A little vocabulary?
The Atlantic Ocean is famous for its beautiful waves. So it's hardly surprising that surfing is one of the most popular sports. It's undoubtedly the most popular surfing activity on the Aquitaine coast! Before we head off to the coast to discover surfing and the region's best spots, let's take a look at the vocabulary involved Surfing is more than a sport, it's a way of life with its own specific expressions. It's a very specific language that you need to get to grips with. For example, for beginners, it's best to look for a beach-break, i.e. a beach close to the shore where you can learn in a safe environment. Once you've got your board, you'll need to position yourself on the line-up, the area offshore where you wait for the waves. When you feel the wave, you stand up, or rather, take off! Finally, did you know that boards are made by craftsmen called shapers? Each board is fitted with a leach, a sort of "leash" to connect the rider to the board. The leach was invented by Georges Hennebutte, one of Biarritz's very first surfers. For it was here, in Biarritz, that it all began..
Biarritz, city of surfing
Originally from the Hawaiian Islands, this sport arrived in France via the Basque coast in 1956, turning Biarritz into the cradle of surfing. For the anecdote, you should know that it is a film which is at the origin of the craze around this new activity! At the time, an adaptation of Hemingway's novel The Sun Also Rises was shot in the town. The film featured two Californian surfing enthusiasts. What an unusual sight it was to see boys gliding over the waves! The locals were fascinated by this feat and it didn't take long for the craze to spread. A few years later, the first French club was founded, with an exotic name: the Waikiki Surf Club. The first French championship quickly followed, showcasing the first athletes. Very quickly, surfing became a way of life, and even an art of living: what we call the aloha spirit! This spirit took hold of the coastline, leading to the appearance of specialized shops, board workshops and other related places. Even today, the biggest specialist brands, such as Quiksilver, Billabong or Rip Curl, are based here and there are no less than 18 schools offering courses or long courses on the best spots in the city. During your walk in the city, you will discover that surfers are omnipresent on all the beaches. The Grande plage, which opens onto the city centre between the Hôtel du Palais and the Bellevue, is one of the most popular spots, ideal for beginners. The Côte des Basques, an emblematic spot in an exceptional setting, is also accessible to novices, while experienced sportsmen and locals prefer Marbella beach, which is more exposed to strong currents. In a more intimate atmosphere, the Miramar is a dream spot for medium to advanced surfers. In 2017, the city will be the scene of the World Surfing Championships on the Basque Coast. Biarritz may be the cradle of surfing, but it is far from being the only city on the Aquitaine Coast to offer beautiful spots for amateurs and experts. Follow the guide !
In the Gironde
In Gironde, surfing rhymes with Lacanau! The seaside resort welcomes every year the Lacanau Pro and is renowned for the quality of its beaches. The spots are numerous and allow everyone to choose the ideal place, according to the level and the desires. The Central Beach is very accessible and touristic, unlike the Alexandre or La Barrière, which can only be reached on foot or by bike. La Nord is an excellent spot located in front of the Banana Surf Café, a friendly restaurant and a place where all surfers have been passing through since 1999. If you like confidential places, prefer the Jah Point, a beach hidden by the dunes, named after a famous surfer from the city in the 1980s. Not far away, other famous but popular places are waiting for you: The Lion, The Squirrel, The South... If you don't surf, you can still admire these wave tamers. A show you never get tired of! Still in Gironde, at Hourtin Plage, you can enjoy the ocean and board sports such as surfing or kite surfing. Don't hesitate to explore the coastline to discover the beaches: the Gurp offers a superb view of the Cordouan lighthouse; the Grand Crohot, near Bordeaux, is one of the most difficult spots in the region because of the power of the waves; in Cap Ferret, the waves are better but very popular. Don't forget the towns of Soulac-sur-Mer, Carcans and Le Porge!
