Lafitenia

Surf Guide

The sheltered bay of Lafitenia, on southwest France's Basque coastline, is home to a classic right hand point that can reel for up to 250m. In big northwesterly swells, the line-up shifts around over the sand covered rock reef creating an unpredictable, and heavy takeoff. After making the drop, it's all about generating speed and working your line with classic carving turns as the wall races through the mid section. The inside then hollows out to create a nice little cover-up opportunity. This spot is always busy, especially during the summer months but the pay off is definitely worth the wait. There is a huge point on the opposite side of the bay called Peyo's Left.

Ability Level

Intermediate

BegIntAdv

intermediate

Local Vibe

Welcoming

WelcomingIntimidating

largely tolerant

Crowd Factor

Heavy

MellowHeavy

large local crew, heaving in the small summer swells

Spot Rating

Fun

PoorPerfect

7

Shoulder Burn

Medium

LightExhausting

6

Water Quality

Clean

CleanDirty

3

Ideal Surf Conditions

Swell Direction

NW

Wind

S/SE

Surf Height

3 to 10 feet

Tide

low-3/4