Photo: Ripitup.fr
Things are good for Hossegor tube hounds right now. They enjoyed one banger of an ending to 2024. Between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, empty barrels exploded onto the beaches of France almost nonstop. They were promised about 48 hours to rest up before more swell was said to be on the way. While that follow-up pulse may not have delivered to the same standard as the unbelievable holiday run, it still feels like French surfers have enjoyed an embarrassment of riches.
It’s wild to think that was a month ago. In case you already lost track, today is January 24, which feels more like January 78th at this point. Either way, time is flying and moving at a snail’s pace simultaneously…unless you’re too busy getting spat out of barrels to notice. And that is exactly what those same lucky French guys have spent this past week doing: chasing barrels, breaking boards, chasing more barrels, rinse and repeat.
“This year is off to a really good start in France,” agrees videographer David Berthet, who called this past week “crazy.”
“We start this year in big French barrels,” he added. “Over a week of non-stop barrels. A solid swell, just in the perfect direction, has been lighting up Hossegor for the past few days to start off 2025 in the best way possible.”
Have a look for yourself, below.
