Sainte Barbe 81.0
#1786 of 5753 surf spots in the world · France · Pyrénées-Atlantiques · near Biarritz
Very consistent, no off season.
Works all yearIntermediate
Surf score81.0 /100
Surfable days87% of the year
Clean days32% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell48% period 11 s+
Typical size1.1 m 3.8 ft median
Water18°C a 3/2 wetsuit
Best time to surf Sainte Barbe
The best time to surf Sainte Barbe is February, March, December. The season runs Feb to Mar. In February the water sits around 13°C, so pack a 5/4 with boots and hood, and the typical wave is 1.9 m. The nearest airport is BIO (101 km) and the nearest town is Biarritz (12 km).
| Month | Surfable | Clean | Size | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88% | 27% | 1.5 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| Feb | 99% | 66% | 1.9 m | 13°C | 5/4 |
| Mar | 95% | 46% | 1.5 m | 13°C | 4/3 |
| Apr | 83% | 33% | 1.0 m | 15°C | 4/3 |
| May | 83% | 22% | 1.0 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
| Jun | 85% | 12% | 0.9 m | 21°C | 2mm |
| Jul | 72% | 5% | 0.7 m | 24°C | vest |
| Aug | 80% | 11% | 0.8 m | 23°C | vest |
| Sep | 84% | 22% | 0.9 m | 21°C | 2mm |
| Oct | 90% | 36% | 1.2 m | 19°C | 2mm |
| Nov | 97% | 42% | 1.8 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
| Dec | 88% | 48% | 1.7 m | 15°C | 4/3 |
Why 81.0
Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.
Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
18.8
Groundswell 12%
9.5
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
2.7
Water comfort 10%
3.4
Access 10%
8.5
The detail
Faces 335° with 39% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 66% of days. Mean peak period 11.2 s. Days over 3 m: 5%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 51%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates 43.399, -1.667 (OpenStreetMap).
Spots nearby
Sainte Barbe Inside France · score 81.0Les Flots Bleus France · score 80.9Le Port France · score 80.7La bougie France · score 80.8
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