Guéthary & Hendaye · France
Surfing Avalanche
A left reef in Guéthary & Hendaye, France, for pro surfers.
Avalanche is a big-wave left that breaks well out to sea off the jetty at Guéthary, on the Basque coast. It only starts working on very big swells, around 4 metres and up, and can hold waves of 6 or 7 metres.
The paddle out takes about 20 minutes, and on big days most surfers are towed in. It's a spot for big-wave specialists only. On a big day, the terraces in Guéthary village are a good place to watch.
It breaks only a few times a year, usually in mid-winter. When it does, it's a big event in Guéthary, and the village terraces fill with people watching. On normal days, Parlementia and Alcyons are the waves to surf here.
When to surf
Avalanche
Avalanche is at its best from October to March. Conditions it likes: Big SW-NW swell, mid tide.
October to March: Prime
Big, powerful swell, mild Basque winter
April to June: Good
Reliable swell, milder crowds
July to August: Quiet
Smaller swell, packed beaches, festival crowds
The year across Côte Basque
Waves near Avalanche
Parlementia
under 1 kmGuéthary & Hendaye · Right Reef · Advanced / Pro
Alcyons
under 1 kmGuéthary & Hendaye · Left Reef · Advanced / Pro
Cenitz
1 kmGuéthary & Hendaye · Reef Break · Intermediate / Advanced
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Guéthary is small and pricey but puts you right on the reef; Hendaye is a bigger beach town near the Spanish border.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Guéthary & Hendaye guide.
Guéthary & Hendaye surf guideSurf it often and something here is wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.