The Landes coast, spot by spot Facing the open Atlantic, the 100 kilometres of Landes beaches contain the largest reservoir of surf spots in Europe. Some waves enjoy worldwide fame, others, protected by the dunes and the forest, are more confidential. Our brief tour of the surfing horizon, from south to north.  © CDT LANDES / DN For surfers, the Landes beaches have to be sampled from south to north. That's the way it is. To fully understand the riches of this coast, which has some of the best beachbreaks (waves that break on the sand, not on rocks) in the world, you have to move north gradually, towards the wilder coast. The Landes waves are capricious and often change configuration. The sandbanks are constantly moving, and spots never work the same way from one day to the next. But for people who know how to wait patiently for the right conditions, surfing in the Landes can be really extraordinary. CAPBRETONThe only port on the Landes coast that is really well known in the surfing world. For more than ten years, Capbreton has hosted the prestigious Quiksilver Pro Junior, in which most of today's top surfers have participated. La Piste, the emblematic wave of Landes surfing, is known the world over, particularly as the major magazines are constantly vying with each other to find water shots of this spot with the best surfers in action. La Piste Access: take the A 63 motorway from Bayonne or Bordeaux, or the N 10 to Capbreton. On reaching the centre, follow signs for the beaches and head South for around 1 kilometre. Blockhouses stand at the limits of La Piste. Type of wave: right, very tubular, powerful and technical. Frequency: rare, like all waves capable of perfection. Required ability: experts only. Le Santosha Access: to the South of the CERS (the European sports rehabilitation centre). Type of wave: long left to the south and scattered peaks. Frequency: Le Santosha works regularly, because it's sheltered from the wind. Required ability: intermediate to advanced surfers. Le 'Prévent' Access: opposite the CERS, le Préventorium runs between two rocky spikes and is between le Santosha and the central beach at Capbreton. Type of wave: peaks of rights and lefts working at all tides. Frequency: very regular. Le Prévent is the ideal spot to head for when the wind starts to complicate conditions. Required ability: a very safe wave. Ideal for beginners. HOSSEGOREurope's surfing Mecca, Hossegor owes much of its fame to the Rip Curl Pro - the professional competition that takes place every year from August 18 to 27. Hossegor is the home of some of surfing's major businesses and an incredible number of surf shops. La Sud Access: head for the centre of Hossegor, then cross the river and go to the Place des Landais, which overlooks the central beach. Turn left towards Capbreton port. La Sud is in front of the Point d'Or buildings, between Central beach and the sea wall. Type of wave: right-left peaks Frequency: regular. This is the most sheltered spot in Hossegor, protected to the South by the harbour sea wall. Required ability: a wave for beginners and a fallback spot in choppy conditions. La Gravière Access: turn right at the Place des Landais and continue for around 800 metres. Type of wave: a very powerful and concave right, which is near the shore. Frequency: very rare indeed. La Gravière hasn't worked for several seasons but could come alive at any time. Required ability: experts only. La Nord Access: in line with La Gravière, but further out from the beach. Type of wave: spot with big surf - swell of up to 6 metres and more. La Nord is the trickiest right on the Landes coast. Frequency: works around a dozen times per winter. The rest of the time, you can surf it on longboard. Required ability: experts only. SEIGNOSSESeignosse is a district with the town set 5 kilometres inland. The extension towards the sea, Seignosse-Plage, is full of spots. It's impossible to list them all, but 3 of them are really outstanding. Les Estagnots Access: arriving from Hossegor, turn left at the first roundabout. The beach at Les Estagnots has a huge car park and has hosted the Rip Curl Pro for many years. Type of wave: right and left peaks that only work when there is a good swell. Frequency: regular. Les Estagnots gets saturated quickly when the swell is too strong. Required ability: intermediate and advanced surfers. Les Bourdaines Access: to the North of the Municipal festival hall, built at the foot of the dune. Type of wave: an excellent left to the south and scattered peaks over 1 kilometre. Frequency: very regular. Required ability: all levels. Le Penon Access: coming from Seignosse, take the beach road past the golf course and carry straight on to the sea. The Penon waves unfurl north of a long jetty, cut in two by a storm. Type of wave: very changeable, left and right peaks. Frequency: very regular. Required ability: all levels. VIEUX-BOUCAUA superb Landes-style village built round a lake, Vieux-Boucau is a stronghold of Landes surfing. There are quality waves on all of the beaches and the spots are a lot less crowded than those around Hossegor. From Vieux-Boucau, you can get to Messanges and Moliets, further north. Access: coming from the north, take the N 10 and exit 10. From the south, take the A 63, exit 9. Type of wave: less powerful rights and lefts than Hossegor, but more regular. Frequency: Vieux-Boucau has a dozen spots working in turn. Required ability: beginners to advanced. Be careful, the locals like to be left alone... MIMIZANThe home of great French champions like Didier Piter or Nicolas Capdeville (world bodyboard champion, 1992), Mimizan is divided into 4 beaches: Remember, Les Ailes, La Sud and Lespecier beach. Like most beaches on this part of the Landes coast, there are no regularly defined breaking points - you have to move about a bit to find the best spot. Access: take the N 10, coming off at Labouheyre or Cap-de-Pin, then follow signs for Mimizan. Type of wave: disorganised beachbreaks, fairly open to the wind. Frequency: Mimizan works regularly, but comes into its own in winter with powerful swells. Required ability: all levels. |
Tourism and Gastronomy
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