Forecasts › Surf spots for beginners, French Atlantic coast

Surf spots for beginners: Gironde

The spots below are rated "accessible from beginner level" in our reference data: sandy beaches with generally gentle waves. Nothing replaces a lesson and the lifeguards' eyes.

Le Porge Océan

Le Porge · beach break · facing W · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 2 m at the break; from 2.8 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from mid to high tide.
Watch out for: rip currents.
No lifeguard post recorded nearby in OpenStreetMap; ask the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 2.6 m (one and a half overhead; models 1.9 to 3.5 m), period 12 s, quality poor (31/100).

Lacanau Océan

Lacanau · beach break · facing W · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 2 m at the break; from 3 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from mid to high tide.
Watch out for: rip currents, crowds.
Lifeguard post about 77 m away, per OpenStreetMap; check opening periods with the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 2.5 m (overhead; models 1.8 to 3.4 m), period 12 s, quality fair (48/100).

Carcans-Plage

Carcans · beach break · facing W · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 2 m at the break; from 2.8 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from mid to high tide.
Watch out for: rip currents.
No lifeguard post recorded nearby in OpenStreetMap; ask the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 2.5 m (overhead; models 1.9 to 3.5 m), period 12 s, quality poor (27/100).

Hourtin-Plage

Hourtin · beach break · facing W · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 2 m at the break; from 2.8 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from mid to high tide.
Watch out for: rip currents.
Lifeguard post about 274 m away, per OpenStreetMap; check opening periods with the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 1.9 m (head high; models 1.2 to 2.8 m), period 12 s, quality good (65/100).

Montalivet

Vendays-Montalivet · beach break · facing W · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 2 m at the break; from 2.8 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from mid to high tide.
Watch out for: rip currents.
Lifeguard post about 140 m away, per OpenStreetMap; check opening periods with the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 2.1 m (overhead; models 1.5 to 2.9 m), period 12 s, quality fair (53/100).

Soulac-sur-Mer

Soulac-sur-Mer · beach break · facing NW · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 1.8 m at the break; from 2.5 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from mid to high tide.
Watch out for: rip currents.
Lifeguard post about 169 m away, per OpenStreetMap; check opening periods with the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 2.0 m (head high; models 1.3 to 3.0 m), period 12 s, quality poor (34/100).

How they are chosen

Minimum level "beginner" in the spot reference, moderate ideal size, known hazards shown next to each spot. These parameters are editorial and not validated locally: always check on site.

Safety for a first session

Surf in the supervised area, between the flags, when posts are open; look for rip channels before going in; take a first lesson with a supervised surf school and never go out alone when the tide is rising.

Read before getting in the water : Water safety · Spotting rip channels · How to read a surf forecast

Other spots in the area, more technical

La Salie · Le Petit Nice · Le Truc Vert · Le Grand Crohot · Le Gurp

By area

Basque Country · Landes · Gironde · Charente-Maritime · Vendée · Brittany

Surf forecast Gironde today — 11 spots compared