Two weeks ago, As the Quik Pro rolled around, we made our inaugural voyage to France’s beautiful Landes coast, to gorge ourselves on cliche’s too innumerable to mention. It was hot, it was merry and there were incredible waves breaking everywhere.

During the waiting period Hossegor invariably plays host to a melting pot of international surfing’s lead protagonists. Along with the top 34, there are team trips featuring the world’s best free surfers, legends, up and comers and of course a large local crew of talented rippers.

Each year we take it upon ourselves to squirt on some after shave, (to mask the smell of van life) and rub shoulders with the most interesting characters we can find. Here, we present a series of conversations had with them, alongside some stories that caught our eye and a selection of images featuring the most memorable moments that unfolded.

We’ve got the world number one, one of big wave surfing’s key aficionados, two of the world’s most successful free surfers, two future stars and plenty more.

You can use the links below to skip straight to a particular interview, or, grab a coffee hit ‘open’, and dive in from the start.

Contents:
Introduction
The Real Story
Jordy Smith Interview
Free surf action, part 1
John John Florence Interview
Free surf action, part 2
Filipe Toledo Interview
Free-surf Edit
Eimeo Czermak & The Barrel Of The Day
Pete Mel Interview
An Ode To Italo Ferreira
Chippa & Beeg Interview
Adrien Toyon Steals The Show
Free surf action, part 3
One Crazy Air With Griffin Colapinto

(Hit open in the bottom right to view in glorious full screen mode)

http://features.wavelengthmag.com/885245