La Gravière
Landes, France
Beach breakExpert
The deadliest and most celebrated peak within Hossegor, a thick, pitching beach-break barrel that detonates over an extremely shallow sandbar and rivals Pipeline for raw beach-break power.
Typical Conditions
The Surf Window
Swell Window
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size4-8ft
Wind
NE
Offshore
Tide
Any
LowMidHigh
Season
September–November
JFMAMJJASOND
The Wave
Type
Both (left is usually heavier)
Bottom
Sand (extremely shallow)
Shape
Thick, square, pitching barrel, explosive and intense
Length
75–125m
Skill Level
- •Who it's for: Expert
- •Why: The wave detonates over a sandbar that can be inches deep, even experienced surfers are regularly injured here.
Hazards
- •Extremely shallow sandbar, spine and head injuries documented
- •Violent hold-downs, powerful wipeouts that don't let go
- •Highly competitive crowd of elite surfers
- •Rips on either side of the peak
Local Tips
- •The WSL contest is often decided by who surfs La Graviere best, it's the heart of the Hossegor contest.
- •Watch the current and sandbar carefully from the beach walk before committing; the sandbar shifts between swells.
Location
43.6654, -1.4152