Hydrospeed

All about hydrospeed

Need to discover nature while filling up with adrenaline?  Opt for a weekend or an afternoon hydrospeed and enjoy the joy of racing down the rapids at full speed, in the heart of France's most beautiful river landscapes. Thanks to our selection of the best spots to practice hydrospeed, find and book in a few clicks the ideal activity to share unforgettable moments of sport, nature and open fun, with family or friends. Fun and playful, hydrospeed is accessible to everyone, with courses adapted to all levels and all ages, without risk or specific preparation. Strong sensations guaranteed!

Discover hydrospeed.

First introduced in the 1970s, hydrospeed, also known as "white water swimming", is an outdoor activity that consists of going down a river with the help of a foam float and fins. Half immersed in the water, lying on your hydrospeed, you will have to manoeuvre between obstacles to propel yourself, slide on the waves, and make your way through the rapids and currents, for unique sensations of "surfing" in the river.

A little more physically demanding than rafting, hydrospeed remains a completely safe and open discipline for all, the board serving as a protective shield against the possible rocks that line the course. All you need to do is to know how to swim and to succeed in understanding the waves and water movements to guide you through the meanders and tumults of the river.

• Discovery hydrospeed: this is the activity to choose if you have no experience in whitewater or wish to practice the exercise with young children. The "discovery" outing allows you to learn about swimming, hydrospeed driving, or safety and Eskimo maneuvers to fill up on thrills on a shorter course without great technical difficulty.
• Sports hydrospeed: Longer and of varying intensity, sports hydrospeed courses are specially designed for participants who have already tried the discipline at least once beforehand. Whirlpools, rapids, waterfalls, water movements and various obstacles will stand in your way to test your driving skills and offer you unforgettable adrenaline rushes, in the middle of an exceptional nature.

When and where to practice hydrospeed in France?

Hydrospeed is generally available between April and October, depending on climatic conditions and river flows. Choose rivers with natural flows, which are not dependent on dams, and whose configuration changes with the seasons and water levels.

France has countless privileged places to practice hydrospeed, so much so that it is not easy to provide you with an exhaustive list of the best spots. However, here are some of the most beautiful rivers in France, to discover hydrospeed, or even to make multi-passenger descents (rafting + hydrospeed or canoe-hydrospeed):

• The Isère Gorges: From the Vanoise National Park to Valence, the Isère, thanks to its steep hills, is dotted with paths perfect for hydrospeed, especially around Tignes and Bourg-Saint-Maurice, in the heart of the Tarentaise valley.
• The Aude and Hérault gorges: the most spectacular routes between Axat and Quillan, the Saint-Georges gorge in the Aude, but also the Devil's Canyon, in the heart of the Hérault, a few kilometres from Montpellier.
• The Morvan Natural Park, in Burgundy: There are two rivers, Le Chalaux and La Cure, for hydrospeed. Be careful, the activity is subject to water releases

What equipment for hydrospeed?

Sports and fun, hydrospeed is an activity open to everyone, young or old; depending on the level of difficulty of the river and/or the flows of the moment, it can happen that the minimum age is 10, 12 or even 16 years. An autonomous, foam boat, the hydrospeed is indeed rather easy to manoeuvre. The only imperative condition for his practice: to be able to swim and immerse himself.

In order for everyone to fully enjoy these moments of discovery and adventure in the wilderness, it is important to keep in mind that safety remains a fundamental aspect of hydrospeed practice. The swimmer is therefore equipped, in addition to his foam float (hydrospeed), with a neoprene wetsuit, reinforced with leg protection and socks (also neoprene), a helmet, a life jacket, and fins to progress at maximum speed in the rapids. On your side, don't forget to bring with you a bathing suit, towel and spare bathing suit, as well as a snack, in order to recharge.