The most impressive wave in Hossegor, along with La Gravière. Reserved for those who know what they're doing.
// The name
No mystery here, La Nord simply refers to the northernmost part of Hossegor's beaches. The name says exactly where it is, nothing more.
// The spot
A very powerful, tube-heavy wave, breaking further out than the neighbouring spots that saturate under the same conditions. Reserved for experienced surfers. The furthest-out peak is unfortunately often ridden by tow-in or step-off. An unwritten rule says a paddler holds priority no matter the wave, though it's something people here tend to forget fast. When it's working, it's well worth watching from the café terraces at La Centrale, not bad for a break.
A small La Nord can work under 2m of swell, provided there's a decent tide coefficient and plenty of period. Autumn often brings clean waves between 1 and 2.5m, winter brings the big swells, the season of the Rip Curl Challenge, where Duvignac has won more than once.
Most often surfed as a right, though the left can sometimes be beautiful too, with one drawback: very hard to cut back through to catch another wave, you have to loop all the way round via the south. To paddle out, go in facing the wave or a bit to the south, the current then pulls hard to the south, a bit of paddling required. Unlike Parlementia in the Basque Country, La Nord can barrel, it's not rare to see surfers pull into one, even if it's technical on a gun. Plenty of people ride guns even when it's not massive, which makes it harder to get your wave if you're not equipped for it. As with any committing spot, don't hesitate to ask others in the water for advice.
// A bit of history
In 1959, Jacky Rott founded France's first surf club, the Waikiki Surf Club, alongside Georges Hennebutte, Joël de Rosnay and Michel Barland. The first surfers appeared on La Gravière beach in the mid-1960s, and Hossegor became a legendary spot through the 60s and 70s, drawing surfers from all over the world.
// The spots around
La Sud and la Centrale serve as an almost guaranteed fallback when La Nord gets too big or too committing. La Gravière, right next door, often works on the same mechanism, the Gouf de Capbreton concentrating the swell.
// Who it's for
With a good period and swell around 1.5m, a small La Nord surfs really well on a Mid-Length. Board Garage delivers straight to the spot, boards shaped by local craftsmen.
Book your board for Hossegor →That calls for the right board, a gun built for it. It's not what we offer in the standard catalogue. If you've got your own board, go for it. Otherwise, head to La Sud or La Centrale.
// Practical info
GPS: 43°39'54.6"N, 1°26'29.8"W
Free parking on site.
Lifeguard post and disabled access available in season.