This exceptional stage at 2000m altitude in the Aosta Valley (the Italian side of Mont Blanc) is taking place for the 5th time. It represents the pinnacle of the stand-up paddleboarding race concept in an alpine environment.
It has everything: turquoise waters, 4000m peaks covered in glaciers, the mountain refuge and its unique atmosphere, with, in the case of the Rifugio Prarayer, a unique welcome, abundant and excellent food, showers, and even a sauna!!
For accommodation: a refuge with a sauna just above the lake. There are double rooms, a small and a large dormitory, and showers. The refuge atmosphere is truly one of the magical moments! For those who prefer to sleep in the valley, it’s also possible, or even in the dam parking lot.
ALPINE PARADISE RACE VIDEO
The Alpine Paradise Race Program
The Alpine Paradise Race takes place in high mountains, and the final program may be modified until the day before depending on weather conditions.
Thursday, September 18th, 2025: Hike to Lake Mort
Friday, September 19th afternoon: course reconnaissance
Saturday, September 20th, 2025: – Technical Race: 2 PM and Dragon Race 3:30 PM
Sunday, September 21st, 2025: Short (5 km) and long distance (10 km) start at 10:30 AM
Meals available upon reservation at the Rifugio Prarayer for lunch and dinner.
Accommodation at the Rifugio Prarayer, just above the starting beach, is recommended.
A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE BLENDING WATER FUN AND HIGH MOUNTAIN ATMOSPHERE
This mix of a high mountain refuge atmosphere with a view of the 4000m peaks and glaciers, and gliding on pure, smooth, turquoise water is truly exceptional. Two years were needed to obtain all the authorizations for the competitors of the first edition of the Alpine Paradise Race in 2019 to navigate on Lake Place Moulin.
It is a luxury and a privilege to be able to paddle on this magical lake. Even if the goal is to make this event sustainable, we must enjoy it now; it won’t last forever!
The Courses
The long distance (10 km)
Short distance (5 km)
The same or almost the same with a U-turn halfway through
default
Equipment and Safety
Leash mandatory and wetsuits mandatory (the water is cold, plan for at least a shorty)
The Alpine Paradise Race is over ! Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end ! Leaving Paradise is not easy 😉 We will be back next year on Lake Place Moulin. Spread the word : Paradise is very nice 😉
La Alpine Paradise Race è finita! Purtroppo, tutte le cose belle devono finire! Lasciare Paradise non è facile 😉 Torneremo l’anno prossimo sul Lake Place Moulin. Spargete la voce: Paradise è molto bello 😉
L’Alpine Paradise Race est terminée ! Malheureusement, toutes les bonnes choses ont une fin ! Quitter le Paradis n’est pas chose facile 😉 Nous serons de retour l’année prochaine sur le lac de Place Moulin. Faites-le savoir : le Paradis est très agréable 😉
The Alpine Paradise Race starts tomorrow saturday september 21 ! We will have the Technical Race at 2pm. It will be a short and fun Technical Race : 3 laps, 5 buoys + one passage on the beach !
On-site registration is possible but the rates are higher : Long Distance + Technical Race : 50€ / Long distance only : 45€ / Short Distance + technical race : 40€ / short distance only : 35€
Alpine Paradise Race weather forecast : goood !
Weather forecast : sunny until sunday noon. We are lucky, rain expected on sunday evening ! Temperature are good considering the altitude : warm in the sun, getting cold when the sun goes down. You need clothes for warm & cold temperatures !
Programme / Schedule / Programma
UPDATED TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17TH
The Alpine Paradise Race schedule may be modified if weather conditions require it.
Le programme de l’Alpine Paradise Race pourra être modifié si les conditions météo l’impose.
Il programma Alpine Paradise Race potrà subire modifiche qualora le condizioni meteorologiche lo richiedessero.
Paddling on Lac Mort in september 2021
Thursday September 19,2024
There are some very beautiful hikes to do above the Place Moulin lake and throughout the Valpelline valley.
Suggested hikes : Lac Mort (3000m altitude) or the lac Gouillet or Lac de Tsignanaz.
