Starting off will be the Oakley Pro Junior, from August 13th to 16th , for the under 21. They’ll not only be competing for the Junior World Championship but also for the Wild Card which will allow them to access Soöruz Lacanau Pro’s final score board, and mean going against the world’s best surfers.

At the same time, 13th to 16th, some of the best female surfers will be competing against each other for the Girls Oakley Pro Junior trophy.

A new addition will also be introduced this year – during expression sessions, Nike 6.0 Cash for Tricks will directly reward surfers who give the most impressive surfing performances with €10,000 prize money in cash !

As usual, the Lacanau Beach seaside resort will beat to the rhythm of surfing in a lively village full of activities with live concerts put on every night and parties organized in local Lacanau clubs.

Local support will be high, hoping to follow on the fine form from last years winner Joan Duru (Duru being the first Frenchman in 27 years to win at Lacanau).

When: 12th to 22nd August, 2010
Where: Lacanau Beach, 33680
Cost: Free!

http://www.lacanau-pro.com/

Facebook Page

More Surfing Videos >>

The post Soöruz Lacanau Surf Pro 2010 appeared first on Bordeaux Expats.

With destinations including Lacanau, Cap Ferret, Le Porge, Montalivet, Hostens and Hourtin your dreams of spending the day catching some rays could be a possibility.

The city is offering a promotional rate of €2 for a day round trip on the TransGironde lines.

The catch.
Only people under 20 and families (1 adult + 1 child minimum) living in the CUB can qualify for the set tariff. Children under 5 ride for free. The lines 601 (Bordeaux – Lége Cap Ferret) and 702 (Bordeaux – Lacanau) are accessible to people with disabilities, although they will need to make a reservation by telephone prior the day before travelling (Info Service: 0974 500 033).

How does it work?
If you commune participates you’ll need to visit your Town Hall to get your own Beach Bus card. You’ll need proof of residence and photo identification to purchase your ticket on board.

If you don’t fit into the categories listed above, the full price is around €11 each way.

When: 2nd July until the 4th September, 2011
Where: Buses leave from either from Place Gambetta, Quinconces or the Gare St Jean. For timetables visit their website.
Cost: €2 return!

The post Bus plage / Beach Bus appeared first on Bordeaux Expats.

The Soöruz Lacanau Pro, stage of the ASP Men’s World Tour Star, the World Championship of Surfing Professional, runs from 11th to 21st August with the participation of the best international.

The 32nd edition of the oldest European stage will be pushing for the return of a Frenchman on the top of the podium. After Brazilan surfer Wiggolly Dantas took out the title in last years competition, followed by Alejo Muniz (BRA) and Richard Christie (NZL). The last Frenchman to win the competition was Joan Duru in 2009.

The Soöruz Lacanau Pro 2011 is also home to the Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior (12th to 15th August), which has become an indispensable step on the world circuit the gromments who are younger than 21 years old. This also offers the winner a “Wild Card” entry which invites him to enter into the main draw of the competition 6Star World Tour.

Like every year there is a range of entertainment to be partaken once the sun sets. Fun for the whole family!

Click here to read last years article.

When: 11th – 21st August, 2011

Where: Lacanau-Océan, 33680 (60km from Bordeaux)

Cost: Free!

www.sooruzlacanaupro.com
www.facebook.com/lacanaupro

www.twitter.com/sooruzlacanau

Soöruz Lacanau Pro 2010 – FINAL DAY from john sooruz on Vimeo.

The post Soöruz Lacanau Surf Pro 2011 appeared first on Bordeaux Expats.

 Here’s how!

‘Camping sauvage’ is illegal on the Dune du Pilat and carries a fine of up to €750… Fortunately, there are a couple of options for legally pitching a tent within a stone’s throw of the 60 million m³ mountain of sand.

Pyla Camping

Camping Panorama du Pyla

Here’s the view…

The post Sleeping on the Dune..! appeared first on Bordeaux Expats.

Along with the big kid attractions, there are also rides and trampolines dedicated to the little’uns, which is always a good mix if you have children ranging in age.

