Hourtin.

Hourtin is a beachbreak on the Atlantic-facing Gironde coast, sitting along the same vast sandy shoreline that defines the Landes region. What sets it apart from a generic beach is the alios - a natural iron-rich hardpan layer beneath the sand - that provides enough structure to coax peaks into proper bowly a-frame shapes when conditions cooperate. Both lefts and rights peel off these peaks, running fast and with reasonable shape at low to mid tide. The wave depth data shows a well-covered, flat-spotted character that can surprise with hollow sections when the banks align and swell has some punch; on its better days the drop is steep and the initial section quick. Optimal conditions require SW to NW swells with a clean easterly wind offshore. At high tide in smaller swells the water drowns the banks entirely and the waves lose all their form. Hourtin sits within easy reach of Bordeaux and has historically attracted British surfers holidaying in the area, which drives significant summer crowds. The beach is backed by pine forest and a large lake system, and during peak season the lineup can become genuinely packed. Outside of July and August the crowds thin considerably, and the consistency of swell along this exposed stretch of coast means there are usually rideable waves to be found. Nearby Le Pin Sec to the north and Carcans to the south offer alternatives when Hourtin itself is at capacity.

Alios bedrock sculpts fast a-frames that hollow when the banks and swell align.