France
The beach of Hendaye, located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine at the Spanish border, offers a large stretch of fine sand facing the Atlantic Ocean. It is a spot known for its family-friendly atmosphere and variable conditions depending on the seasons.
Locals appreciate the proximity to the Basque mountains and easy access from the city. The wind is often present, but the spot remains tricky for kitesurfing.
The beach is prohibited for kitesurfing during the summer season, making it a quieter place for bathers in the summer.
The wind data shown here comes from ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) over 4 years, reprocessed to reflect realistic conditions.
👉 Average wind has been calibrated to avoid the usual underestimation of models.
👉 Gusts have been corrected by a median ratio to avoid unrealistic extreme values.
👉 Each day is summarized by the median wind (P50) observed during useful hours (8am–8pm), then classified into wind ranges.
👉 The weighted mode mixes average wind and gusts to best reflect felt wind.
chop
waveThe beach of Hendaye is oriented facing west, which means that northeast winds are the most favorable for kitesurfing, arriving in clean side-on from the land. West winds become onshore and can create chop on the water. The launch is done directly from the wide sand, but you should aim for the central area of the beach to avoid crowded zones.
The navigation area extends about 500 meters offshore, with a water surface that goes from flat to chop depending on the tide and wind. At low tide, the water retreats significantly, making launching technical near the shore. At high tide, the water surface is more homogeneous and you can stand for a good distance. Take-off is done on dry sand, often to the north or south of the main beach for fewer people.
Local peculiarity: the wind is often gusty in offshore north, unstable due to the nearby reliefs. Avoid days of strong swell where waves break up to 3 meters. The spot works well in winter with thermal winds or fronts, but always check seasonal prohibitions.
The ideal conditions are a northeast to north wind between 18 and 28 kts, stable side-on without gusts. A rising tide with moderate swell allows for clean and safe sessions.
The state of the water varies with the long-period northwest swell, creating waves of 1 to 3 meters that break along the entire beach. In side-on wind, a rideable water surface with moderate chop is obtained. Offshore south days are rare but ideal for smooth waves.
The currents are moderate along the beach, influenced by the significant tides of the region (up to 4 meters in amplitude). Be cautious of the channel to the south where the current accelerates at the entrance to the bay of Txingudi. At low tide, the flow to the south can surprise riders.
Opt for sizes from 9 to 12 m² in typical conditions of 15-25 kts. Take larger in light morning winds, and 7-9 m² for powerful winter sessions.
The prevailing wind comes from the northwest or west in the afternoon, with strengths around 15-25 kts in the active season. In the morning, lighter south-southeast winds are often found. There is no specific local name, but Atlantic fronts bring regular and powerful sessions in winter.
The climate in Hendaye is mild oceanic, with average temperatures around 12°C in winter and 22°C in summer. Winters are humid with frequent rains, while summer remains pleasant but can sometimes be hot up to 30°C. The best months for kitesurfing are from September to April, avoiding the summer crowds.
The depth is gradual with a predominantly sandy bottom. You can stand up to 50-100 meters from the shore at high tide, but the water retreats far at low tide.
The water reaches 20-25°C in summer, ideal without a wetsuit. In winter, it drops to 12-15°C, a 5/3 mm wetsuit is necessary from November to March.
