A complete guide to surfing in Hossegor
Hossegor’s fast, hollow waves draw an ever growing number of surfers from around the world. The beach at Hossegor spans three kilometres, and although it’s just one stretch of sand, there are four very distinctive surf spots. South of Estagnots, Les Culs Nus bridges the gap between Seignosse’s beachbreaks and the legendary Hossegor tubes of La Gravière. On its day, La Nord, can hold shape up to 6 m. La Sud is the most beginner-friendly spot.
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As a surfing destination, Hossegor ticks all the boxes – beautiful beach, warm water, consistent swell and sandbanks that regularly kick up two metre turquoise barrels. Add to that a dose of French lifestyle, coffee and croissants, two hour lunches and pumping après-surf and it’s easy to see why surfers like ASP veteran, Kevin Olsen, came here and never left.
La Gravière’s sucky, heavy barrels break right on the beach making it a superb spot for expert surfers and spectators alike. As a result, Hossegor is firmly on the competition surfing map and each year the town plays host to a number of international competitions, including the World Surfing Championship held in October.
Hossegor Surf Lessons
With ideal conditions for surfers of all skill levels, Hossegor has a lot of options for tailored lessons, ensuring a safe and fun learning environment.
Professional instructors guide you through the basics of paddling, standing up, and riding waves, gradually advancing to more complex manoeuvres. Lessons typically include equipment rental, and options range from private sessions to group classes. With its consistent waves and buzzing surfer scene, Hossegor is the perfect place to learn and improve your surfing skills.
Eric Lafargue from Hossegor Surf Coaching, has been a qualified surf coach since 2002, so you’re in good hands! Learn and improve your surfing with Eric on the beautiful beaches of Hossegor, Seignosse, or Capbreton. He also speaks English and German.
Book your lesson with Hossegor Surf Coaching
The Best Time of Year to go Surfing in Hossegor
Hossegor is one of France’s most consistent surf spots and you’ll get a wave here whatever time of year you come. Having said that, there’s huge variation in the conditions between seasons.
- Spring: Moderate waves, good for all skill levels, water starts to warm up in April.
- Summer: Warm water, smaller waves, ideal for beginners.
- Autumn: Best swells, fewer crowds, warm water, top surfing conditions.
- Winter: Big waves, suitable for experts with a good level of paddle fitness, colder water.
In July and August the waves are small and fun but the main peaks right along the beach will be packed with travelling surfers. When it’s on, you’ll still get a nice punchy wave at La Graviere and Les Culs Nus, but it’s these peak summer months when you’re most likely to get a flat spell. You’ve got to be really unlucky though to get no waves during a week’s holiday in Hossegor, even in the height of summer.
May and June are great months for a surf trip to Hossegor. The hectic winter swell and big spring tides have calmed down but there’s still some good push to the waves, the water’s getting warmer and the tourists have yet to arrive.
September and October is arguably the best time of year. The water’s still warm enough to surf in boardies, the waves are starting to pick up in size and the hoards of tourist have gone home. This is when the WSL Quik Pro France is held and there’s always a good vibe in town.
November through to April is when you can expect big heavy barrels, a lot of water moving around and ever-shifting sandbanks in powerful spring tides. You have to be paddle fit to surf Hossegor in winter, or you’ll find yourself doing a whole lot of duck diving and very little riding waves. If you’re on form, there’s huge rewards to be had and you could be tucking into the wave of your life.
It’s in the winter that Rip Curl run the La Nord Challenge big wave surfing competition.
Hossegor Surf Forecast
Hossegor, Les Culs Nus surf forecast – surf report and surfing conditions for the next 3 days with swell components including wave height, wave direction and wave period, wind direction and weather forecast.
Hossegor surf forecast courtesy of surf-forecast.com.
Hossegor Surf Comps and Events
Quik Pro France 2019 | © KIRSTIN
Although the Quiksilver Pro France surf comp, which for many years was a major highlight in the surfing calendar, stopped running in 2019, Hossegor’s waves haven’t stopped pumping.