In the Landes
When surfing appeared in the 1950s in the Basque Country, the quest for the perfect spot led amateurs to explore the Landes. With other surfers, they settled down on the side of Contis to enjoy the waves and the quietness of the place. Since then, a whole industry has developed in the department. From Biscarrosse to Hossegor, everyone comes together to tame the waves! In Hossegor, the spot La Sud is an ideal beach break for all surfing lovers. The waves are particularly accessible and attract many tourists every summer. The beach is very busy, but worth the detour! In the Landes region, beginners can also enjoy the swell at the Huchet current nature reserve, which connects the Lac de Léon to the ocean, or further north at Capbreton, at the Prévent and Santocha spots. For more experienced surfers, the beach break La Piste offers beautiful fast waves in Capbreton. Also, in the pretty seaside resort of Soustons, enjoy a more intimate and peaceful setting overlooking the Landes forest. Seasoned sports enthusiasts will go surfing near Hossegor at La Gravière, where the Quiksilver Pro France is held every year. A little further down, La Nord offers powerful, thick waves over a long distance. A technical and impressive spot! For nature lovers, the 27 kilometres of beaches of Côte Landes Nature remain a must because they are unspoilt. Here, respect for nature is an inviolable law, in short an ideal wild coast. Three small villages offer ideal conditions for snow sports: Contis, Cap de l'Homy and Vielle-Saint-Girons. In the south, on the border with the Basque Country, the waves are strong and continue to offer superb natural and wild landscapes, as is the case on the beaches of the communes of Labenne, Ondres and Tarnos. In the Landes, on the whole coast, the coastline offers itself to you! Explore in your turn, on the side of Moliets, Seignosse or Mimizan ...
The Basque Coast
The Basque Country is famous for its spots that attract surfers from all over the world. In addition to the unmissable Biarritz, many other cities offer spots for beginners or experienced surfers. This is particularly the case in Bidart, a typical village that has managed to preserve its charm and authenticity. Facing the Atlantic with its six beaches spread over five kilometres, this seaside resort is a delight for beachgoers and surfers. We recommend the 100 Marches beach, accessible at low and mid tide, as well as the Parlementia beach. The latter, known all over the world, is surfed at all tides. Long, straight and with a rocky bottom, it is very popular with locals, but it is also demanding, reserved for the more experienced. Experienced sportsmen and women will also appreciate Lafitenia in the Acotz district of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, operating at low tide. Along with Erromardie, it is one of the famous surfing beaches of the coast. Of great beauty, it is nestled in a small cove. The right of this break point is one of the most famous in France. Finally, the list would not be complete without mentioning the spots of Anglet (notably Les Cavaliers and La Madrague), Hendaye (la Grande plage) and Ilbarritz. The best thing is still to go and discover this superb coastline by yourself!
Events not to be missed
Every year, from April to October, the Aquitaine Coast lives to the rhythm of surfing sports events. The coastline hosts world-renowned events that attract thousands of spectators who come to admire the stars of the sport. If for years, the Biarritz Surf Festival has been one of the essential meetings of the surfing spirit, it is now in Gironde that it happens! In Lacanau, less than an hour from Bordeaux, the seaside resort hosts each year the Lacanau Pro, a professional and prestigious competition. Every year, in August since 1979 (it's the oldest surfing competition!), the best surfers meet for ten days. It's an opportunity to see them compete on the central beach. The competition mixes different levels, from juniors to professionals. But it is especially the atmosphere which is worth the detour. For the festivities, many activities are proposed: zumba, paddle, Tahitian dance, etc. In the center, the stores and food stalls are crowded. An event not to be missed. Among the many competitions that animate the region during the year, the one in Hossegor is also unmissable! Indeed, the city also hosts a surfing competition: the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro France. From 1987 to 2019, these events were part of the world championship calendar. In 2020, the World Surf League has decided to remove this stage but the championship continues to exist in another form, as usual at the entrance of autumn. The dates of appointment do not change and the spectators are still numerous. On the coast, the spirit of surfing continues to be transmitted and to make vibrate the crowds.
