The spot at Plage des Chalets is located in Gruissan on the main beach. You can reach it from Narbonne by taking the D32. Then follow the canal that runs from old Gruissan toward the sea. The parking lot offers enough space outside the high season. Be careful, however, when Indian summer extends, the parking can be packed on Sundays.
The spot is huge, with a beach 250m wide and 3km long. For kitesurfing, you need to wait for the marin, a wind that comes from the sea and can blow between 5 and 20 knots. It's easy and pleasant in good weather with a water surface ranging from fairly flat to choppy. The EAST orientation can strengthen in case of bad weather forecast and blow up to 30 knots. In southwest conditions, it can blow up to 60 knots during Cévennes episodes. In this case, the beach gets submerged by 20 cm of water and it becomes difficult to launch a kite comfortably.
There is of course the tramontane wind that also blows in this region. During the kite challenge, boat safety allows you to go on the water with peace of mind. Outside of competition, it's doable for experienced riders provided they ride very close to the shore (no rocks, only fine sand and depths from 20cm to 120cm in the first 50 meters). It's an offshore wind, so you need to be sure of yourself and be able to rely on yourself.
Otherwise, the Akila school located at the spot offers lessons (price?) or free kite assistance for 45 euros.
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Technical details of plage des chalets (Gruissan) spot
Required level
Beginner
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Open outside the high season (from late September to late May) and in the evening during summer from 7pm.
Hazards
You need to be careful with other beach users outside the high season. The beach is large enough to find an isolated spot. If the onshore wind is very strong, you need to take into account the seawall that separates the beach from the parking lot 200m away.
Wind specificities
The Marin wind creates waves that can be big. And the tramontane is offshore (The slightest problem and you are pushed out to sea)
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