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THE SCENE
Story by Francois Liets
Monday March 10th, 1.30 - 6.30 pm
Belharra, Outer Reef St Jean de Luz, SW of France
The group of surfers included Seb St Jean/Yann Benetrix, Peyo Lizarazu/Max Larretche, Fred Basse/Todd Lee, Pascal Vergnes with no partner. Fifi Chevallier and myself joined later in the afternoon. Photographers Christophe Dimulle and Eric Chauche, as well as TV production
company ZUMA were also on site for stills and videos.
Belharra is an outer reef located 2 km outside of St Jean de Luz, in the south west of France. It is a right and a left-hander, with the left hander being
longer.
The forecasts had looked absolutely perfect for the previous 4 days, with a 25 ft
swell coming, no wind and blue skies.
The only thing that was of concern was the tidal range which was a bit small, but it eventually turned out fine.
Conditions were 25 ft at 21 seconds and no wind. By 6.15 pm, the offshore wind started to blow a little bit too strongly and it was time for a well deserved beer, some guys I won' t say any names,
even got much more than just one !
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PHOTOS
Fred Basse. Belharra Reef. PHOTO Christophe Dimulle
Sebastian St Jean. Belharra Reef. PHOTO Christophe Dimulle
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THE SWELL
When Fifi and I arrived by 4 pm, it looked like a cartoon movie. Just perfect glassy conditions, and 30 ft + (I would like to say bigger but I won't dare), A-frame peaks rolling to the line up with two to three waves per set every three minutes, it was more than huge, but so beautiful that it was also very appealing.
The boys went off and if last time (on November 25), it was an experimental session, this time, they were really surfing the waves, doing a few top turns and Yann Benetrix even trying to get barrelled.
Seb seems to have the biggest shot of the day but photographers and cameramen did not stay for the whole time of the session and very likely
missed a few good ones, specially some from Yann and Peyo (the local of the peak who has been checking this wave from his bedroom's window for the last
20 years).
Pascal Vergnes got the wipe-out of the day, and was very happy to surface alive after being dragged underwater for almost 75 yards.
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