La Gravière, Hossegor’s beachbreak barrel hotspot, was always the preferred spot for the Quik Pro, both for the quality of the waves and the proximity of the breaking waves to the beach. Located south of Les Culs Nus and north of La Centrale, La Gravière continues to be a favourite among surfers offering multiple good sand banks, producing heavy peaks, radical drops, quick in and out barrels, and ramps perfect for aerials.
Surf conditions in Hossegor are still as unpredictable and thrilling as ever. The season has shifted slightly in recent years, with the bigger, punchier autumn swell typically arriving a couple of weeks later than in the past. Surfers and spectators need to be flexible, ready to move to the best spot at short notice. Given the beach break territory and the dynamic swell forecast, excellent waves can often be found at La Gravière, but if the sand banks shift, Les Culs Nus is a strong alternative, with its own set of impressive waves.
Today, Hossegor hosts several prestigious surf competitions that keep the spirit of competitive surfing alive:
- Les Championnats de France de Surf: Held in autumn 2024, this championship brings together the best surfers from across France to compete in Hossegor, Capbreton, and Seignosse. It’s a fantastic event to witness high-level surfing talent.
- Rip Curl La Nord Challenge: Running between November and April, this competition focuses on the massive waves at La Nord, providing thrilling action for both participants and viewers.
- The Quiksilver Festival: Scheduled for 2024, this festival celebrates surf culture with competitions, music, and more, bringing a vibrant atmosphere to Hossegor.
Hossegor’s Surf Spots
Hossegor stays true to its reputation as challenging surfing destination. The ever shifting sandbanks, huge tides, varying swell direction and constantly changing wind means you can face a huge variety of conditions in a short surf trip here.
When it’s on you’ll get everything from small punchy little wedges to death defying tubes that either squeeze you out or close out altogether. The take-offs are fast and steep, there are ramps everywhere, and super-fast sections to pump out speed for aerials. Hossegor has got that ‘you never know what’s going to happen’ factor. Tube sections might stay open for you or they might come smashing down on your head. As a result, Hossegor suits paddle-fit surfers who are proactively seeking out position and prepared to go for it on 50/50 take offs.
There’s a big difference between spots though, and here we run through exactly what you can expect from Les Culs Nus to La Sud.
Kevin’s take
Former ASP pro surfer Kevin Olsen gives us his take on Hossegor’s surf spots.
1. Les Culs Nus
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom type: Sand. Best tide: All.
Wave size: 0.3 to 2.4 m. Swell direction: West, North Lat Long: 43.680053, -1.438660.
A surfer heads in for a sunset surf at Les Culs Nus | © Flickr – chde.eu
Les Culs Nus translates as bare bums, and yes, the scenery can be a bit distracting when you’re trying to focus on nailing the next section of wave! Renowned for being Hossegor’s most consistent spot, there are rideable waves here from half a metre to over 2.5 metres. It works at low tide, at high tide, and in a northerly or southerly swell. You can expect a fast, punchy wave with a steep drop that bridges the gap between the classic Seignosse beachbreaks further north and La Gravière’s bone-crunching barrels.
Kevin’s take:
Located just 500m North of Hossegor central and la Graviere – this gem of a spot can be possibly one of the best places to surf when the swells in the 1-2 m range if the winds are offshore and the tides right expect to get hollow pits from all the direction works best with the North- West swell directions and the lower tide. Early morning session can be best with no crowds.
2. La Gravière
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom type: Sand. Best tide: Outgoing.
Wave size: 0.5 to 2.5 m. Swell direction: West, North Lat Long: 43.670783, -1.439641.
A true stand up barrel at La Gravière in Hossegor | © Flickr – chde.eu
Undoubtedly one of the world’s best beachbreaks, La Gravière is a tube hound’s dream. Fast, hollow and heavy-lipped, the wave sucks sand up off the bottom and slams right on the beach. Add powerful rips and protective locals to the mix and you have a gnarly spot reserved for expert surfers only. La Gravière works best on an outgoing tide and can hold shape up to 2.5 metres. On an incoming tide, it’s prone to close-outs and at high tide there’s nothing to ride.
