Advice on surfing in france

[paulb567]

Hi,

A group of us are in the process of organsing a surfing holiday to france in july for a couple of weeks.

Can anyone recommend any good places on the south atlantic coast to surf? We're all pretty much total beginners and will need to hire boards, etc. A lot of places we've looked at seem to think they are not really suitable for beginners. what are waves generally like in summer in france?

Any help appreciated.
Thanks :D

[surf patrol]

Hi paulb567, welcome to Surfing Waves.

Don't worry too much about surfing here if you are beginners. There are plenty of surf spots for novices - especially during the summer when the waves are at their least consistent (that does not mean that you will not get some surf.
If you are hiring boards by the day you will need to stay near a surfshop. hiring by the week you can stay where you want - the whole stretch of the atlantic coast gets surf so you have plenty of options. Do you have your own transport? Do you want to stay near the clubs? will you be camping?

[paulb567]

Thanks for your reply.

I think we've pretty much got it sorted now. Going to be driving to and camping in Hossegor in July. From what I've read it seems there's plenty of places to hire boards around there. Should be fun.

[surf patrol]

Hossegor is a great spot and there should be plenty of surf for you and your mates. You should have a good trip. Don't forget to take your camera and get plenty of surfing pictures and send us a few.

[def]

france is a great place to learn to surf. theres a stretch of pebble beach somewhere on the south coast thats amazingly good novice surf, check it out. and have fun.

[axlandslash44x]

Guys im going to the biarritz area (south france) in July i have heard france is flat around this time, ill be gutted if its true?? any answers?

Any1 have any ideas as to when belharra goes of??
(the massive wave spot of the french coast, im talkin 30 ft plus!!!)

[Anna]

Hi
I am going to Biarittz for Two weeks in July I am a beginner surfer and want lessons and need to camp to keep cost down. I will be going on my own ... Any ideas /suggestions would be great. Cheers

[Guest]

Anna,

I go to Biarritz most years (yeah, it's tough I know but someone has to do it!) and we camp at Pavillon Royal http://www.pavillon-royal.com/pavillon-royal/ just outside Biarittz at Bidart. It is expensive as campsites go but it has direct access to a pretty good beach with a surf school/hire. Some travelling surfers free-camp in the access road in vans. The beach has multiple beach-breaks and most times you can get a peak pretty much to yourself. It is a safe beach, there can be rips but not too bad and only when it is getting lively. The biggest hazards are the nudists! We've looked at other sites around the area and none come up to the standard of this one, ok, it's not cheap but there is no travelling/parking to worry about (we go in a camper but if you are tenting it is cheaper).
I could have seen you there but this year we are off to Spain to explore the delights of the Costa Verde (and, no, I won't be mixing it with the locals at Mundaka).
Hope this helps Anna, let me know if you want any further advice (I'm quite sad I won't be going this year, it really is a nice place)

[Guest]

Sorry Anna, I left my username off my reply, I can't seem to log on with my own username!

Custard (Point)

[Custard]

Now I can, it's easy when you follow the instructions properly! (Duh!)

[Anna]

Custard
Thank you for your advice but that campsite is totally books as is most of the others... i think Somo in Spain is my next option.... I am pretty stuck with SW France as there is no places on most campsites close to the sea.
Have a good holiday
Anna

[Stickman]

Right then listen up if your going syrfing in France,

fleshin' to Hossegor, it's too expensive and the breaks there really are not that great. Theres too many ozzies and Barry from the BSA in England can some times be found there. Stay well clear.
Why do you think the rip curl pro is not held there any more.

To get the most out of France you need a car and bit of local knowledge will go a long way. Your best off going north of Hossegor away from Biaritz about 45 mins to Seignosse, Souston, Mollietts, and Voux Boucou. These are great places and are not crowded! If you get up for a dawny you'll be the only fleshin' in 300 miles! Good luck finding them though.

See you out there,

The Stick.

[Custard]

Anna,

I'm back from my hols, didn't like Spain, only stayed one night (part of the reason is they don't seem to have a word for vegetarian in Spanish!) so we tried to go to Pavillon Royal but, as you said, they were booked up. As it happens I'm glad they were, we found a campsite just outside St Jean de Luz, a little south of Biarritz, Camping Iratzia. In all my years of camping I have never been treated so well, they could not do enough for us. It is close to a beach with a couple of breaks, one is a sort of point break and the other is a reef. It's only a few km's from Guethary and Bidart etc. The town of St Jean de Luz is very nice too.
Highly recommended for next year, I know I will be there!

[Bill]

Your right St Jean is fantastic - but do not be telling everyone about our local spots!

You just missed an epic weekend if you just got back to the UK as last week the conditions were huge.

Hope to have some more British company on the Waves of St Jean next year.

Enjoy the UK Winter!

[Custard]

Sorry Bill, didn't mean to give it all away!

I'm a bit peeved I didn't get to try Sainte Barbe (inside) while I was there, it looked a nice wave. Do you surf it at all?