La Nord
La Nord is Lacanau's contest venue—a quality beachbreak that has hosted the Lacanau Pro since 1979, making it one of Europe's longest-running surf competitions. The wave offers punchy, performance-oriented walls that work across a range of conditions, though it rarely reaches the raw power of the Hossegor zone to the south. The town's surf culture runs deep, with generations of French surfers cutting their teeth on these banks. When it's on, La Nord delivers legitimate QS-level waves.
Today's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to BOD, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Europe is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Europe — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Vous préférez le français ? Recevez le Strike Report en français, gratuitement →
Get the full La Nord trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- WNW (300°)
- Direction range
- 270° - 340°
- Size range
- 0.6m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 2.3m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 13s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (100°)
- Offshore range
- 60° - 140°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.8m - 2.2m
Water temp
17°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
9/10
👥 Summer Holidays (Jul 4 – Sep 1) — expect extra crowds
Access: Easy beach access. Contest venue infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at La Nord?
La Nord works best on a mid tide, ideally between 0.8m and 2.2m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
What wind direction is offshore at La Nord?
Offshore wind at La Nord blows from the E (100°). Anything in the 60° to 140° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
What swell size and direction work best at La Nord?
La Nord wants WNW swell (270° to 340°) between 0.6m and 3m, with a period of 13s or more for quality waves.
When is the best time of year to surf La Nord?
The main season at La Nord is Sep-Nov. A secondary window runs Apr-Jun. Hosts Lacanau Pro in August. Autumn best for quality.
How do I get to La Nord?
Fly into BOD, then allow about 60 minutes by road. Easy beach access. Contest venue infrastructure.
What kind of wave is La Nord?
La Nord is a beach break, a peak with lefts and rights. Difficulty is rated 5/10.
Best Season
Peak: Sep-Nov
Secondary: Apr-Jun
Hosts Lacanau Pro in August. Autumn best for quality.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Les Estagnots
🌊 Landes power beachbreak • Canyon-enhanced • North of Hossegor
La Nord
💪 Europe's heaviest beach break • Canyon power • Autumn perfection
La Graviere
🇫🇷 World's heaviest beachbreak • Canyon-amplified power • Pro-level tubes
Les Cavaliers
🏖️ Anglet surf strip classic • Sandbar-dependent peaks • French beach culture
Les Sables-d'Olonne
⛵ Vendée sailing capital • Atlantic consistency • Maritime culture
Guéthary
🇫🇷 Basque big wave territory • Heavy reef • Respect the locals