Quik pro

Once in a lifetime opportunity to see the world's best surfers.  This is what I spent 3 days solid driving for.
Was it worth it?  On the whole yes, but not quite how I expected.

The surf was awesome, although I didn't see Kelly surfing well.
There were plenty of things to look at but not so much to chat to.
It was less commercial than I expected, but the atmosphere was good.  It got in the way of surfing, but alas, it was a good second best.
It was often on hold and moved between la Grav and Le Penon.

We were routing for Brazilian kid Medina in the final, but Mick fanning won.

That completes some mammoth blogging for tonight.

Do I miss Hossegor?

I don't miss:
Having to drive- everywhere
Roundabouts- far too many
Wifi- how is it so difficult if you run an establishment that advertises having wifi to have wifi that ACTUALLY works.
Sandy feet- gets tiring after a while
Hossegor in the rain- not a good look
Wipeouts- way too heavy
My car- ok I do miss it

I do miss:
Random convos with people- like the Corsicans, Italians, Spanish ect
The waves- they have power
Hossegor in the sun- parfait
Hossegor on the cheap is doable.  San Sebastian is not cheap.
The area- maybe spread out but has a special feel about it
The bakery (how have I only been there once this trip?)
My car- currently a 20 minute walk away

Will I be going back to Hossegor?- YES of course.  I still need to get barreled, try the step up board, eat oysters, revisit the bakery and I won't have the distraction of the pro.  And even if it ain't as social- I can surf, which is ultimately something I should be doing more of.  Only had one session today- slacking.

Day 7- 1 week

Wow 1 week ago I set off- time flies.  TBH the first 3 days were not much.  All the pro is over now and I have left Hossegor- quel horreur.  In fact the rain continued this morning to pour- the surf looked crap too.  So I headed into town.  Grabbed an expensive coffee, followed by quiche and croissant almond choc (amazing) and then bought a board sock for the unsurfed step up board.

I drove down to Anglet, stopping in Labenne to say hi to Paul who's hostel I'll probably stay at for a night next week when not camping.  The rain continued.  I had agreed to meet Fabian who surfed with me back at LSE in Anglet.  When I arrived the surf lookded dribble and it was raining.  We made the call to go in.

In fact Fabs brought the Sun because the afternoon was lovely.  We had a fun surf in quite crappy waves- followed by a coffee and some deep conversation re careers and the need to surf regularly.  It was good to see Fabs after all those years and at 34 he seems younger than me.

I stayed in the car park waiting to dry off some of my stuff and have car reorganise.  This followed by checking out Anglet's golf facilities, but alas did not have time to play this afternoon.

As the surf is down this weekend I figured I would head to San Sebastian- for some tapas and a change of seen from the Hossegor.  So here I am in a hostel which although clean is quite boring (where is everyone?).  I think Ill spend Sunday nigh in San seba too but lets see how it goes.  Just grabbed an icecream and tapas- that is what I cam here for.  Also had a proper shower rather than one at the beach and am not camping for once.  Clearly expensive weekend, but hey how often can you drive 1 hour to San Seba.  Swell due Monday evening, maybe chance of a small wave tomorrow at Zurriola in town- but will have to top up the horrendously expensive parking here.

Day 6

I am still working one day behind so the accuracy of these posts and detail is contestable.  Day 6 was yesterday, but it was a good day- mainly involving the final of the quik pro which I will cover in a separate post.
The morning started off by waking to find the contest was on hold (again), despite quite nice offshore conditions.  The day started quite slowly which wad frustrating with me trying to find wifi and grabbing some food from Leclerc.

Frustratingly I got in the water at Le Penon (new contest site for the day) at around 11.  Dan had just got out the water and I saw him on the way in.  The paddle out was brutal- took a good half an hour.  The waves were solid (again)- head high barrels.  For the 3rd morning in a row I hit the sand on a wipeout.  Then I got makeable ride despite it closing out- before feeling so tired I cam back in.

