.png){kind=logo}
When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference.
These cookies are essential to enable user movement across our website and for providing access to features such as your profile. These cookies cannot be disabled. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies allow us to analyze visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site and enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, such as Google Analytics, whose services we have added to our pages. Information collected through these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly and/or we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts or content. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
Spain, Portugal Beaches Begin Opening, French Ban Continues
Ben Mondy
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has announced that all beaches in France will remain shut until June 2nd despite an easing of national lockdown rules on May 11. Surfers in Spain and Portugal however have gotten been news as some local beach restrictions are now starting to ease.
France has been under severe current quarantine measures for over six weeks. While an hour of exercise has been allowed, surfing hasn't been permitted. And while there has been some epic conditions in that time the famous beachbreaks have remained empty, as the video from the Hossegor Tourist Board shows.
The Gendarmes have been strict on enforcing the rules and anyone trying to break the embargo have been dealt with harshly. Wavelengthmag.com has reported that three surfers exiting the water were busted by a police helicopter.
"As they sheltered behind their boards from all the sand and debris flying in their faces, the cops had machine guns pointed at them and instructed ‘Ne bougez pas!' (Freeze!) over the heli's speakers," reported Paul Evans. "The bird then landed and made the arrests."
However French surfers were hoping that a relaxation of the national lockdown rules would mean a return to the water. The Prime Minister's announcement of the extended beach closures has therefore come as a shock. Many are understandably angry.
The French Surfing Federation (FFS) has taken up their concerns to the government. "We're seeking a transition period between 11th May and 2nd June to give people access to the sea," said the FFS secretary Jean-Luc Arrassus, "for individual exercise, on the understanding health guidelines and physical distancing are respected."
Elsewhere a petition to the regional governments of France's west coast requesting that individual sports in the ocean should be permitted has gathered some 17,000 signatures.
On the other mainland Europe's Atlantic coasts however there has been some more positive news. Spain and Portugal have started to allow surfing again in some of their respective regions.
For French surfers though it looks like May might be the longest month of their lives.
News
Early exit pressure provided a spark to action at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach following the holding pattern and eliminations were dealt.
The chilly waters of Bells Beach are heating up after Elimination Round bouts dished out the first round of tickets to the Gold Coast.
After a momentous Final in El Salvador, Matthew McGillivray kept his form intact in the face of elimination and powered his way past
Rising CT threat Bettlyou Sakura Johnson overpowered what Bells had to offer and secured a pivotal Elimination Round over Vahine Fierro and
The 2025 CT replacement surfer, Luana Silva, is looking to make her season count and salvaged her Aussie Treble start overcoming