Friday September 20,2024
From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. by reservation by email (info@alpinelakestour.com) : transport of SUPs by boat from the dam to the refuge
Free reconnaissance of the course (the buoys will have been placed in the morning, weather permiting)
7:00 p.m. meal at the refuge Prarayer (you have to book your meal directly to the refuge)
Saturday September 21,2024
9am -12am by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the dam to the refuge
Free reconnaissance of the course
3pm technical race
4pm dragon race & podiums
5:30pm -6:30pm by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the the refuge back to the dam
7:00 p.m. dinner at the refuge (you have to book your meal directly to the refuge)
Sunday, September 22
9:30 am: free tea & coffee on the beach close to the starting zone.
10:30 am Long distance run 10 km / Short distance: 5 km
1pm prize award ceremony
1:30pm-3:30pm by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the the refuge back to the dam
Meals upon reservation at the Prarayer refuge for lunch.
Weather forecast for Sunday september 22
Access to Lake Place Moulin
Lake Place Moulin is located in the Valpelline Valley above Aosta in Italy.
address to type in your GPS : Lac de Place-Moulin, 11010 Bionaz, Italia
Acces From France : From the beginning of September to mid-December 2024, the Mont Blanc Tunnel will be going on with the complete reconstruction of two portions of the tunnel vault of 300 metres each. This project will require one total closure of the tunnel for a duration of 15 consecutive weeks from 5 p.m. on Monday 2, September 2024 to 5 p.m. on Monday 16, December 2024
During this period, please use the recommended alternative routes
How to get to the race start location? Comment accéder au lieu du départ de la course ? Come raggiungere il luogo di partenza della gara?
Access to Place Moulin lake is by car up to the dam. Then you have to go on foot or bike to the refuge. The start of the race takes place on the “beach” below the refuge. The distance between the dam and the start of the race is 4 km, or approximately 45 minutes on foot and 20 minutes by bike. We transport your equipment by boat by appointment from Friday morning.
L’accès au lac de Place Moulin se fait en voiture jusqu’au barrage. Ensuite il faut aller à pied ou à vélo jusqu’au refuge. Le départ de la course a lieu sur la “plage” en dessous du refuge. La distance entre le barrage et le lieu du départ de la course est de 4 km soit environ 45 minutes à pied et 20 minutes à vélo. Nous transportons votre matériel par bateau sur rendez-vous à partir du vendredi matin.
L’accesso al lago Place Moulin è in auto fino alla diga. Poi bisogna andare a piedi al rifugio. La partenza della corsa avviene sulla “spiaggia” sotto il rifugio. La distanza tra la diga e la partenza della corsa è di 4 km, ovvero circa 45 minuti a piedi. Il sentiero è percorribile anche in mountain bike per chi vuole andare più veloce. Trasportiamo la vostra attrezzatura in barca su appuntamento dal venerdì mattina.
What documents must be provided and what equipment must be provided? Quelles sont les documents à fournir et l’équipement à prévoir ? Quali documenti devono essere forniti e quali attrezzature devono essere fornite?
For the race, you must present your weezevent registration ticket (printed or on your phone), an identity document.
You must bring a wetsuit (shorty or long john), a leash, warm clothes in case of gray weather. At this altitude, temperature variations are rapid and significant depending on whether the sun shines or whether clouds pass, whether there is wind or not!
Pour la course, vous devez présenter votre ticket d’inscription weezevent (imprimé ou sur votre téléphone).
Vous devez prévoir une combinaison (shorty ou long john,) un leash, des vêtements chauds en cas de temps gris. A cette altitude les variations de températures sont rapides et importantes suivant si le soleil brille ou si des nuages passent, s’il y a du vent ou pas !
Per la gara è necessario presentare il biglietto di iscrizione a weezevent (stampato o sul cellulare).
È necessario portare una muta (shorty o long john), un guinzaglio, vestiti caldi in caso di tempo grigio. A questa altitudine, le variazioni di temperatura sono rapide e significative a seconda che splenda il sole o che passino le nuvole, che ci sia vento o meno!
Back to school is over, it’s time to get back to serious things! The Alpine Paradise Race, THE race not to be missed in its dream setting, takes place in less than 3 weeks and the Very Flat Race in a little over a month!
