Contis Plage
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Ocean, Chop
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Contis Plage is an exposed sandy beach break on the Contis coast near Saint-Julien-en-Born, producing both left and right-hand waves. Surf quality is heavily influenced by the shifting sandbanks, especially those near the river mouth (Courant de Contis), so conditions can change from session to session. The most reliable surfing window is during autumn, with October highlighted as the best month for consistent, clean waves. The break generally works from around June through October, with the strongest offshore/clean winds reported from the east-southeast and swell best from the west/northwest sector. Typical waves are described as moderate-power with peeling shape. Normal ride lengths are commonly reported in the 50–150 m range, and on better days sections can extend toward 150–300 m. On very large swells (reported above about 3 meters), it can start closing out. Safety is a key concern: strong rip currents (baïnes) and strong river-mouth currents are specifically noted hazards, and the beach can be crowded in summer. In July and August, swimming and water sports are zoned, with no-sport areas and restrictions around bathing zones—follow lifeguard flags and signage, and respect local surfers.
- Exposed Landes beach break with both lefts and rights
- October emphasized for consistent clean surf
- Shifting sandbanks near the river mouth drive the quality
- Seasonal lifeguards; zoned beach rules in summer
- Classic exposed Landes beach break with both left and right-hand waves
- Works best with offshore/cleaning winds from the east-southeast and northwest/west-northwest swell
- Longer ride lengths possible on good days
- Exposed beach break with variability from shifting sandbanks near the river mouth
- Strong rip currents (baïnes) and strong river-mouth currents
- Localism and summer crowding; July/August water-sport zoning restrictions
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- ESE, SE, E
- Offshore directions
- ESE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Spot-level wind type described as thermal; also commonly described as sea-breeze/afternoon breezes in the wider Contis coast context.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Reported light gustiness; wind often builds as a sea breeze.
- Best Months
- June, July, August, September, October
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean, Chop
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — One report describes small wave sizes; another places working swell around roughly 1.0–2.5 m.
- Chop Level
- Heavy chop — Water type described as chop; shoreline conditions can vary with sandbank configuration.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach with ample space, though summer swimming zones may restrict where you can launch.
Through the year
High in July and August; moderate in May, June, and September; low in winter.
Rain is most common from November to January.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Possible outside summer bathing zones; best in cross-shore winds. Primary conditions described as surf-focused, so kitesurfing is secondary and subject to no-sport/zoned areas.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Possible in swell conditions, but shore break and shifting sandbanks can make it challenging for beginners.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly reported, though conditions can be demanding near sandbanks.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Exposed Landes beach break producing both left and right waves over sandy bottom; wave quality depends heavily on shifting sandbanks near the river mouth (Courant de Contis).
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NW, W
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Reported best with mid tide movement.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed beach break.
- Wind Effect
- East to east-southeast winds reported as offshore/cleaning; surfing is best when winds are offshore from the east-southeast.
- Bigger Swell
- On very large swells (reported above ~3 m) it can start to close out.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Regional classic; quality reported good.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate power typical at working sizes.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling wave shape with sandbank-driven variability.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peeling, not the fastest-lining type.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Typical rides 50–150 m; on good days up to 150–300 m.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- 50–150 m normal; 150–300 m on good days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Contis Plage in the full forecast view.
Contis Plage wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–17 ktsGusts 30 kts
- Direction
- W274°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2517 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–4.0 m11s period
- Temperature
- 8–22 °C
Over the next 7 days, Contis Plage is forecast for daytime winds of 2–17 kts, peaking around 17 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 30 kts. The prevailing direction is W. Waves run 0.8–4.0 m with a period of about 11s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Baïnes (rip currents) that can pull you out to sea
- Strong river mouth currents near the Courant de Contis
- Shifting sandbars
- Localism
- Crowds in summer
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguards on main beach areas during summer months.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability described as limited, with seasonal surveillance and emergency response via 112.
- Emergency Info
- Universal emergency number 112.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Spot-level notes describe localism; overall localism severity varies by report.
Rules of the spot
Respect local surfers; swimming and water sports are strictly zoned during July and August—stay within the lifeguard-marked areas and respect the flags.
- Kitesurfing restricted in swimming zones (July and August).
- No-sport zones in summer peak hours.
- Check conditions before going, and especially check sandbank shape near the river mouth for the most consistent waves.
- Go early (before summer tourists arrive) to reduce crowd pressure.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Saint-Julien-en-Born
- Nearest Town
- Saint-Julien-en-Born
- Parking
- Parking available near the beach (can fill quickly in July and August).
- Access
- From Saint-Julien-en-Born, take the D41 toward Plage Nord, then the central front de mer (about 600m) after the main street; instant access (less than 5 minutes walking).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping and vacation rentals in the Contis-Plage village and nearby coastal hamlets.
- Food & Drink
- Several restaurants, snack bars, and cafes in the Contis-Plage village.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available at local surf schools and shops in the village (especially in summer).
- Gear Storage
- Offered by some local surf schools for students (limited).
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard repair available via local shops.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Distinctive black-and-white spiraled lighthouse with panoramic views over the Landes forest and the Atlantic.
Lighthouse-backed beach.
Traditional Landes village with typical local architecture and a weekly market.
Quiet paddling through a protected nature reserve rich in local flora and fauna.
Major cycling route running through pine forests parallel to the coast.
Seasonal dining with views of the dunes and ocean.
Local independent cinema hosting an annual film festival.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Contis Plage?
The best overall months at Contis Plage are October. The best wind months are June, July, August, September, October.
Which wind directions work at Contis Plage?
Contis Plage works with ESE, SE, E winds. Offshore directions are ESE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Contis Plage?
Recommended equipment sizes at Contis Plage: Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–20 kts.
What skill level is Contis Plage suitable for?
Contis Plage suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Intermediate.