Capbreton – La Piste

Capbreton · Landes · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Capbreton – La Piste (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/capbreton-la-piste.

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La Piste is the exposed beach in front of the Second World War blockhouses south of Capbreton. Fully open to the swell, it is powerful, fast and hollow, and is often mentioned alongside La Gravière as one of the best tubes in France. A good right sometimes peels along the rock groyne. The level in the water is very high, with French pros among the regulars, so it is for experienced surfers.

Level
Advanced
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Crowded
Season
autumn, spring, winter
Boards
A shortboard.

When it works

✓ A 1–2 m west to northwest swell from low to mid tide with an east to northeast wind.

When it doesn't

✕ Swells much over 2.5 m, which close it out, and onshore wind.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • currents
  • rocks
  • crowds

Best months

April, May, September, October, November

Local tips

Early morning on the rising tide is the classic session. The right peak at the southern end is known locally as VVF. Keep off the blockhouses: approaching or climbing them is forbidden.

Getting there

Cross Capbreton toward the CERS rehabilitation centre and park along the access road, then walk a short way over the sand; facilities are minimal apart from a restaurant nearby.

Travel notes

How often it works
La Piste is fully open and close to the undersea canyon, so it picks up most swells and handles some size. Old wartime bunkers on the beach help hold the sandbanks.
Crowd and vibe
The line-up is skilled and mostly local, and it gets busy on good mornings, especially at the VVF right. Mind your manners.
Camping and vans
Capbreton's town campsite, Camping La Civelle, is about 1.5 km away. There is a motorhome aire at the foot of the dune at Les Océanides, about 500 m south. Nearest campsite about 1.5 km away.
Facilities
There is not much here: parking along the access road, one restaurant nearby, a surf school and lifeguards in July and August.
Water quality
All five of Capbreton's bathing sites are rated excellent in the official French rating (national open data, 2022).

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–NNW best, WSW–N works
Size
1.2–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 2.8 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore ENE–SSE; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid best
Faces
WNW (290°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Landes · All spots

Sources