La rentrée est passée, il est temps de reprendre les choses sérieuses ! L’Alpine Paradise Race, LA course à ne pas rater dans son décor de rêve a lieu dans moins de 3 semaines et la Very Flat Race dans un peu plus d’un mois !
La Very Flat Race 2024 aura lieu le dimanche 6 octobre sur le lac d’Aiguebelette ! Cette course a lieu dans une réserve naturelle, le nombre place est très limité : 100 participants maximum et nous devons être encore plus attentif à limiter notre impact sur le milieu naturel. Les inscriptions vont ouvrir le 10 septembre.
The Very Flat Race 2024 will take place on Sunday, October 6 on Lake Aiguebelette! This race takes place in a nature reserve, the number of places is very limited: 100 participants maximum and we must be even more careful to limit our impact on the natural environment. Registrations will open on September 10.
La Very Flat Race 2024 si svolgerà domenica 6 ottobre sul lago Aiguebelette! Questa gara si svolge in una riserva naturale, il numero dei posti è molto limitato: massimo 100 partecipanti e dobbiamo essere ancora più attenti a limitare il nostro impatto sull’ambiente naturale. Le iscrizioni apriranno il 10 settembre.
L’Alpine Paradise Race è la gara di stand up paddle più alta del mondo 🙂 Alpine Lakes ti porta alle vette dello stand up paddle! Vivi un’esperienza unica, unendo i piaceri degli sport acquatici e la scoperta dell’alta montagna, il tutto con la qualità dell’accoglienza e della gastronomia valdostana!
The Alpine Paradise Race is the highest stand up paddle race in the world 🙂 Alpine Lakes takes you to the heights of stand up paddle boarding! Live a unique experience, combining the pleasures of water sports and the discovery of the high mountains, all with the quality of the welcome and the Aosta Valley gastronomy!
L’Alpine Paradise Race est la plus course de stand up paddle la plus élevée au monde 🙂 L’Alpine Lakes vous emmène tutoyer les sommets du stand up paddle ! Vivez une expérience unique, mêlant les plaisirs de la glisse sur l’eau et de la découverte de la haute montagne, le tout avec la qualité de l’accueil et la gastronomie valdotaine !
Access to the dam by car. Parking : 2,5 per day. Then you can walk to the spot close to the refuge Prarayer at the end of the lake. 40 minutes walk with beautiful view on the lake and the mountains. You can also go there by bike.
Contact : Benoit tel +336 52 60 43 10 / Not much network there but wifi at the refuge. send a message at info@alpinelakestour.com
Friday September 22
from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the dam to the refuge
Free reconnaissance of the course (the buoys will have been placed in the morning)
7:30 p.m. meal at the refuge Prarayer (you have to book your meal directly to the refuge)
Saturday September 23
9am -12am by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the dam to the refuge
Free reconnaissance of the course
3pm technical race (weather permiting)
4pm dragon race & podiums (weather permiting)
6pm -7pm by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the the refuge back to the dam
7:30 p.m. dinner at the refuge (you have to book your meal directly to the refuge)
Sunday, September 24th
8am -9:30am by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the dam to the refuge
9:30 am: free tea & coffee on the beach close to the starting zone.
10:30am Long distance run 10 km / Short distance: 5 km
1pm prize award ceremony
2pm-4pm transport of SUPs by boat from the the refuge back to the dam
Suggested hikes : Lac Mort (3000m altitude) or the lac Gouillet or Lac de Tsignanaz
Friday September 22
from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the dam to the refuge
Free reconnaissance of the course (the buoys will have been placed in the morning)
7:30 p.m. meal at the refuge Prarayer (you have to book your meal directly to the refuge)
Saturday September 23
9am -12am by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the dam to the refuge
Free reconnaissance of the course 3pm technical race 4pm dragon race & podiums 6pm -7pm by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the the refuge back to the dam 7:30 p.m. dinner at the refuge (you have to book your meal directly to the refuge)
Sunday, September 24
9:30 am: free tea & coffee on the beach close to the starting zone.
10:30am Long distance run 10 km / Short distance: 5 km
1pm prize award ceremony
2pm-4pm by reservation: transport of SUPs by boat from the the refuge back to the dam
Meals by reservation at the Prarayer refuge for lunch and dinner. Recommended accommodation at the Prarayer refuge just above the departure beach.
