La Salie Reviews and Ratings
(Gironde, France)
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Visitor reviews of La Salie surf break
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
“Spot de bodyboard. Malheureusement, on ne peut plus surfer à la Salie Nord. Le banc de sable a disparu à marée basse et la marée haute ne donne que du shorebreak. Il faut dorénavant aller à gauche du Wharf pour surfer correctement. Cela demande 40 minutes de marche puisque seul le parking de la Salie Nord est ouvert. Certains se garent au niveau de la route forestière du Wharf, mais c'est interdit depuis les récents incendies et il y a un risque de se prendre une belle contravention. Le plus gros problème de ce spot est la qualité de l'eau. L'eau y est extrêmement polluée et au fil des années aucun effort n'a été fait par la commune d'Arcachon pour améliorer la qualité de l'eau. Le Wharf rejette des eaux de plus en plus sales et seulement à 400 m de la côte au lieu des 4 km qui étaient initialement prévus. Je tombe systématiquement malade au bout de quelques jours lorsque je surfe là-bas. L'eau est souvent marrons à cause des détergents rejetés, l'odeur est souvent nauséabonde et on observe régulièrement une pellicule sur le sable en raison de la teneur élevée en polluants qui se trouvent dans l'eau rejeté par le Wharf. A marée basse, le courant sud transporte ces eaux jusqu'à Biscarosse où la pollution due au Wharf est observable. A marée haute, la pollution du Wharf est transportée jusqu'au banc d'Arguin contaminant ainsi les plages de la Salie Nord, de la Lagune et du Petit Nice. Malgré les mensonges constants de la commune d'Arcachon affirmant que la qualité de l'eau est très bonne, il faut éviter de surfer trop longtemps si on veut éviter les maux de gorge, les otites et les infections e. coli. Le plus triste dans tout ça, c'est que la commune d'Arcachon prône un écotourisme responsable parce que ça lui rapporte énormément d'argent, mais par-derrière pollue ouvertement et sans remords l'océan avec des conséquences dramatiques pour les surfeurs réguliers du coin. Bref, c'est à gerber.
Bodyboard spot. Unfortunately, you can't surf the North Salie anymore. The sandbar disappeared at low tide and the high tide gives only shorebreak. It is now necessary to go to the left of the Wharf to surf properly. It takes 40 minutes to walk since only the parking lot of the North Salie is open. Some are parked at the Wharf Forest Road, but it has been banned since the recent fires and there is a risk of getting a nice ticket. The biggest problem with this spot is water quality. The water is extremely polluted and over the years no effort has been made by the municipality of Arcachon to improve the quality of water. The Wharf discharges increasingly dirtier waters and only 400 m from the coast instead of the 4 km that were originally planned. I always get sick after a few days when I surf there. The water is often brown because of the detergents released, the odor is often nauseated and a film is regularly observed on the sand because of the high content of pollutants found in the water released by the Wharf. At low tide, the southern current transports these waters to Biscarosse where the pollution from Wharf is observable. At high tide, the pollution of the Wharf is transported to the Arguin bank thus contaminating the beaches of the North Salie, Lagune and Petit Nice. Despite the constant lies in the municipality of Arcachon that water quality is very good, we must avoid surfing too long if we want to avoid sore throats, otitis and e. coli infections. The saddest thing about this is that the commune of Arcachon advocates responsible ecotourism because it brings him a lot of money, but by back it openly and without remorse the ocean with dramatic consequences for regular surfers in the area. Anyway, it's to be stacked.”
Ben from FRANCE - 12 Aug 2024
La Salie Ratings
Overall: 4.0. Based on 11 votes and 4 reviews. Vote
Quality on a good day: 4.3(1 star: Even when the swell and winds are optimum, the waves are poor quality, 5 stars: If conditions are right, the waves will be World Class). |
Consistency of Surf: 4.2(1: La Salie is a fickle surf spot that only works a few times a year. 5: Reliable year-round spot). |
Regional Rating: 4.1(1: La Salie is usually very poor quality compared to other spots in Gironde. 5: the best break in Gironde). |
Difficulty Level: 3.6(1: Suitable for Groms. 3: Intermediates. 5: Expert tow-in surfers only). |
Onshore Wind: 3.7(1: even a light onshore ruins the surf. 5: La Salie can offer better rides with a light wind behind them). |
Other Options: 3.2(1: If wind or tide conditions are poor at La Salie, it will be poor everywhere nearby. 5: other locations nearby provide a rich variety of wind and swell exposures). |
Wind and Kite Surfing: 3.7(1: An unsuitable spot. 5: Wind and wave conditions at La Salie are often excellent). |
Water Quality: 2.8(1: Known health risks from pollution. 5: Never any pollution). |
Crowds: 3.7(1: Often too crowded. 5: La Salie is an isolated spot where you are unlikely to meet other surfers). |
Access: 4.0(1: Getting to La Salie requires an overland expedition or chartering a boat. 3: A 30 minute walk from the nearest parking. 5: Park a vehicle right by the break). |
Scenery: 4.3(1: An ugly industrial backdrop. 5: A spectacular setting). |
Local Attitude: 4.1(1: Locals are hostile to visitors. 5: Either there are no locals who surf, or else they are accommodating and friendly). |
Accommodation: 4.1(1: No convenient places to stay indoors. 5: A wide variety of accommodation near La Salie for all budgets from hostels to luxury hotels). |
Camping: 3.9(1: Camping at La Salie is not possible. 3: Camping tolerated but no facilities. 5: A nearby camp ground has excellent facilities and a good vibe). |
Entertainment: 4.8(1: Besides the surf and the solitude there is nothing to do when it is flat. 5: La Salie is in such an interesting area to visit that getting wet is a bonus). |
Equipment and Repairs: 3.0(1: Nothing can be sourced, not even wax. 5: Quality surfing equipment can be purchased or hired. Major repairs can be fixed too). |
Eating: 4.2(1: Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. 5: A wide variety of places to eat and drink at La Salie, from fast food and cafes to fancy restaurants). |
Drinking: 4.0(1: Alcohol is not allowed in the country. 5: There is an excellent pub near La Salie where you can stay or park a camper van overnight). |
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