DESCRIPTION

XC : This site starts to work early in the year as well as early in the morning. Facing SE with a very steep gradient that has little cow paddocks and forest getting that morning sun this site boasts some good thermalling opportunities. If the wind is N around to W, it is still possible to get flights in before 1pm thanks to its orientation and the micro climate of the Centon/Villette area. However when the valley system works it comes over the top joining the valley wind from Moutiers towards the high mountains from as early as 11am. BUT-It is possible to fly in the afternoon on a stable day trying to fly bubbles on the lee side especially in Autumn/Winter. Despite all meteo winds, every flight at about 10am, there is a light pleasant thermal breeze on launch, with a view of Tignes Grande Motte,Saint Foy,La Rosiere,les Arcs,la Plagne,Val Thorens,Meribel and Courchevel. There are various routes to take once gaining altitude with an early start to your day, some local French pilots have achieved massive distances and return triangles If you are unlucky with the wind or arrive too late-there is a small ridge to fly from that is a good XC starting point for afternoon flying behind the Montgirod side, the launch faces W called Naves. ACRO : Beware : Centron houses and power lines and main road, fly acro over the trees in the left corner. Fly with a Rogallo or Base system. Minimum 700m in the box with bad wind, max 1000m starting at 1900m. The same distance driving to launch as driving up to Forclaz(Annecy) from Doussard, but the road is smaller, at least tar all the way up. The glide out to the 'box' can also be compared to Annecy at some (2.5 to 2.7km), this is good because most sites in the French Alps used to do 'acro ploufs' require a long glide that eats height.

ACTIVITIES

- paragliding
- xc

weather

Spring and Autumn : Hunting season, do not go to the toilet in the trees up the mountain. Summer: Venturi in the valley. Winter : foehn wind days-you shouldn't be out there anyway.

access

From Moutiers take the N90 road, 'Bourg saint Maurice' direction. After the tunnel go into Centron, then up to 'Montgirod' direction. Go straight up past Montgirod on a little tar farmer road, park by the cheese farm where the tar road ends or go higher if your car can do so. It's about the same distance driving to launch as it is driving up to Forclaz(Annecy) from Doussard, meaning - roughly 15km from Centron to the launch.