Starting to surf - a cry for help!

[Kaisa]

Hey you all.
I just found this site after surfing for places in Biarritz and I must say you all are fanatics. Something which I hope to turn during the following years.

I'm dreaming about starting surfing this summer (living in Finland it's a bit difficult to catch waves...) and we are planning on a vacation in Biarritz and the Basque country but I really don't know anybody there and I don't know which way would be the best to start. We both, my boyfriend and I, have a history of skiing but now skate boarding or snowboarding even. I'm definately thinking about going to some surf school - but which?

What are all the things I need to take in consideration? Where to stay? Which school? Is it even a good idea to start this in Biarritz?

I appreciate any kind of information I might get. I'm not stuck on Biarritz, if you have a better idea about where to start surfing next August, let me know. We might just go there. Only thing I have decided is that I will start it this summer!

Kaisa

[Dec]

http://www.wannasurf.com

[PapaW]

Biarritz and the more chilled Anglet just to the north is full of lodges and camp sites. Including the YHA which also allow camping in their grounds.
Its really cheap if you've got a little cooker to use other wise if you start eating out it gets expensive.
Of course if your looking further afield then anywhere between Sansebastian and north of Hossigor are coverd with cheep campsites.

[Kaisa]

Hey- thanks for the info both of you. I will look into Anglet further: it does seem like there are lots of places to crash and different schools to go to. I'd possibly be better off making reservations now- I'm sure the whole coast line will be packed with tourists in July-August. Would September be a better time to go?

[orbital]

I wanna go to Sweden. I bet Finland would be great as well.

[PapaW]

Going in Sept will defoo halp withthe crowds. You'll escape the kids and their parents getting in the way.
Also the swells are still at their peek for the area.

[Hopupu]

First half of september is definitely the best time to go.

Also be prepared to learn some french, because most frenchies English really isn't that good (I hope there aren't any frenchies on this forum).

And keep in mind driving France's highways can get very expensive (péages or tol).

[Kaisa]

Francais - ce n'est pas une problem! Do you know how much are the tols on freeways? I didn't even realize they would have something like that..
And then a really-how-would-I-say - a silly question. Long boarding or short boarding? I realize there are two scholars and really don't know which one to join...

[Hopupu]

Francais - ce n'est pas une problem! Do you know how much are the tols on freeways? I didn't even realize they would have something like that..

Brussels-Biarritz would be something like 65,50 EUR. You can calculate your route on this site if you like: http://www.autoroutes.fr/index.php

So it would be around 130 EUR for the trip.

(et c'est un problème! (classic mistake))

[PapaW]

Yeah I think the toll are about 2-3 Euros every 30miles or so roughly... some stretches are more expensive than others. Personally I'll be taking the coastal routes most of the time as When we go We will be hunting out little gems of surf spots and parking up for the night spots :)

[Kaisa]

Hey- thank you, all of you for this information. I just got back home from Lapland (spring skiing for 7 days! great! ) so I haven't been able to reply earlier- I will probably try to find places in Finland where I can start practising prior to our trip to the Basquecountry.