UDAZKENA HEMEN
UDAZKENA HEMEN - AUTUMN HERE
Autumn is full of surprises, but it always produces moments when all the stars align and memories are created that will last a lifetime. It’s magic — and we want to share that magic with you.
Every summer, tens of thousands of tourists descend upon the Basque Country. They come from near and they come from far. They come to eat the food, drink the wine, spend peaceful days on the beach and late nights out on the town.Then autumn comes and the crowds vanish. Storms begin to explode in the Northern Atlantic, sending bigger and bigger swells to Basque shores. The leaves on the trees change colors and the birds fly south towards Africa. You can feel yet another summer slipping away.
The waves can be big or small. The wind can be crisp and clean or onshore and gale force.
Sometimes you have to drive a few hours. Sometimes the best waves are right in front of you. Au- tumn is full of surprises, but it always produces moments when all the stars align and memories are created that will last a lifetime. It’s magic — and we want to share that magic with you.
The Culture
Basque history runs deep. So deep that the Basque language remains a mystery to mo- dern linguists, as they struggle to find another tongue that seems closely related to Basque. Historians entertain the possibility that the same group of people have been living here for over 30,000 years.
It’s impossible to miss a deep connection with the past when exploring the Basque Country today.
You can visit a cave that hosted ancient witch parties or have a drink at a bar that feels like a time machine. There are mountains with names that are hard to pronounce and sometimes hard to hike up, but always worth the view. And the food — let’s just say there’s a reason why it’s world-renowned.
There’s no place quite like it.
The Waves
The Basque Coast begins at the Nive River in France and ends east of the port of Bilbao in Spain. You’d be pressed to find a more diverse mix of waves in a 160 km stretch.
There are XXL hotspots. Long pointbreaks, rip- pable reefs. Big, open beachbreaks. A few slabs that will terrify you. And, of course, Mundaka — which is widely considered to be the jewel of it all.
This range of spots is complimented by a range of surf conditions. Sometimes it’s 30-foot. So- metimes it’s 3-foot. Either can be fun. The coast has a lot of twists and turns, which opens it up to a lot of wind and swell angles.
You can choose your own adventure. That’s what we did, this autumn. We brought some friends and made a few more along the way.
The Surfers
The UDAZKENA HEMEN project features a mix of locals and visiting surfers. Some of these surfers know every corner of the Basque Coast. Others experienced it through fresh eyes. All of them had a very good time.
Adrien Toyon
Onshore or offshore. Sunny skies or torrential rain. Two- foot, twenty-foot, doesn’t matter — Adrien will be out there. He grew up on Reunion Island but has been living in France for about a decade. He digs the charm of Biarritz, the way you can surf in the heart of an elegant French-Basque city. However, he often finds himself drawn to the long, open and often-barreling beachbreaks of Anglet.
This is what Adrien loves about surfing here:
I love the stormy days when nobody is out. It’s just you and the ocean, and it feels like you are part of the elements. Every day here is different and has its ups and downs, but I enjoy every minute of it.
Lee-ann curren
Sure, Lee Ann is surfing royalty — but when you watch her stand up on a wave, you see that she surfs in a way that goes far beyond what can be inherited. She’s got her own rhythm and she’s as versatile as they come. Put her on any board, or any wave, and she’ll find a groove — something that speaks to the range of conditions you’re exposed to in the Basque Country. This is where she was born and raised, which means she’s quite tuned into the magic of autumn.
This is what Lee Ann loves about living here:
I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world thanks to surfing and I definitely always look forward to new adventures. But every trip makes me realize how special it is to come home to the Basque Country. We can always find something new. and always find something new.
SEB SMART
Mundaka should be a reason alone to visit the Basque Country. But let’s be honest: Nobody comes here just to surf Mundaka. You’d be cheating yourself out of two many other incredible experiences. Seb, like many others, made an autumn pilgrimage here from the UK. Fun-loving and open-minded, he’s always down for an adventure. This place — with all of its waves, wines, twists, turns, etc — is rather accommodating to that type of attitude.
