Le Santocha Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
NW, WNW
Wind
E
Surf Height
head-high to double overhead
Tide
low-medium low
Le Santocha Surf Guide
Just south of Hossegor on the other side of the river, Capbreton is another town built to entertain the thousands of tourists who flock to southwest France in the summer. The main wave, made famous in the early '90s by Tom Curren and the Rip Curl folks, is La Piste. A close-to-shore barrel, it breaks within spitting distance of a few World War II German bunkers.Though the harbor jetty blocks some of the northwest swell that hits Hossegor, La Piste is all about shorebreak barrels. When it's on, you will be surfing with crowds. And because the wave is so close to shore, the crowd is packed together and can go into a glazed-over tube lust that transcends language. South of La Piste lay a few other tide-sensitive peaks if you don't feel like dealing.
Ability Level
All Abilities
Beginner to advanced
Local Vibe
Doable
Other than a few confused-looking outsiders, the locals are pretty intense and packed together.
Crowd Factor
Heavy
Yes. Put it this way, if you wanted to shoot a Rip Curl Search ad at La Piste these days, you're gonna need some serious Photoshop.
Spot Rating
Perfect
Lined up right off a jetty.
Shoulder Burn
Medium
Average most days but can be a lot of work when it is pumping.
Water Quality
Dirty
Often polluted.
Hazards
Buried bunkers, outrunning the barrel.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Gun
Access
Wind around the harbor, park by the old folks home and walk a little south.
Bottom
Sand
Best Season
October-February but gets good year-round.
Do you have local knowledge about Le Santocha?
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