoriaz ski resort, with a small parking area nearby.

Local rules & hazards

North-east winds give the best thermals, north and north-west are also good, but south, south-west and west are only average and can mask a Foehn effect, and east winds bring odd turbulence, excess tailwind and weak thermals - check the forecast carefully before committing. The site sits close to a resort heliport with regular plane and helicopter traffic, and landing near the cable car sits below a large north face where winds off the slopes and off Morzine can mix, so many pilots prefer flying nearby Morzine when they want a wider safety margin.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Avoriaz, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Avoriaz with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.