Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez) is an exposed reef break in Vendee known for long, occasionally hollow left-hand waves that break over flat rocks. It is described as rarely working—around five days per year—so conditions must line up closely for a full session. When it does work, the wave quality is reported as good, with hollow, ordinary waves at suitable swell sizes. The break starts working around 1.0–1.5 m and can hold up to about 2.5 m and beyond. The optimal tide is consistently described as high tide (also including mid/high and sessions on the incoming tide). For the best swell direction, west to north-west swell directions are cited as the most favorable for getting the reef to fire. Wind can help or hinder surf quality: East, South-East, and South winds are described as offshore and tend to clean the faces. However, the overall wind reliability is described as low, and the thermal pattern is noted primarily for summer afternoons; this may mean you sometimes need to wait for the right timing as well as the right swell and tide. Safety-wise, this spot is advanced only. The combination of hollow waves and flat rocks/reef hazards means wipeouts can be especially dangerous, and rescue availability is described as limited. Plan around the incoming tide, be ready for a strong swell requirement to initiate breaking over the reef, and follow local surfing etiquette. Summer swim-zone restrictions are also mentioned.
- Rare-working reef break (~5 days/year).
- Left-hand reef waves with potential hollow shape.
- Long rides possible (often cited 150–300 m).
- Offshore window for East to South winds.
- Good wave quality with a left-hand reef break.
- Long rides are possible when the reef is working.
- Offshore wind window is described for East to South-East/South winds.
- Reef hazards (rocks/reef ledge) make wipeouts risky.
- Rarely breaks (~5 days/year), so session availability is limited.
- Best performance requires a solid swell and correct tide.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, SE, S
- Offshore directions
- E, SE, S
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Light sea breezes are common in summer afternoons (thermal pattern cited by provider).
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Gusts described as light.
- Best Months
- September, October, November
- Shadow Zones
- Cliffs and buildings can provide shelter from northerly winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Mixed — Reef/rocky bottom with adjacent sandy beach access described.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Big — WannaSurf and provider descriptions indicate swell starts around 1.0–1.5 m and holds to 2.5 m+; one provider describes wave size as huge.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky entry point or from the adjacent sandy beach (as described by provider).
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate
Through the year
Empty in winter; moderately crowded during summer weekends.
Winter months from November to February.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef break that rarely breaks (~5 days/year). Left-hand reef break over flat rocks; produces hollow waves when a suitable swell is present.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- NW, W, SW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- High, Mid — Best described as high tide (also cited as mid and high, with rising/falling tides working).
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- East, South-East, and South winds are offshore and clean the faces.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well up to about 2.5 meters and becomes more powerful.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Provider describes hollow/ordinary waves with good quality; power described as moderate.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Also described as hollow, ordinary waves over flat rocks.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Long — Normal length cited as 150 to 300 m; some good days reported longer.
- Typical Ride Length
- 150–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- Can peel for 150 to 300 meters on good days; some sources also note very long days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez) in the full forecast view.
Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–24 ktsGusts 42 kts
- Direction
- WSW247°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2524 kts
- Windy days
- 4/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.5–3.1 m9s period
- Temperature
- 8–17 °C
Over the next 7 days, Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–24 kts, peaking around 24 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 42 kts. The prevailing direction is WSW. Waves run 0.5–3.1 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- rocks
- reef
- sharp rocks
- reef ledge
- moderate tidal currents near rocks
- rocks and reef ledge
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited
- Emergency Info
- Emergency services available via 112; nearest hospital mentioned in Challans.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild
Rules of the spot
Experienced surfers only due to reef hazards and hollow waves over flat rocks; respect standard surfing etiquette and local surfers.
- Water sports restricted in swim zones during summer.
- Works best on the incoming tide.
- Needs a solid swell to start breaking over the reef.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
- Nearest Town
- Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping sites and holiday rentals are abundant in Sion-sur-l'Océan.
- Food & Drink
- Numerous cafes and restaurants are located within walking distance of the break.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available at the local surf school and shops in town.
- Gear Storage
- Not publicly available.
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie offer repairs.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez)?
The best overall months at Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez) are October. The best wind months are September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez)?
Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez) works with E, SE, S winds. Offshore directions are E, SE, S.
What skill level is Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez) suitable for?
Sion (Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced to Expert.