As far as big wave arenas go, you may or may not know that Belharra ain’t the most exhilarating from a spectator point of view. While the St Jean de Luz area is an extremely picturesque part of coastline to go for a Sunday afternoon stroll, what you might not realise is that the wave breaks about 2 miles out to sea and, if you actually plan on watching anything, a good pair of binoculars is a must-have. Add to that the fact the wave breaks at such an angle and distance that most often the first wave of the set all but obscures the bigger ones behind it and you may end up wishing you’d stayed at home. This video of yesterday’s Hercules action shot from atop the cliffs should give you an idea of what we’re talking about. For a better view try this Belharra channel edit.

If you’re into watching jetskis ride the shoulder of the smallest wave of the set then Belharra should be right up your street…