Not in Anglet, Laird.
Ever since hydrofoils started showing up in lineups, they’ve been a subject of controversy. Now, in the French surf town of Anglet, the mayor has issued a ban on them. Anglet is in the southwest of France, near Biarritz.
Mayor Claude Olive signed the executive order that encompasses 11 beaches along a three-mile stretch of coastline. As of May 29th, Plage de la Petite Chambre d’Amour, Plage du Club, Plage des Sables d’Or, Plage de Marinella, Plage des Corsaires, Plage de la Madrague, Plage de la Petite Madrague, Plage de l’Océan, Plage des Dunes, Plage des Cavaliers, and Plage de La Barre are all foil-free.
“The practice of any activity that may pose a danger to the public (swimmers) is strictly prohibited especially activities using foils,” reads the mayor’s order. “Any infringement of this rule will be registered and prosecuted according to the provisions of the penal code.”
According to reports, the order encompasses anything with a foil on it, from foil kiting to stand up paddle foiling. It is meant to be a measure of protection for swimmers in the area—and, given the increase in foilboard injuries as their popularity swells, it may only be a matter of time before other communities follow suit.
