Had a terrific surfing lesson and subsequent board rental this past weekend at La Vague Basque…read more Located amongst a group of surf schools operating out of tents just past the end of Boulevard de Prince de Galles, they were comfortable with foreigners, and heard speaking french, english, and spanish. I took a 90 minute lesson from 1830-2000, when the crowds were thinning out and the waves were a little cleaner. Having taken maybe 4-5 lessons in my life, this one was by far the most helpful, most fun, and most professional. My instructor's name was Franck, and he was great. He had a group of 6 of us, and a couple of us had a little experience. Rather than hold everyone on the same level, Franck had 4 people working to stand, me working on turning, and my girlfriend working on something else. I think that's unusual, and speaks very highly of this school. Most of the other places I have gone they just kept it too basic. Here, they were trying to improve everyone's skills, and they really didn't waste any time out of the water aside from the initial theory, foot placement, etc.
The beach they operate out of is great because the further north you go toward the wall, the more protected and smaller the swell. Then just off to the south a bit, you have some very good surfers riding much bigger waves. Inbetween, you can step it up as you see fit. Having taken a lesson with them, you then get a great rate on board / wetsuit rentals.
This place was great, and I highly recommend the dusk lesson followed by a beer at the top of the hill above the school. There's a little bar up there where you'll see a good crowd, and you can watch some of the really good surfers as they keep pressing it a little later.