This is Seb’s favorite memory from the trip:
On one of the first days, the waves weren’t very good but I saw lots of friends in the lineup. When I got out, I saw even more friends. One of them sat on the beach with his family and gave me a beer. Then I bumped into another friend that I hadn’t seen in over a year. Meeting people that way is the best. It all felt so wholesome. Nothing forced. No stress, no deadlines, no dates. Just smooth random sailing.
JULES LEPECHEUX
Jules was born in the Basque Country in the early 2000s but it feels like he could be from any decade. There’s something timeless about his persona, about his energy. To call his surfing smooth would be an understatement — it’s medi- tative. He never rushes, but he always seems to be exactly where he belongs.
Here’s why Jules feels lucky to live here:
All the people here make it a very special place. Most of us live peacefully since there is not a lot to worry about — much less to worry about than in the big cities.
MARGAUX ARRAMON-TUCOO
Picture a wave. It’s a fun wave, a right. But let’s say there’s a left on it too. Imagine it breaking beside a castle built in the 1800s. Imagine the lineup having a gorgeous view of the Pyrenees Mountains, and a sinking sun filling the sky with color, and a throng of people on the beach drinking it all in. You’ve just imagined Margaux’s home break, La Côte des Basques in Biarritz. Her surfing is much like La Côte — elegant, charming, with an element about it that makes you feel like you could appreciate it forever.
Here’s what Margaux thinks makes this place unique:
The Basque country is filled with all different kinds of lands- capes. Even though I have lived here my whole life, I still always explore it.
ainara aymat
Born and raised in the Basque Country hub of Zarautz, surfing was not so much a choice for Ainara. It was more like a way of life that she was born into — and it shows. Ainara rips. She typically spends a lot of time on the road, winning heats and collecting clips that eventually make their way into banger video parts. But this autumn, she was lucky enough most of her time here.
This is what Ainara’s dream autumn day would look like:
I’d wake up at home, go for a walk with my puppies and kittens, have breakfast, study for a few hours and go for a small surf sesh. Then I would have lunch at home, rest a bit, open some paths through the mountains to be able to walk to new places and go for another surf. After that, I’d have a super early dinner with my mom, do a yoga class with my friends and get home to my puppies and kittens for a long sleep.
titouan boyer
Saint Martin, an island in the Caribbean, is something of a dream. Warm, blue water. Fun waves. Laid-back vibe. It takes a lot to leave a place like that, but Titouan made the jump and moved to Brittany in the northwest of France. It’s a long drive down to the Basque Country from there, but he knows that it’ll always be worth it.
Here’s why Titouan adores this place:
I think what makes the Basque Country so special is the people and all the elements. It’s a core place with core people.
Supported by Vans
Produced by Salt Water Production
Directed by Salt Water Production & Aljaz Babnik
Filmed by Salt Water Production & Aljaz Babnik
Additional footage by Martxel Txintxurreta, Nicolas Pina Calvin, Unai Borda & Txomin Sorraits
Edited by Aljaz Babnik
Voice over by Noverek.
RIDERS:
Adrien Toyon
Ainara Aymat
Lee-Ann Curren
Margaux Arramon-Tucoo
Jules Lepecheux
Seb Smart
Titouan Boyer
Ethan Egiguren
MUSIC:
Blas Babnik - Rising Sun
Aho - Bihotza
Aho - Hondarzta
Heitor Vallim - Intro
Heitor Vallim - The Trip
Eddie Callahan - Flying
Twin Steps - Pitch Black Forest
Infinity - Venetian Glass
Alacran - Will You Keep My Love Forever
Nice Purse- Broken Filthy Arrows
Ezaro - Bariku Zan
SPECIAL THANKS:
Vans Europe, Ben Sooprayen, Mikel Urigotia, Margaux Derosier, Jokin Etxebarria, Lucie Curutchet, Ilusions surfboards, Spoe Surfboards
Shot over consecutive mornings during the long, recent run of North Coast autumn swell, In the Family of Things is Dave Rastovich in his element, doing his thing.