The post Family Day Out – Amusement Park – La Coccinelle appeared first on Bordeaux Expats.

As you leave Mios village towards Sanguinet, you cross a river and often see tons of people messing about in canoes on the banks. Well I finally decided to find out what they were up to!

A gallery forest

The river in question is called the l’Eyre or la Leyre and is one of the region’s hidden gems. Nicknamed “Little Amazon”, the Leyre is formed by drainage from the Platiet marshes in the Landes (around Sabres) and snakes down 155km to the Bassin d’Arcachon across the Grande Lande and Pays de Buch. There are numerous tributaries and the river system is essentially a kind of delta, which covers around 3000 hectares across the Landes de Gascogne Natural Park. A vast mosaic of marshes, reed beds and salt meadows, it hosts thousands of migratory birds and culminates in the Teich ornithological park at the east end of the Bassin.

Until the 1960s, the Leyre was largely bordered by meadows, which have since evolved into a deciduous forest, called a ‘gallery forest’. Mainly made up of oaks, alders, and willows, the cool microclimate and soft light have a rich flora composed of water lilies, aquatic ranunculus, or rarer species such as the royal fern or the round-leaved sundew.

This green ‘tunnel’ forms a transition forest between the river on one side and the cultivated maritime pine forest or agricultural areas on the other. Narrow upstream, it widens up to one kilometre in the middle part of the valley.

An ecological oasis

Since its appearance, this hardwood forest has also become a habitat for many species, some of which are endangered, such as the European otter, the European mink, the European pond turtle, the common genet and bats.

In the middle of the river, the water is clear, shallow and sandy. On the banks, where the waters are muddier, there are aquatic meadows and the tree branches are heavily intertwined – ideal hiding spots for varied species of fish, such as pike, dowels, dace, minnows and eels.

The Leyre Delta was listed as a Wetland of International Importance in 2011.

Our day out!

Never knowingly underfed, we loaded out canoe’s waterproof ‘bidon’ with a copious picnic and hit the river around 11.00am! The current is surprisingly strong at first and it takes a while to get used to steering the canoe and avoid being swept into fallen trees and low-hanging branches. As genuine Indiana Jones wannabes, this inevitably did happen and we had some hairy moments where the language become livelier than usual.

The water itself is beautifully clear with a golden sandy bottom – you quickly find yourself immersed the tranquillity of nature with no sound but the lapping of paddles, birdsong and scores of bright blue dragonflies hovering around the canoe.

There are a number of deserted beaches along the way to stop for a rest or have a picnic. During our 3-hour descent, we only bumped into a handful of people and mostly had the entire river to ourselves. There are a couple of spots with ‘rapids’, which whisk you along at high speed for a minute or so. Apart from that, it’s plain sailing as you drift peacefully under the Arcachon motorway and SNCF railway bridge on the way back to Teich.

The final section is a sharp left turn up a tributary (le Bras de l’Eyre) and there is significantly less room to manoeuvre! There are several fallen trees blocking the main route and we had to edge our way through with our newfound adventurer-paddling prowess.

You end up at the bridge on Rue du Pont Neuf and just need to jump out and pull your canoe onto the beach (the tour guides pick them up later). Directly opposite there’s a natural lake where you can cool off with a welcome swim! From there, it’s just a short 3 minute walk back to the HQ and car park.

Practical info

We went with Villetorte Loisirs in Le Teich – who also organise mountain biking tours and horse/pony treks.

They offer both long and short river descents in canoes (up to 3 people) and individual kayaks.

Long tours start in Salles and leave at 9.00am – it’s €20 each.

And short tours leave at 10.45am and 1.15pm – €15 each. A shuttle takes you from the base to the start point.

You have to be at the HQ in Teich 20 mins or so before and should call a few days in advance to reserve (the river is sometimes too strong).

They provide all the gear: lifejackets, paddles and obviously a canoe… The guide also gives you a detailed safety brief in French at the start.

The minimum age for kids is 6 and they have to be decent swimmers…

And a couple of official ‘rules of the river’ – life jackets are a legal obligation and you get a €130 fine for not wearing one – cops apparently hide in the bushes to try to catch people. Alcohol is also banned and the police have been known to spot drinkers on the river then wait for them in the car park at the end to breathalyse them.

