Autumn Brilliance At Mundaka

Last week saw the jewel in the Basque surf crown awake all its Autumnal splendour.

The swell fell hit a few days after the Quik Pro wrapped up, just as the circus was leaving town and making its way down to Portugal.

I was on my way down to grab a ferry back from Santander, and decided to stop off to and take a swim out to see what I could see.

I suggest any Brit who thinks their spot is irritatingly crowded parachute themselves into Mundaka

As with any spot regularly hailed as the best in its continent, the swell was greeted by hundreds of surf fans, of varying abilities, jostling for a spot in the densely packed take off zone and the keenness to slip into one of Mundaka’s world famous pits gave way to one of the most hectic lineups I’ve ever been immersed in.

There were collisions, terse words and a lot of indignant shouting as surfers’ thrashed shoulder to shoulder to make it over the ledge on every lump.

I suggest any Brit who thinks their spot is irritatingly crowded and lacking in etiquette parachute themselves into Mundaka on the next highly anticipated swell in order to immerse themselves with their mixture of tube time and perspective.

Even the crowded days at most of Britain’s treasured and fickle reefs will feel like you and a couple of mates after the experience.

Amongst the hullabaloo, there were some beautiful waves ridden, with a talented crew in attendance including visitors Rob Machado, Connor O’Leary and Tom Carroll and locals Natxo Gonzalez, Norman Lamda and Aritz Aranburu amongst others.

Here’s the highlight reel:

Cover photo @lugarts