Surfing in Brittany with Tom Bellevergue
Place : Bénodet, Bretagne, France
Date : September
Wetsuit recommandation : FIGHTER 4/3
Tom Bellervergue
For the release of his last video named “Beurretagne” (Surfing in Brittany) we met Tom Bellevergue who shared with us his last trip in Brittany (North West of France).
Native of South of France but now living in Oleron Island since he’s 4, Tom’s used to plan his life around surfing. He started his first steps on a board when he was really young thanks to his parents surfers. Then, he started quickly the competition.
In love with teaching, he transmits his passion in surf schools and surf clubs as soon as he was able to.
Now, Tom splits his life in two, traveling 6 to 7 months per year and managing his own surf school in Oleron Island.
At first, Tom had a special purpose to go to Bénodet…
“It’s been years, that I am waiting for a wave located close to Benodet but she needs big swell. There was announcing good conditions and I was waiting so hard. I was coming for that but finally she didn’t worked…”
However, it didn’t stopped Tom. He was out and about all over the “pointe du raz” (west of Brittany). He drove across the coast to find the best waves of Finistère. He went to many spots: La Torche, Porscarn, Penorth, Saint Tujan, la Baie des Trépassés…
We had good times in so many places.
What do we need to bring?
“It’s cold in Britany, so you need to be well equipped. In September, it’s good if you take a 3/2 mm and a 4/3 mm wetsuit. Then if you want, you can take some surf boots if you don’t want to hurt your feet. And the little bonus it’s a poncho, a real pleasure when you go out from the chilled water.”
How was the waves in Brittany?
“In Brittany you can surf 52 meters as well as 21 centimeters. You can find many different types of waves. You need to take time looking for the good waves. Don’t be afraid to ride a lot of kilometers. There is an amazing variety of waves and when you find the good one, it’s really worth it.”
Perfect cocktail for a Breton Surf trip :
Cider & French Pancakes
Your budget will depend on your capacity of eating tons of butter and drinking litters of cider…
“There’s a lot of little creperies (French pancakes restaurants), they’ve got real good products. And it’s great because the Breton are passionate about what there are cooking, what they are producing. They are interested in what they’re eating and I think it’s great.”
Where did you slept in Bénodet ?
“I slept at a friend’s house, a farmhouse in Bénodet. For advice, do not hesitate to talk to your friends, there is always a nice Breton (people living in Brittany) to welcome you. It feels a way better spending time in a Breton house, it’s funnier than a hotel. There’s also some surf’s hotel on the coast. If there isn’t any Breton friend’s, you will always find a little hotel or hostel, if not a tent or a van could work.”
We ate so much at the restaurants that we couldn’t go surfing before two and a half hours of digestion. We might have lost some good surf timing because of that.
Photo & video credit : John Duquoc
