Anglet

Surf Guide

Tom Curren didn't move here in 1988 for the croissants. From Les Cavaliers' barrels at the north end to VVF's wedging lefts at the south end and all the various peaks in between, Anglet is one of the most consistent spots in Southwest France. While never usually as big as Hossegor, it's also not as wind sensitive. Les Cavaliers can hold a northwest wind. While VVF's stays relatively clean in a southwest, Hossegor blows out if the wind even thinks about blowing west. You can check most of the whole stretch from the top of the hill just north of Biarritz -- pick your peak. Anglet also has the advantage (or disadvantage, depending on how crowded the surf gets) of being right next to Bayonne, the largest traditional Basque city in France. So when the surf goes flat, you're not allowed to say you're bored. (Note: La Barre, the right jetty/pointbreak made famous by the '70s classic film Evolution, used to be one of the best waves in Europe until the harbor expanded just north of Les Cavaliers. It can still break on big swells and low tide, but it's nowhere near its former glory.)