And don’t forget to take all your rubbish with you!

Lunch

There are plenty of places to moor up for a picnic and if you do the long descent starting in Salles, you can stop for lunch at the most epic roast chicken ‘n chips spot in the entire region, the Rôtisserie Val De L’Eyre in Mios, with a huge outdoor seated area overlooking the river..!

What to bring:

You have a large container on the canoe (the ‘bidon’) and can surprisingly pack in quite a lot of gear.

Essentials include: water, sun cream, mozzie repellent, towels, trainers-you-don’t-mind-getting-soaked, swimming trunks (to wear while canoeing as water gets in the boat!) a change of clothing for afterwards and food for a picnic. I also took a GoPro to do some filming!

The guides were very friendly and professional and the entire day went seamlessly. A fantastic day out from Bordeaux and highly recommended!

And finally…

Put your sunglasses in the bidon! Shades are the most commonly lost item for canoeists with over 2000 pairs per season apparently lining the riverbed. When the water gets really low off season the guides try to clean them all out..!

Here’s a video of the descent of the Leyre, taken by Mexico Loisirs, based upriver in Commensacq…

And the company we went with…

Villetorte Loisirs
30 Rue du Pont Neuf,
Le Teich
05 56 22 66 80
https://villetorteloisirs.com

About the author:

Chris Tighe lives in Pessac, loves the Sud Ouest and helps to run the voluntary blog and FB site, Bordeaux Expats. In his spare time, he works a cosy 36 hour week as a translator for a local tech company. He lives 35 minutes from the beach, a two-hour drive from San Sebastian and has successfully escaped his preordained destiny working 60 hours a week in London, commuting four hours a day on rammed medieval public transport – cheers ears.

The post It’s all gone Indiana Jones – Adventure Canoeing near Bordeaux! appeared first on Bordeaux Expats.

Here are the beaches that came out top!

1 – Moliets and the ‘courant d’Huchet’ in pole position

For the second year running, Moliets and Huchet top the list with 24% of the votes (2,110 / 8,790). It’s a stunning spot, blending the wilderness of the local coast and the tranquillity of the nature reserve nearby. You can explore the pathways through the preserved flora and fauna, before going for a swim in the ocean. Win win!

 

2 – The beach at the Arjuzanx reserve

In the middle of the Haute Lande, Lac Arjuzanx got 13.9% of the votes (1,218 / 8,790). Another peaceful spot nestled in a nature reserve; it showcases the best of the Landes – fresh water and pines! There are also plenty of cycle tracks and jogging routes through the forest.

 

3 – Lespecier beach in Mimizan

The north of the Landes coast was hugely popular with punters, the Lespecier/Bias beach in Mimizan received 12.1% of the votes. It’s one of the wildest beaches in the Landes, the ultimate place to chill out and get a tan in peace. There’s also a surf school.

4 – Contis in Saint-Julien-en-Born

With 10.3% of the votes, Contis beach is also a calm oasis of sand and waves. It has a few wooden shops and is the perfect retreat from city life and traffic jams!

 

5 – Maguide, at Lac Cazaux

Maguide came in 5th with 9.1% of the vote. A Bordeaux Expats favourite, the southeastern side of Lac Cazaux is an excellent place to take kids learning to swim – Maguide closely resembles a Pacific paradise! The water is extremely shallow and warm for about 100 metres out – there are wilder parts of the beach where you can set up your parasol and picnic gear in the trees, and more tame beaches with large sandy areas and lifeguards/monitored swimming areas.

 

See you there!

About the author:

Chris Tighe lives in Pessac, loves the Sud Ouest and helps to run the voluntary blog and FB site, Bordeaux Expats. In his spare time, he works a cosy 36 hour week as a translator for a local tech company. He lives 35 minutes from the beach, a two-hour drive from San Sebastian and has successfully escaped his preordained destiny working 60 hours a week in London, commuting four hours a day on rammed medieval public transport – cheers ears.

