Français
Lakefront Festival 2013
Saturday 3rd August - From 12 to 8 pm
Big thrills on the water
The Lakefront Festival that everyone is looking forward to takes place on 3rd August, with the Small Lake playing host to high-speed, adrenaline-fuelled performances, all just as as spectacular. Brace yourselves; it will take your breath away.
XTREME de la Rade
The famous acrobats of the XTREME de la Rade, who are very well known in Geneva, return once again to thrill and stun the crowd with their spectacular jumps. The 5th XTREME de la Rade, with the help of the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), brings together waterski jumpers from all over the world for an extraordinary show, captivating the crowds, year after year.
All as comfortable on the water as in the air, these champions reach speeds of up to 100 km/h on the approach to the jump, and then fly 8 or 10 metres into the sky before landing as far away as possible on the lake. Are you ready to make the leap?
8th Rowing Sprint Cup
From 2.30 to 5.30 PM
The first duel, with the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) Rowing Team, took place on the river Neva last June. Organised for the seventh time in collaboration with the SNG, the 8th Rowing Sprint Cup returns for another explosive year. As everybody knows, this is all about breakneck speeds.
With eight rowers and one cox, these expertly designed boats cover 800 m in just 10 seconds. You can bet the cries of encouragement from the cheering crowd will provide superb support for the efforts of the competitors.
Waterski show
All day
As in 2012, the Lakefront Festival offers an entire programme with a variety of displays that will take place between the main races, ensuring that the crowd remain on the edge of their seats at all times. These varied waterskiing displays are arguably the best part of the festival. Children, youngsters and adults, all highly experienced in this elegant sport, have saved some of their best routines, acrobatics and thrilling somersaults just for you. This year, there will be a real spectacle on the water, just wait and see!
JetSki Freestyle
As in 2012, the Lakefront Festival offers an entire programme with a variety of displays that will take place between the main races, ensuring that the crowd remain on the edge of their seats at all times. These varied waterskiing displays are arguably the best part of the festival. Children, youngsters and adults, all highly experienced in this elegant sport, have saved some of their best routines, acrobatics and thrilling somersaults just for you. This year, there will be a real spectacle on the water, just wait and see!
New « Dragon Boat »
All day
The Dragon Boat is a centuries-old vessel from ancient China which holds the secret of a mythical story.
More than 2,000 years ago, in a Chu kingdom of southern China, a poet who criticised corruption was hunted down and banished from the kingdom. In his vexation he threw himself into the River Milo. The fish made ready to devour their prey but took flight when they heard fishermen’s boats coming to save him, heralded by the noise of drums.
Since that date, the event has been commemorated in many regions of China on the 5th day of the 5th moon, which corresponds to mid-June, making this practice something of a popular Chinese sport.
A Dragon boat is around 12 metres long and 1.2 metres wide A 20-man crew rowing side by side is needed to propel the 300 kilogram vessel through the water.
To direct and coordinate them, a helmsman at the rear and a drummer at the front call the pace. To add a ceremonial flourish, enormous dragon heads decorate the front of the boat.
New - Flyboard
Imagined, designed, and sales by the world champion and manufacturers of competition jet, Frank Zapata, Flyboard could be defined as the perfect match between Wakeboard, Surf, Kite and Jet Ski. This new extreme sport invites you to fly over water like a bird, to dive and jump as a dolphin and make incredible freestyle acrobatics.
See on Youtube
Where to go
To live for the thrills, applaud the artists, take pictures and videos, and to enjoy the Geneva Festival at its best, here are some ideas...- The Jardin anglais
- The Quai du Mont-Blanc
- The Mont-Blanc bridge
- The Quai Général Guisan (where most things start)
Things to know
- Reduced water flow Did you know that? During the Lakefront Festival, the flow of water in the lake is reduced, in cooperation with SIG, to make the surface of the water as smooth and flat as possible. Instead of the normal flow of 800 m3/second, it goes down to 100 m3/second. The dam at Bouveret at the other end of the lake is closed, so there are no eddies and swirls, and the thousands of spectators gathered around the lake can applaud the courageous efforts of the competitors on its placid waters!
- 300 stewards mobilised for you
- And whom should we thank?
- The Mouettes The Mouettes Genevoises M2 service will be interrupted due to the boat races from 12 noon on Saturday 4 August. The M1 and M3 services will run normally.
More than 300 persons are on hand during the Lakefront Festival to help with organisation, security and the start of competitions. A number that says a lot...
The Geneva festival Committee would particularly like to thank the following:
- The CGN for its help in ensuring the security on the ground- The Lake Police
- The Harbour Master’s Office
- The Lake Geneva International Rescue Society (SISL)
- The Société Nautique de Genève (Geneva yacht club)
- The Mouettes Genevoises for their understanding in view of the disruptions to their services and timetable
