Bodysurf is the purest form of surfing — no board, just the body and the wave. In Biarritz, a few spots allow it to be practised in exceptional conditions. None of them appear on tourist maps.
Bodysurf is not a discipline for beginners. It requires a finer reading of the waves than conventional surfing, the ability to swim powerfully and hold underwater, and a knowledge of the currents which, in Biarritz, are serious as soon as the swell builds. But for those who have mastered it, the experience is incomparable: merging with the wave with no intermediary, no board, no leash.
Miramar beach and the shorebreak accelerations
Miramar beach, to the north of Biarritz, produces in certain swell conditions short, powerful shorebreaks perfectly suited to bodysurf. The wave breaks close to shore, allowing tube rides standing in very shallow water — provided you know exactly when to dive and which way to roll to avoid going headfirst into the sand.
By our editorial team