Contest was postponed (again) from 12 call time to 1:30.  In this time I cooked lunch on the camping gaz in the car park and dried out some stuff.  Contest was on again at 1:30 finally.  Met up with Dan and we watched 3 quarter finals including Kelly get knocked out.  I went back to the car to top up suncream, but missed the chance to get a photo with Mr Kelly Slater- Dan got a good shot and was clearly so happy.

Watched the second semi and then the final.  After the presentations I grabbed the board for a sunset surf.  The waves had got really messy and it was pretty windy- but got a few sections.

After finally grabbing wifi (see yesterday's post), quite a mission in Hoss, and getting a french take on a burger which was awesome, had a beer with Dan.  Finally could not be bothered to put up my 2 second tent so did the car again- but thankfully I must have had some foresight because the heavens opened and it poured.  Meanwhile I was dry.

Day 4,5

I realised I have not posted for a while now.  That is due to the terrible wifi here in Hossegor.  Nowhere seems to do power and wifi together which is quite frustrating.

Day 4
I posted up until lunchtime.  So after this I watched some of the quick pro which was great at la Grav.  Saw a few heats and had a bodysurf to the south.

Day 5

Started in the morning leaving the Aire de Camping and heading down to les Estagnots.  Surfed there- hit the bottom again...it was fairly solid like the day before with head high barrels.  Yours truly had some wipeouts.  After this I headed for Leclerc in Capbreton for my biggest pitstop depuis Nantes.  Got some breakie and practical stuff in.

Headed back to la Grav, but the contest was off which sucked.  Watched some of the groms comp but got bored quickly.  On balance I decided to drive back to Capreton and check the junkyard (le Prevent), which normally handles bu,py conditions.

This was a solid decision- got a few fun waves followed by a convo with some Spanish guys and then some Ile De Re blokes.  After this the contest was on call so I headed back to Hoss- turned out to be off but had a chat with Dan and watched some pros freesurf.  Then headed to Les Estagnots for sundown ses.

This was pretty mellow surf, but fun way to end the day.  Got back to the carpark to get out the camping gaz for dinner.  Then came the mother of all Thunderstorms- truly spectacular.  The windscreen was like a cinema, entertainment for those living feral like me.  Ended up chatting to some Italians in the shelter while the rain poured.  Eventually settled for the car rather than tent- wise move as it rained hard most the night and this morning too.

Day 3 continued and Day 4

As you may have noticed part 1 of Day 3 was posted today.  The wifi at this campsite is quite frankly awful.

So yesterday I managed to ding my board at Hourtin.  Had a chat with the resident Aussie before dinging it again in the car park and then spending the next half an hour fixing it (What a muppet).  Ch

ecked Lacanau for old times, but no waves going down so hot footed down the coast.  The drive around Archachon basin was a nightmare really slow with loads of roundabouts.  Also hit 150k on the car- milestone!

Eventually got on the fast road and hit Vieux Bocau where I am now staying.  Had a beer last night with Dan from London in Seignosse and used the campingaz for the first time which cooks like a dream.  Only label on the bloody pan was nuisance.

This morning through the tent I could here booming surf.  Sure enough it is solid today.  Had a session this morning- bloody hell those waves are powerful.  Got smashed in the sand on my first take off before calling it a day.  Had a chat with German guy back to the campsite.  Sorted the car out this morning while the weather is beautiful and chatted to the Welshies next door.  Need to pack up and head down to the pro now.

Adios.

Day 3

In Hossegor (well sort of) at last.  Camping at Vieux Boucau.  Long day indeed.  Camp crashed at Rayon yesterday- then got the ferry this morning after a few golf practice puts and chips.  Had  a good convo with some Swiss blokes on the boat.

Finally surf... after a bit of a drive  down from Vedron, I got to Hourtin.  Got  few waves and chat with the locals, before