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This long stretch of scalloped golden sand has earned a reputation as the best beachbreak in Europe and one of the best in the world, all for good reason: tubes. Thick, meaty shorebreak barrels that'll leave you picking sand out of various orifices for weeks after a solid session. There's a huge trench offshore, not unlike Black's in San Diego, so the swell gets focused on the few miles of sand that make up Hossegor.
Careful, though -- the tides in France are extreme (they can vary by 20 feet, where California tides will vary 8 feet max) and the sandbank that you surf in the morning will probably be closeout shorepound by lunch. Tide books are key. It's also prone to Atlantic flat spells, so make sure to bring a couple of books and a deck of cards.
-- Marcus Sanders
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medium low
W/NW
head-high to double overhead
east
8
sand
intermediate-advanced
shortboard, medium gun
fall
Parking lot at Les Estangots or park on the road in front of the peak of your choice. Stick to one of the many access trails, though -- the dunes are fragile ecosystems.
crowded and cosmopolitan; bigger beachbreak generally keeps 'em down though
It's hard to tell with the French, because grandmothers vibe you on the street, but the locals surf well and know each other.
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There's a bunch of sandwich places and bars at the south end of the beach, but surfers have been eating, drinking and merrymaking at the Rock Food (05 58 43 43 27) for years. (See interview with a local.) There's also a fine Aussie-owned sushi place up in Seignosse called the sushibar (05 58 43 15 06).
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There are two campgrounds near Hossegor, both just east of the lake: Camping du Lac, around 60 FF per night (05 58 43 53 14, www.camping-du-lac.com) and Municipal la Foret for around the same price (05 58 43 75 92). If you find yourself wanting to go feral and live in a van for a while, Hossegor Vans (05 58 43 50 68) is a surfer-friendly van-rental operation. If you've got a little cash and want a hotel that's stumbling distance to Rock Food and Le Graviere, check out Hotel Amigo (180-370FF per night, 05 58 43 54 38) or Les Arbousiers (studios with kitchens: 1,200-2,950FF per week; rooms: 1,000-2,000FF per week, 05 58 43 51 05).
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It can get maddeningly flat for weeks on end, so if you're looking for an adrenaline rush, head to one of the bridges over the river and spend the day working on your half-gainers. Or, for the romantically inclined, you can rent a little kayak thingy and paddle around the lake just northeast of town. Or for the single men, you can always practice your amorous French on the lovely lasses.
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Downtown Hossegor is surf city. Almost every major surfwear label has its own surf shop. Most have all the gear you need (albeit pretty fricken expensive), while some are just boutiques. Quiksilver has a Boardrider's Club (05 58 43 74 58); Billabong (05 58 43 42 05); Town and Country (05 58 43 41 71) and Rip Curl (05 58 43 93 94) all have shops right downtown as do local brands NSC (05 58 43 61 05) and OZGOR (05 58 41 74 87). If you need a surf fix during a flat spell, you can usually find at least a video in one of these places.
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