Snowkiting, the latest sport to try out in Serre Chevalier

It's a sport where you have to manage your kite as much as your skis or snowboard. Snowkiting, like kitesurfing, isn't an easy sport, you have to be willing to learn and then experience the magical sensations that are so different from skiing. It's a sport that has exploded in popularity in recent years, and kitesurfers are delighted to be able to continue having fun in winter, even though it's not a sport that's reserved for them. Snowkiting is much simpler because it's practised on snow and not in the water (in the water you sink, so you need more wind and know-how to be able to experience your first glides).

To practise snowkiting, you'll need :

• skis or a snowboard
• a traction kite (pudding kite, box kite or single-skin kite)
• a steering bar and harness
• a helmet

In the early 90s, two Quebecers developed the first traction sails for snowkiting, Quebec being a beautiful playground filled with frozen and snowy lakes and large plains. This made it possible to practice skiing and snowboarding and to glide without a slope. But it's only since the advent of kitesurfing that snowkiting has become popular.

The sport was recognised in France in 1997 by the FFVL (Fédération Française de Vol Libre), which trained 200 instructors in 60 schools. The first French Championships were held in 2011. In France, you can snowkite in all the mountain ranges, and most of the places where you can practice are in the Alps, like Serre Chevalier.

Who is snowkiting for?

Snowkiting is possible from the age of 10, provided you have a good level of skiing and have at least some experience of red runs and off-piste skiing. It is advisable to have already practised kitesurfing or at least kite flying.

You also need a good cardio system to be able to walk in powder snow for at least 30 minutes.

To start snowkiting, it's best to choose a fairly wide area with no obstacles. Avoid trees, poles, cliffs, etc.

Then you can attack the slopes both downhill and uphill (and yes, you don't need a ski lift for this sport).

For the more expert, you can practice freestyle snowkiting by attempting tricks.

Like speedriding, snowkiting is of course forbidden on the slopes, and is only practised off-piste. This means you need to be accompanied if you don't know the terrain, with an instructor if you're a beginner, or a mountain guide if you don't know the resort's spots.

There are two kite schools in Serre Chevalier:

• Kite Legende offers 3-hour lessons, as well as courses lasting several days and snowkite touring or freestyle outings, open every day from 01/12 to 15/05. Price: €130 per lesson, €120 for a second lesson and €110 thereafter.
• Ecole de ski Oxygène Serre Chevalier offers sessions at €130 for 3 hours and is open every day from 18/12 to 2/01.

Choose snowkiting spots: They are defined as being very little prone to avalanches, even if an avalanche beacon is strongly recommended as you are practising off-piste.

Beware of jumps:It's easier to snowkite than kitesurf, but for jumps, remember that you'll be landing on hard ground, not water.

Never set off without checking the weatherDon't take any risks with dangerous weather, you need good visibility. You also need to be aware of the wind, which may blow and force you to do a lot of walking in the snow. You can bring snowshoes to help you.

If you're in the resort at the same time as the Snowkite Masters, you can try snowkiting every morning for €10 (just the price of insurance). Find all the dates for this week's show on the official website.