Coq au vin!
I remember, as a very young surfer, hearing that the great Tom Curren had packed his bags and moved to France. It confused me greatly, as greatly as hearing, years later, that the great Gerry Lopez had packed his bags and moved to Bend, Oregon. I wondered about France, wondered if it had waves and if they were big, small, bad or good.
Many years later, I was able to go to Biarritz, Hossegor, et. al. and my goodness, if it ain’t a stretch of the world’s sexiest coast what with its dripping French accent, coq au vin, oui, oui, oui and thumping beach break.
How did it all come to be?
A new documentary, The Biarritz Surf Gang, tells the fabulous story.
Per the press release:
“Biarritz Surf Gang” is a documentary by Pierre Denoyel and Nathan Curren. The film reveals the true story of six lunatic surfers who set fire to their surfboards at Biarritz’ Grande Plage, in the 1980s. The local crew, inspired by the punk movement, had a thirst for trouble and breaking the law. This is their story, and how they achieved greatness, experience decadence, and eventually fall.
It is streaming many places, including Apple and Amazon, and very much worth a spin.
Oui.
Oui.
Oui.
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Ooh la lah…over to you bicko !
Non locals go home, Merci!
Can I slip under the perfumed curtain before it closes?
You very slippery man Mr. Reilly
Non! Merci!
I saw this when it came out on the film festivals and loved it. Awesome euro surf documentary!
There was a Plague in the 80s too??
Oh yeah that sexy one.
So did they get new boards to replace the ones they burnt ?
Or is this their version of ‘quit-lit’ ?
Perhaps the resident BG Froggophile Monsieur Bickeau will be able to translate…
Tommy has always been, and still is, waaaay ahead of the time and of these surfers… running away from the lightspots, and the lightspots seeking him till today. His pseudo-absence from interviews, his little phrases sometimes abstracts and nonsense, are pure charm, amazing.
That’s what is lack on these surfers today, in the pros, in the wannabe pros, and in these pure shit pretenders “soul surfers” like the Noah’s, Rob’s, Ando’s, Creedo’s, Bando’s, Cando’s, Vando’s and the likes… a bunch of pure shit fakers, pretenders something, bad bad amalgams…
And suck it sustainable sockless eleven world champ bald guy, you are always outclassed, dated, running behind him! A stigma!
with the exception of talent (debatable) Kelly and Tom have nothing in common, and it kills Kelly
Tom, with all his weiredness and peculiarities is also 100x a better person than Kelly.
Not a high bar
If someone could record this on VHS (Beta would be a tough ask, I understand) and let me borrow?
Self stamped addressed postage!?
I’ve never felt more at home than in the south of France. Savouring delicacies and wandering amongst the broad middle class.
I felt the same when I was hangin with the glue sniffers at the bus terminal in Porto Alegre.
We all have a home.
There’s some pretty amazing point breaks down by the Spanish border huh? Those 1 euro pintxos are a deal.
I had a dream a while ago, I was eating and eating all of the most crazy tapas and snacks. And I was delighted that I couldn’t satisfy my hunger, the food was amazing. Then it dawned on me….I woke up soooo grumpy.
Ha, that sucks!