Surf photos at Avalanche, Guéthary
The heaviest wave around, off Guéthary. Were you in the water at Avalanche? Pick the day and the time: your photos are in there.
Sessions at Avalanche
Dead flat. No sessions here.
Either nobody shot this slot, or you’ve got the wrong spot. Happens to the best of us.
Latest surf photos in the Basque Country
Wave forecast at Avalanche
Today
| Time | Swell | Dir. | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 m13 s2nd 0.6 m · 5 s | NW | 13 km/h ESE | |
| 1.2 m13 s2nd 0.6 m · 5 s | NW | 7 km/h ENE | |
| 1.1 m13 s2nd 0.5 m · 5 s | NW | 4 km/h N | |
| Now | 1.0 m13 s2nd 0.4 m · 5 s | NW | 9 km/h NW |
| 0.9 m13 s2nd 0.4 m · 5 s | NW | 11 km/h NW | |
| 0.9 m12 s2nd 0.5 m · 5 s | NW | 5 km/h WNW |
Source: Météo-France, MFWAM model (Licence Ouverte), forecast issued 2 November at 1am. Offshore swell (spot facing NNW): at the shore, the waves also depend on the sandbanks and the tide.
Avalanche surf spot in Guéthary
- Good to know
- Offshore reef that only lights up in a very big swell: a massive wave for big-wave surfers. Strong currents and a long paddle.
- Best tide
- Around mid tide
- Level
- Experts, big-wave surfers
More about Avalanche
Off Guéthary, Avalanche only lights up in a very big swell. It’s the heaviest wave around, for big-wave surfers only, at the end of a long paddle.
On the days it works, find your session by day and time and download your photos in HD.
Avalanche: your questions answered
How big does the swell need to be for Avalanche to work?
Avalanche only breaks from around 2.5 m of swell and is at its best between 4 and 6 m, in a southerly to south-easterly offshore wind. In other words, it only works a few days a year, mainly from November to March.
Is Avalanche a left or a right?
A long left that breaks way out, opposite the Les Alcyons jetty: hollow, with several sections and a massive shoulder. The take-off is brutal and the wipeouts are heavy.
What board do I need for Avalanche?
A gun of around 9 feet is essential to paddle into the wave. On big days the jet skis come out too, and some sessions are towed in.
How do I get out to the Avalanche peak?
Allow around twenty minutes of paddling beyond the Les Alcyons jetty, out to a few hundred metres offshore. You reach Les Alcyons beach along the jetty, which extends from the harbour, or down the steps from the cliff path.