Tarnos Plage.

Tarnos Plage - known to locals as Plage du Métro - is a sandbar beachbreak sitting between Labenne and the Adour estuary on the Landes-Basque border. The wave shares the character of its neighbours to the north: a-frame peaks that are sluggish and forgiving in small, weak swell but transform into fast, bowly barrels once solid W to NW groundswell fills in around the 1.5-3m range. The shape data reveals a steep, hollow face capable of genuine tube sections alongside slopier walls that well up and offer longer rides - variety that rewards patience and positioning. Low to mid tide pulls the best out of the banks, multiplying the number of peaks and sharpening the form. High tide tends to flatten the experience out, though the wave never fully switches off. Entry is straightforward from the beach with free car-park access, though a short walk north or south from the main car-park cluster gives access to quieter sandbars with fewer bodies. The estuary proximity brings a river pollution risk that worsens after significant rainfall - timing sessions accordingly is sensible. A resident local contingent keeps a territorial eye on the peak, and submerged objects in the nearshore zone warrant awareness, particularly at lower tides.

Bowly barrels at mid-tide, sluggish walls when the swell stays weak.