Courchevel (Bouc Blanc)

Courchevel's Bouc Blanc launch sits at 2,187 m by the top of the Bouc Blanc drag lift, in the French Alps' Trois Vallées. Winter turns it into an easy top-to-bottom flight, with straightforward, safe access and launch straight off the ski slope. In summer it can be flown most of the day, though it typically blows out by mid-afternoon, which makes it a strong evening soaring site — pilots can drop back onto the Dent de Villards and work the valley breeze there too. Access follows the season: the ski lift serves it during winter, while the rest of the year means a dirt track up from Courchevel 1850, for which a permit from the local Police Municipale is required. In summer, a local club also runs a minibus from the Bozel landing field, mostly for late-afternoon flights. A wind sensor right at takeoff gives live speed readings worth checking before committing. Landing options shift with the season too: Le Praz is the main winter choice, La Tania — on the red piste near the main car park — is possible but more technical, and Bozel, which sits below the ski lifts, works better outside the ski season since returning to launch from there in winter is impractical.

Launch & conditions

Launch is right by the top of the Bouc Blanc drag lift; a wind sensor at takeoff gives live speed readings worth checking before flying.

Getting there & local rules

The ski lift serves the site in winter; outside the season, a dirt track runs up from Courchevel 1850, for which a permit from the local Police Municipale is required — a local club also runs a summer minibus from the Bozel landing field for late-afternoon flights.

Local rules & hazards

In summer, this site tends to blow out by mid-afternoon, so evening soaring is often the better window, including dropping back to work the valley breeze off the Dent de Villards.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Courchevel (Bouc Blanc), 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 Courchevel (Bouc Blanc) with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.