 

 

The post WHAT’S THE BEACH IN THE LANDES REGION? appeared first on Bordeaux Expats.

The Dune of Pilat is a protected natural site, 2.9 km long, 616 m wide and 110 m high and offers some of the most fantastic views across the bay and forest.

HOW TO GET THERE?

There are 5 ways to get from Bordeaux to the Dune du Pilat: train, bus, taxi, bicycle or car

 

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

 

Une publication partagée par Bordeaux Expats (@bordeauxexpats) le 2 Avril 2019 à 1 :32 PDT

TRAIN / BUS

Travelling from the Gare Saint Jean in Bordeaux, take the TER to the station of Arcachon. It roughly a 50 min local train trip. Then directly from Gare de Arcachon, take the Bus Baïa  Line 1 and get off at the Dune du Pilat. The bus timetables change between seasons, so check them out via the website prior to your trip (25 min one direction)

CAR 

This is probably the most direct and most flexible method if you have the luxury of having a car. On a good day, the 70 km will take only about 45 min. However, if you have the unfortunate pleasure of heading out there on a summer’s day with the rest of the hoards, it’s not unheard of to sit in the traffic jams for a couple of hours.

A63 –> Bayonne or A63 –> Bordeaux
A660 –> Arcachon
N250 –> La Teste de Buch
D259 –> Dune du Pilat

Parking

There are several car parks available to visitors. The main car park is just off the roundabout near the dune. It is holds around 950 cars / buses. It is from this parking that you can access the seasonal staircase that is installed from April to November. Access to the staircase is only around 400 m and is an easy walk.

The price of the car park changes year to year but you can expect that in season you’ll pay €4 and up for a couple of hours (less in winter).

TAXI

This is an untried method by myself and I should imagine it will become expensive but do-able.

Going on things I can find online, the cost could be around €120-€150 one way.

BICYCLE

If you are a keen cyclist, sure you can head out to the bay on your bike. However, this would be an approximately 4 hr bike ride on the national roads! If you are already in Arcachon, there are many coast cycling paths that lead around the bay (including the Dune du Pilat). You can count around 10 km from downtown Arcachon to the Dune to Pilat.

For more information check out this website.

The post HOW TO GET TO THE DUNE DU PILAT FROM BORDEAUX? appeared first on Bordeaux Expats.

Bordeaux has been James’s home for the past 7 years, but his connection to region goes back much further. He was born, raised and studied in England, but spent every summer and school holidays in France as his father lived in the Médoc most of his life.  So, he’s been flying to and from Bordeaux since the days when British Airways only had 1 flight per week on a Saturday, compared to up to 15 per day from the UK in peak season now.

He says that he was lucky to grow up exposed to both cultures, and try to take the best of both worlds.

“I understand ‘la belle vie’ and don’t just love but respect food, merci La France. But you can’t shake off the politeness, efficiency and GSOH that comes from being a Brit”.

After working for a couple of years in France before, and during uni, straight out of an International Business degree James headed back in 2012 to start his “career” and to avoid a soulless graduate scheme in some satellite town of London.

Getting into teaching…

Like many other fresh Expats, he started in Bordeaux with the English teaching gig: working freelance for agencies, being expected to work like an employee without the perks.

“I thought I was balling to begin with: “Ohhhh €15-20 per hour, that’s much more than minimum wage !!! Get in!” I would convince myself: not factoring in travel time, lesson planning, no holiday pay and extremely limited social security”.

The precarity and pittance soon pushed him to up his game. He managed to sneak a foot in the door of a business school and has since developed his activity to lecturing in 4 different schools with over 450 students per year.

These days it’s less and less English teaching, with many classes of his classes focusing on Web Marketing, Digital Strategy and Change Management with regular but impromptu “lessons” on what perplexes many students here: respect, work-ethic and speaking because you have something to say, not because you have to say something.

“I genuinely do love teaching though and never expected to become a teacher. It allows you to meet people from all walks of life and to really understand how people live here in Bordeaux. When starting off working with “particuliers” I worked with ages ranging from 7 to 77!

