If you don’t, somebody else will! Photo: Timo.

Autumn and France go together like, um, Bali and June… the North Shore and December. As in, super crowded, kinda eggy vibes, pricey, over-rated… No! As in… totally awesome!

Yep it’s autumn and if you own a red passport and a surfboard, ziggy says there’s a 91.3% chance you’ll be headed to SW France. And why wouldn’t you? The water is still warm, swells thick, winds offish…zzzzzzz. God I hate myself.

WHAT BOARDS?

Now, being essentially predictable, imagination-less clones, we want to say ‘a pintail for tubes, something wider for smaller days.’ Fuck that. Bring a planing hull and a finless asymmetrical number, you asshole.

WHAT WETTIE?

Well right now, the water is warmer than it’s ever been, about 25 deg C, although some folk are still in full suits. So hey, bring whatev, but a short arm full suit should be decent. You could bring a long arm spring suit, but like, why? Have your calves ever been hot and your arms cold, ever? Weirdo.

WHAT BANK?

Hmmm. Being subject to the violent whims longshore drift, any sandbar information will be out of date by the time this sentence is typed. But, a tip: low tide.The coast is like ten times longer at low tide, and that intimate peak you could throw a blanket over at mid-high is more likely three wider distinct peaks at low. Now low tide ain’t as sexy as high tide shoreys but dig this; low tide shoreys!

WHAT CREW?

You pretty much don’t need a crew. Everyone you know will be there. You know how sometimes you spend a wedge going to a wedding to catch up with ol’ pals? Well you needn’t, coz they’re all checking Les Estagnots!

WHAT WHAT?

Coming in a van? Perfect. Bring dry foods with and buy fresh from the Capbreton fish market (end of the port) and veg from the Capb town market (Saturday mornings). Try to avoid the supermarkets, they’re evil.