White water sports

Vote for the white water kayak of your choice !

The 5 boats the most voted for will be tested by a team of 5 readers ...

They will be invited to join a big week end test camp on the Hautes Alpes rivers. The choosen boats teams will also been represented ...

It's your turn now : click here to vote (in french) !

The Argentière la Bessée site has a white water sports centre open to all. canoe kayak and white water sports schoolspropose paddling courses, white water sports cocktail, themed trips and kayak courses on the warming up lake.

The white water stadium with its 40 gates permanently available is also open to all, and discovery kayak courses are possibles.

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 and 1 of Europe since 1995.

Main Characteristics

Artificial development of the "Durance" river bed on a 400m long area.

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.

Adjacent warm up lake.

The Pays des Ecrins is the perfect place for white water sports with the tumultuous torrent of the Gyr, the Onde and the Durance.

Rafting, white water swimming, kayaking, air boat, canoeing and river bugging are the most common sports.

Qualified instructors are available to help you enjoy some magic moments.

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.