Higher education works differently in France to the Anglo-saxon system however. In a nutshell, on the one hand you can go to public uni which is basically free but you may struggle to get a seat in the amphitheatre, your teacher will rarely know your name and you can expect months off at a time due to strikes. This might explain the 50% dropout rate after 1st year?

On the other hand, you’ve got private business schools where either you work on apprenticeship (“Alternance”) and your company pays for your studies (and gets you as cheap labour), or your rents stump up the hefty tuition fees without government loans etc like in the UK (there’s also the grand-ecole system but we’ll save that for another day…)”.

Nowadays, he only work with young “adults” between 18-25 in private business schools. The interactions are priceless and he can easily see how to manage/enjoy the more difficult egos.

“You’ve got the archetypal blasé bourgeois kid repeating his 2nd year for the third time, always late except for at the end of lesson when his coat is on and bag is packed with 10 minutes left. Just like the ones who drop Verlan and Arabic in convo saying “ouech” like their “frères” in the banlieue, but themselves have two good catholic first names, the first one is Jean, the second either Pierre, Paul, François or Baptiste. I’m guessing they don’t speak like that during Sunday lunch with the family at the weekend house in the Bassin however”.

But for every one of these clichés, he has come across even more top-notch hard-working and ambitious students, some of whom have become his close friends and really makes his job worthwhile.

From the classroom to the coast…

For all the peaks and troughs of the classroom, the teaching gig only represents 8 months of the year. Thanks to the ridiculously long summer holidays, from April to September you can find James up on the Médoc coast where for 3 years, he and his best mate from uni, have been running an active glamping holiday operator, “Sanctuary Surf”.

They’re located just next to Plage Le Pin Sec near Hourtin, a wild beach with only basic amenities meaning you avoid the hoards in Lacanau and the Bassin.

The concept is to offer the hotel experience under canvas, showcasing the best France has to offer in terms of food, drink (wine) & nature, whilst providing access to surfing on Europe’s longest beaches & standup paddle boarding on the country’s largest freshwater lake.

If good vibes, having fun in the sun, being outdoors and enjoying fine cuisine appeal. Escape the city for the weekend and join them out in their little corner of paradise.

The post FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE COAST – JAMES MARTIN appeared first on Bordeaux Expats.

OZ-360 founder Ben Hill moved to Bordeaux in April 2018 he is an avid surfer, golfer and ex rugby union player with a passion for human movement. Following an injury to his neck when working as a commercial diver he completed his Personal Training Cert IV in Australia, is registered with the European Union as a certified Personal Trainer and has now received his diploma as a sports coach qualified to coach in France.

When asked to explain his training business in a nutshell, Ben had this to say:

“Having held down office jobs for much of my adult life I’m acutely familiar with the issues that go along with this lifestyle. Particularly that niggling lower back pain which always seems to flare up just when you want to go for a surf or hit a few golf balls.

I endeavour to conduct all my sessions in the comfort of your own home or a close by outdoor space, the reason for this is two-fold. Most of my clients spend the whole day in an office type setting so getting outdoor is a great way to get some fresh air, invigorate the soul and the human organism.

My clients also tend to spend most of the day sitting in a chair, usually in an office or similar environment, so the last thing I would recommend is that they hit the gym to sit in a machine and push weights which could further compress the spine or potentially add to further restrictive joint mobility issues.

This style of training uses mainly body-weight or limited equipment, and many of the movements are inspired by Yoga and Pilates using proper breathing techniques which help to decompress the spine and mobilise joints. Hence it is perfect for all age groups.”

Conducted by a native English (Australian) speaker Oz-360 also offers the unique opportunity for you to practice the English language.

“At OZ-360 we believe that sustainable fitness comes not just through strength and mobility but starts with education and awareness of correct movement and common archetypes you can adopt into your daily life and routine to ensure a pain free mobile existence.”

If you are interested in trying this out to see if it may be a fit for you or just to break the monotony of your usual running routine please visit www.oz-360.com or LinkedIn to contact Ben.

Group training and corporate (specific training) sessions are also available on demand. Drop him a line.

The post GET FIT & HAVE FUN – AUSSIE STYLE appeared first on Bordeaux Expats.