Surfing in a new spot // How to

The time of road trips and surf vacations has come! And we dream of unknown places to discover and new waves to be surfed...

Living in a touristic place, during summer I see crowds of surfers from all over Europe overpopulate the local spot. For most of them it is their first time there and they don't really know how to behave in this new spot.

No need to say they can easily become a danger for themselves and for all the other surfers, and surfing is no fun anymore.

That's why I decided to write a list of points we should always pay attention to every time we visit a new spot.

Always check the forecasts

This is the basics, but I understand it is easy to get in the flow and not to really pay too much attention to the surf forecasts. We are so excited to visit a new spot that we don't always check if the waves' height is good for our level or if the winds are hitting heavily on the spot.

If we don't want to get bad surprises, we can visit our favorite surf report website and the plenty of webcams of the chosen spot.

Never underestimate the tidal coefficient

This is something I happened to do and totally regret! Some spots work better with high tide, some others not. Some beach-breaks hide rocks here and there with low tide, some others become inaccessible with high tide. Bottom line: never underestimate the tidal coefficient if you don't want bad situations to happen (you can read my experience with high tide here).

But what is a tidal coefficient? The tidal coefficient tells us the amplitude of the tide, which means the difference in height between the higher sea level and the succeeding low sea level.

Ask the locals

Don't be shy! Localism is a common phenomenon in the spots around the world. But trust me, local surfers want to have fun as much as you do and will be more than happy to give you all the info you need to get the most from your session, in total safety and respect of the rules.

You want to ask them when the spot works best, where the channels form and all the practical information you need before waxing your board and paddle out. If you prefer surf shops and lifeguards can also answer all of your questions (and this is also part of their job).

Do not trust desert spots

An amazing wave peeling all along the coastline right to the beach. Nobody out there, just silence and a peace feeling around you.... If you're not in a remote exotic island at the other side of the world, you better not trust that quietness. If there is an amazing wave ready to be surfed, you bet you'll find some locals already paddling to the line-up. If not, maybe something's hidden behind that beauty - sharp coral reef, strong currents or even sea life dangers... Again, we don't want to get into bad situations.

Paddle with the elders
This is something I learnt here in France. Some spots have historic background and many locals have lived the golden era of surfing. Which means they've been surfing here for more than 30 years! They know their spot by heart and move along the line-up seeing the sets coming before anybody else. They position themselves in order to catch the most of the waves with the less effort.
If you're in a new spot and don't really know the best place to position yourself or where the most powerful waves break, have a look at the most experienced in the line-up.



I hope these tips will be useful and help you get the most fun of your surf experience.
Please, don't hesitate to share your experience or to add some more tips!

Have a great session everyone!



Credits // Author // Photography: Marta Tomasini

Christmas treep

I really really apologize for the title of this post, but somebody (Andrea) thought it was hilarious so, how could I say no? ;)

We left Biarritz on Saturday at 6.30am for a 12 hours drive for Italy! Yaaaay, we're home for Christmas!!!!!

We couldn't wait to be back to our families and friends and celebrate together!! I even had to meet a new baby born in the family!!!!

We're used to the travel, but it always feels like neverending. We left the ocean, crossed the lands of Camargue and Provence, we passed next to Mediterranean sea coastline and at sunset we finally reached the Italian Alps.
We went from 18°C (64°F) of the south of France to 5°C (41°F) of the mountains... brrrrrr

This year everyone is complaining about the lack of snow and that is unluckily true. During our travel we expected to see a lot (or at least some) of white, but instead we met just a few on the top of some mountains. It seems like we won't have a white Christmas, but we are with our families and that's what matter the most. And we have 3 days more to Christmas, so never say never!!! ;)

The landscapes we passed by were stunning, just a few cars on the road and a we've been blessed with such a pleasant sunny day!! So amazing!

Now we're home, tired but smiling and getting our stomachs ready for the upcoming celebrations of the next days.

Holidays have officially started!!!!!


Author // Credits: Marta Tomasini, Photography Marta Tomasini and Andrea Scatolero

Discovering Bordeaux // Jardin Public

Placed next to the city center, in the Chartrons area, Jardin Public is the public park of Bordeaux amongst other smaller ones. It houses an arboretum, a library and a museum of natural history.

But really, who did care about all of it when you've been staring at all those beautiful colors surrounding you?

I was totally enchanted and couldn't help snapping tons of pictures to the autumn leaves, landscapes, lights... Really, I think it's been one the best place I visited in Bordeaux - a spectacle of nature. Almost surreal, like being in a painting of some famous artist.

There's not much more to add, I think the pictures speak for themselves. Just make sure to pass by, if you ever visit Bordeaux. Autumn colors added a touch of magic to the surroundings, but I bet it's beautiful in all the other seasons too - with flowers and brightness during the warm months and snow and softness in winter...

Maybe I could plan another visit and immortalize all the changes in colors and light... But for now I'm still stunned by what I saw. I hope you enjoy it too!

xo


Credits // Author // Photography: Marta Tomasini

Discovering Bordeaux // Part 1

The past weekend my boyfriend and I decided we deserved a little vacation. So we packed our stuff and left for a two days in Bordeaux!

Since we moved to Biarritz we've always wanted to visit it, but never found the right moment. This time Andrea (ah, yes, this is my boyfriend's name - and for the ones who're guessing, in Italy it is used for males ;) ) stayed strong on his mind and organized everything. Before I was even realizing, we were already left!

Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in southwestern France, two hours drive north from Biarritz. If its name sounds familiar to you, it may be for its wine, one of the most famous in the whole world. Prepare the glass peeps! ;)

We tried airbnb for the first time and have been hosted by a nice guy in a quiet neighborhood only three bus stops from the hyper center of the city. I didn't know what to expect, but in the end it was a good choice and felt much more free than in a common hotel. Have you ever tried it?

We started our tour visiting the Parc Public (I'll make an entire post about it since it's been AMAZING) and then the folklorist Christmas market. I am a Christmas kind of girl so I couldn't help myself from stopping at every little stand all lights and sparkles!!! If you are planning to visit Bordeaux during this period, you cannot miss it! There was no snow and winter temperatures, but you could definitely feel the holiday atmosphere. Beware the wallet because you'll feel tempted to buy everything!

After a French style lunch (you would love the moules - mussels), we spent the rest of the day visiting the hyper center with its chic boutiques and stately monuments. Since it was raining, we offered ourselves some cultural time and visited the Musée des Arts décoratifs et du design where we had the chance to get to know more about the decoration of homes from XVIIIth and XIXth century. It was a good way to spend an hour before the rain ended and we could keep our visit of the city.

We had dinner in a typical French brasserie. Everything was so delicious!!! If you ever pass by, you want to try filet mignon de porc with honey and tarte tatin. This last one is the French version of the apple pie, but with more apples and less dough, served with vanilla ice cream. Une gourmandise, as they would say!

Three kilos after, we decided it was better to have a walk before go to rest (we couldn't move after the massive dinner). So I begged for a night watch of the Christmas tree next to the cathedral. It was a magical atmosphere...

A kiss under the tree and I couldn't ask for more... A quiet sleep before the next day of visit.

Credits // Author: Marta Tomasini, Photography: Andrea Scatolero