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2008 Biarritz Babes

(or a European Adventure in ice-cream & S-Flat)
words and photos by Kirsty Webster
(Click photos to enlarge and move around)

NO Spa, NO Gibson Guitars, NO Live Footage, NO Great Waves
This year my trip included a close friend of mine Cate and also my son, Zac. This meant doing the obligatory tour of Paris… Arrived in CDG (Paris) airport ok thinking I would send my boards to Biarritz ahead of me which had seemed a good plan after emailing Air France Freight from Oz. WRONG. On a Saturday it seems no one can get a hold of them or any other alternative so after the 20 hour flight, a mountain of walking (and yes a few tears), I paid the shark at Baggage du Monde AU$500 to send them to Biarritz. He had wanted $650 at first and eventually I reconciled, at least they will be there in a couple of days. (ps- they do not take anything over 6 feet on the TVG train)

PARIS HIGHLIGHTS: If you like the sound of this, then look up Fat Mikes Bike Tours. Cruise the crazy Parisian roads at night on push bikes (no lights or helmets) with commentary of unusual facts and sites by American uni students. Time for ice-cream, then many bottles of wine on the River Seine cruise, followed by more ‘dominating’ group riding back to the Eiffel Tower.

We stayed at a hotel outside the centre of Paris and the homelessness etc was more visible there. Our favourite breakfast café monsieur saved us big time one morning. As we sipped our coffee a young guy came in shoving a magazine in our faces and speaking French at us. We had not noticed him pick up Cate's purse before he headed for the door. Our knight in shining armour came and saved us. Funnily enough he was more upset at us for not paying attention than at the thief for attempting to steal from us.

VENICE: A cheap Ryan Air flight saw us fly to Venice for a night. Not easy to switch from one new language to another. Luckily Cate loved the challenge (taking many notes) and a charismatic man named Luigi (of course) assisted us. All I can remember now is ‘Chow’ (I know, it is spelt somehow differently). I loved the experience of being in a town with no cars and lots of water. We searched out the best ice cream and we ate the best pasta ever under the rialto bridge. We met some very interesting characters including Alexandria who had been a personal designer (among other things) for George Michael.

YES, BUT WHERE WERE THE WAVES? After Venice I wanted to find the ocean and I was busting for a surf (still a few sleeps away). One of the most beautiful towns we went through had the most amazing photographic display of all sizes hanging on buildings, parks and even in the creek. Finally we got to Quiberon where my French friend had told me the swell was 12-14ft. Oh my, do not listen to the French with their swell predictions. It was maybe 4-5 foot from what I know of swell. All the way I had been thinking of waves the size I had seen in WA. It got worse, it was onshore mush. It reminded me a little of the Phillip Island beachies and despite the conditions I was determined to surf- the next day.

We got a bed for the night and after dinner we found a surf van at our hotel. Aha! I left a note explaining my need for equipment. They lent me a board and wetsuit for an onshore scrappy paddle the next day. Thanks guys... that was it for waves (tides make a big difference as to when there are waves) until Biarritz. We went to the biggest skate park ever in Nantes, where we also enjoyed some real French hospitality by an artist friend of mine. We went to a very hip party, managing with our limited French to have a lot of fun. Luckily dancing has a universal language.

BIARRITZ!! We arrived 10 days after sending my boards and they were not there yet. Ahh!! I knew I would eventually have my own ‘board’ story. Well, I ended up getting them in 1 piece the next day but the driver told me it had really only cost AU$75. Ripped right off!
It was so good to catch up with friends for the comp, especially Issy (somewhat of a Lennox girl living in Japan) and Christiana & Sabrina (Brazilians). The waves at first were ok but nothing to travel the world for. Unfortunately, the waves over the competition period just got worse. The whole set-up had an obvious budget cut back, however the communication from the judges and the (cute) competition director was top quality. Some grommies in the Pro Junior event had also arrived early and several of them were competing in the World Longboard Title Event. These included Carissa Moore who also has a very special style on a long board.

Aussie competitors this year included myself, Isabelle Braly, Emma Wilson, Georgia Young, Chelsea Williams and Selby Riddle = 6 in total. We all did our best to bring home the gold and Chelsea almost did. She surfed an exciting final and she ended up placing 2nd in the World. Fabulous work Chelsea - as she made the eventual winner, Joy Monahan, surf her absolute best to deny Chelsea. Halfway through the final (in poor conditions) Joy required a perfect 10 to take the lead. It was another special moment to see Joy’s mum there to share in her win.  Other placings were myself, Emma and Georgia (33rd), Selby (17th), and Issy (9th). Joy and Chelsea were definite standouts throughout the event and Joy was a very deserving winner and a great role model for women’s long boarding.

The Expression Session coincided with Bastille Day and it was held on Grand Plage along with a spectacularly long fireworks show. Emma held the ‘Best Wave’ for a while, and I almost came through with the ‘Best Manoeuvre’ category. I am determined to practise some fin first take offs and helicopters if my shins can take the battering.

Some other fun things to do in Biarritz when the waves don’t co-operate included hiring a vesper and seeing how far I could get on it with my long board (French wave search?)… Find a quirky Irish family to play with… Ping Pong tournaments, try all the ice cream shops (several times), Partake in some artwork darlings... bet on the tour de France, sit back and enjoy all the eye candy… EAT more again!!

I ended up selling my boards near Hossegor as I could not get them home on the very fast train to Paris. The surf shops over there were throwing me good boards to ride every chance they got when I didn’t have mine. I could hardly imagine our shops being so generous to foreign strangers… A big thanks once again to Steve Barber (Full Force) for being so good to me as always with great replacements.

Having fun at home in the Aussie waves,
Kirsty