Since time immemorial, France has had a certain je ne sais quoi appeal among surfers. Something about guzzling a café au lait on the way to a surf check, striding down Old World streets, finding a peak to yourself at La Gravière, and finishing the day with a solid pour of fine French wine just sounds so refined. So… French.
Lately, French surf culture has surged to produce its fair share of rippers – on the WSL Championship Tour, Qualifying Series, in big waves, and freesurfers – much of which has roots in France’s most famous surf town, Hossegor.
Here, Billabong investigates just what makes Hossegor such a special place. Pour yourself a glass of some vintage cabernet and dive in.