THE HAUTES-ALPES : THE WHITE WATER INTERNATIONAL REFERENCE

With 500km of navigational rivers, the “Hautes Alpes” are a great place for white water sports of both regional and international level. This exceptional potential of white water counts the rapids from grades 1 to 6, according to international level suitable for all, family trips and beginners, as much as experienced paddlers, amateurs of the sport or high level athletes.

In general, the high mountain courses are passable from April to October, or even all year round for one part of the Durance.

  
     
 

Canoe, kayak, rafting and hydro speed are the most popular activities in this vast sunny water domain.

The departmental committee of canoe-kayak in the Hautes Alpes has 400 members, who practice this activity all the year round in the nine clubs in the region.

2 sports classes and a training centre permit the development of sports careers and young professionals in the high alpine area and other regions.

During the summer period, thirty centres allow over 120,000 holiday makers to discover the white water, giving rise to significant economic consequences for the local economy.

 

A CENTRE FOR WHITE WATER AT HIGH LEVELS

  

Formed in 1993 by the commune of L’Argentiere La Bessee under the master work of EDF Mediterranean engineering, the white water centre was unveiled on July 4th 1993.

Since this date the structure has been a stage for big national events. It has equally become a training ground for the French teams and an indispensable tool to the training centre for water sports, established on the site. Every year big events are organised, including 4 Championships of France since 1995.
     

Principle Characteristics

Artificial development of the “Durance” river bed.

400m long.

4m incline with 1% gradient.

Slalom course with 50 gates mounted all year.

Flow rate available of 15 to 80m3/s.

Multiple possibilities thanks to the size of the river bed, the configuration of the obstacles and the movement of the water.

The centre use is very important due to the flow rate; going from school use to training at high levels, and from local competition to national championships, without forgetting the part it plays for leisure activities.

Adjoining warm up lake.

 

 

GOOD ORGANISATION: A REGIONAL KNOW-HOW

The Alps Provence Regional comities and the department of the Hautes Alps canoe and kayak society at L’Argentiere La Bessee, have been designed by the French Federation and the European Union of canoeing, to organise the Europe slalom Championships 2006.

30 European nations are awaited by the Hautes Alps to fight for the European Championship titles, both individual and team.

Since the construction of the centre in 1993, tighter and tighter connections have been weaved between the territorial groups and local sports movements, departmental and regional.

The big national events, organised on the site, have the knowledge to mobilize the human resources’ and the appropriate technical competence for a successful launch of this event.

Some 350 individuals, volunteers, federal professionals, employees, technical executives of the state…have been mobilised for this big event.

Largely experienced, the organisational comity will pull out all the stops to insure that this event will be a huge success.