What are the best kitesurfing spots on the Opal Coast?

Panama, South Africa, Brazil… who said you had to travel to the other side of the world for quality kitesurfing spots? You don't need an 8-hour flight to reach the Opal Coast and make the most of this board sport that's been all the rage on the beaches of Hauts-de-France for close to two decades now. So if you want maximum thrills just a few kilometres from Lille, and 3 hours from Paris, head to the Opal Coast to discover the best kitesurfing spots the coastline has to offer!

Dunkirk

The North Sea gives Dunkirk — Malo — a prime playground for riders. A huge beach, which stretches out for kilometres at low tide and leaves plenty of room without crowding other riders. This spot is very popular and suits beginners and pros alike.

The Digue du Break is a second spot, well known to locals. It's a long stretch of tarmac nearly 6 km long that protects an industrial site from flooding, and on its seaward side offers an artificial beach much loved by walkers, shellfish gatherers and board sport enthusiasts.

Dunkirk's club and school offers a simulateur de kite. This tool, ideal for learning, lets the instructor stand right beside the trainee and correct their riding technique live, without having to manage the kite at the same time.

📌 From 16 to 20 August 2023, Dunkirk is hosting a leg of the world championships of the Qatar Airways GKA World Tour, which brings together the world's kitesurfing elite.

Sangatte/Calais

Sangatte is Calais's spot for every board sport: windsurfing, wingfoiling, kitesurfing and other board sports all meet at this very windy spot. Conditions can be a bit tough, with winds that easily reach around 40 knots. A smaller kite and a thicker wetsuit are a must to enjoy this spot, which stays highly attractive because the waves aren't very tall, but they are nice and long.

Watch out for the breakwaters on the beach. Barely visible at high tide, the wooden posts poke only slightly above the surface and pose a potential hazard.

Kitesurfing isn't a difficult sport, but it can turn extreme in certain conditions.
Nicolas, kitesurfing instructor in Sangatte

Scale of Beaufort

Wissant

Wissant is arguably the prettiest spot on the whole Opal Coast. Ideally located in the heart of the remarkable Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez site, it's recognised internationally among the best spots in the world.

A strong wind, beautiful, big waves, a huge beach nearly 15 km long… Here you need a good level to let yourself be carried through the air. The headland actually creates a venturi effect (the wind funnels in and picks up strength).

Wimereux

A spot with a strong reputation, popular for waves bigger than Wissant's, but less powerful. In Wimereux the wind blows hard and you can only ride at low tide, because the beach is narrow and gets too close to the sea wall at high tide. So it's essential to check the tide times before planning your session.

Le Touquet

With, among other things, the Canche bay, favourable for east winds, the bay gives good shelter from the waves. This spot is particularly popular, but beginners beware: there are strong currents, and what's more, the bay is only rideable before high tide and up to 1.5 hours after, because at low tide all that's left is the river!

At Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, on the huge beach, the wind blows well and sometimes the waves can get enormous when it blows from the south, south-west or north, north-west. Here, space is the last thing you'll be short of, with a sea that retreats up to 1.5 km and a beach that stretches 11 km as far as Stella-Plage. Even though this is a smart, highly touristy resort, there's room for everyone. Still, favour the northern part (past the Aqualud), which has no obstacles and isn't reserved for swimmers. What's more, the dunes make for a pretty nice sight!