Kevin’s take:
Now this is my all time favourite. When it works (you need to check the banks and conditions) this wave had legendary status and the world’s best surfers come here to get the same ride. Speeding hollow sand spitting barrels on the beach. Now add the biggest most dangerous shore break you have ever seen. This is La Garvière at its best. Expect heavy surf conditions super close the the beach. Very tidal surf spot.
3. La Nord
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom type: Sand. Best tide: Mid
Wave size: 1.5 to 6.0 m m. Swell direction: West, North Lat Long: 43.666755, -1.440622.
Surfer going huge at La Nord in Hossegor | © Flickr – Laurent Guerin
Hossegor’s big wave spot, La Nord can hold shape up to 6 m and is one of the only surfable spots along this stretch of coastline when the swell gets over 3 m. La Nord is the location of choice for the annual Rip Curl Challenge La Nord winter surf comp that sees some of the France’s best big wave surfers, including Benjamin Sanchis and Eric Rebiere paddle into 5 m monsters. Only paddle out here if you can handle double overhead conditions. Park in front of Boulevard de la Dune, the spot is opposite Hossegor Surf Club.
Kevin’s take:
One of the most respected waves in Hossegor. The wave in front of Hossegor Central breaks out front and way out there when it’s 2m and bigger. Very big and late drops expect to go and get your longer board as the paddle out can be brutal and the currents are incredible and can be like a raging river at times. Freaks me out. Very tidal surf spot and can be crowded at times, but the surf is best at low tide with light winds.
4. La Sud
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom type: Sand. Best tide: Outgoing.
Wave size: 0.5 to 2.5 m. Swell direction: West, North Lat Long: 43.660283, -1.443435.
Four surfers share a wave at La Sud in Hossegor | © Flickr – David
South of La Centrale towards the lighthouse is Hossegor’s most sheltered spot. Beginner-friendly, La Sud is popular with surf schools and kamikaze first-timers and it’s absolute pandemonium in the height of summer. The wave at the southernmost end of the beach has a shallower take-off that appeals to longboarders. Other peaks tend to throw mostly lefts. The break works best a couple of hours before high tide and stops working at high tide. Out of season, when it’s big further north, La Sud draws the intermediate crowd.
Kevin’s take:
Just to the South of Hossegor you will find La Sud located just near the harbour and works on most days if the swell and the sand banks are good. If the swells are large this could be your first option to catch a couple waves if everything else fails. When the sand banks are good the the lefts running towards Hossegor plage can be long and fun. It is perfect for surf school and learner surfers, but can still be very surfable when the swells are large in Seignosse. Gets very crowded in summer.
Places to stay
There’s lots of good accommodation for surfers close to the beach in Hossegor.
You’ll find everything from uber-cool surf camps to campsites near the beach and swanky hotels to villas to rent. Here’s a selection of our favourite places to stay in Hossegor:
Surf Hostel Hossegor
From 38 € per night
Located just a short walk from the beach, Surf Hostel Hossegor offers a welcoming, laid-back atmosphere with everything a surfer needs. You get free parking, comfortable dorm accommodation, a communal kitchen, surfboard rental and a vibrant social scene where you can meet fellow surfers from around the world. With expert local advice on the best surf spots and conditions, Surf Hostel Hossegor comes highly recommended.
JO & JOE Hostel
From 31 € per night
Come with friends or come to make friends. Individual and shared bedrooms. Each bed is huge and comfy, equipped with a USB port, a bedside lamp and bedsheets. All bedrooms have access to the Happy House: a living room and kitchen space dedicated for guests sleeping on the spot. Breakfast from 4 €.
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Please leave a comment below if you need specific advice for your surf trip to Hossegor, or if you have any recommendations to help us improve this guide. Happy holidays!
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