La surface de l’eau se bombe légèrement. Une boursouflure discrète, qui progresse le long de la digue. Depuis la rive, au bout du parking de Sokoburu à Hendaye, Peyo Lizarazu et son père Jean observent avec tendresse cette évocation miniature de leur protégée. La Bidassoa n’en donnera pas plus aujourd’hui. Les conditions de houle et de marée sont insuffisantes. Elles ne se réunissent qu’une quarantaine de fois par an.
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[Context: The Bidassoa river offers surfers a unique wave, which has become legendary. A dredging project is underway to deepen the river mouth, raising concerns about the future of the wave]
[Fact Check: The article discusses the potential impact of dredging the river mouth on the iconic surf spot in Bidassoa]
[Image description: A photo of Jean Lizarazu surfing the wave of Bidassoa in the 1960s]
“The dredging of the Bidassoa river mouth aims to create a depth of three meters. Incompatible with the survival of the wave,” [Jean-Yves Madec] noted.
These days, the border river offers initiated surfers a unique wave, which has become legendary. “It is special compared to the beach, less violent. You can sometimes ride it for 800 meters. It’s very enjoyable,” described Jean, 83 years old, one of the first to surf it. It was in the 1960s, with about ten discoverers. The ripple has seen ups and downs over half a century. Until it resurfaced a little over a decade ago. It is now under threat again.
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The Surf Federation is concerned
On Monday, March 23, the small wave finds its way between a dredging ship and large extractor pipes. The dredging of the Txingudi bay is ongoing. This cleaning operation aims to remove thousands of cubic meters of sand, securing boat passage. The dredging of the Bidassoa river mouth aims to create a depth of three meters. Incompatible with the survival of the wave.
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[Image description: Peyo Lizarazu believes in the coexistence of different users at the river mouth]
Five years later, a sandbank of 30 to 50 meters is to be preserved. “But it is to avoid the destabilization of the dyke, not for surfing,” said Peyo Lizarazu, a local figure in the sport and spokesperson for a cross-border surfer collective attached to this historical spot. They would like this strip to be slightly enlarged.
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First photo of surfing in France
He who is also a member of commissions within the FFS made technical proposals to the city. They would, according to him, satisfy all users. His motto: cohabitation with intelligence. He cites complementary calendars: “The forty surfing days are between September 1st and May 1st,” while boats mostly need access in summer. “I also remind you that in Tahiti, at Teahupo’o, there was an Olympic wave in a boat passage channel.”
[Fact Check: Peyo Lizarazu highlights the historical significance of the wave at Bidassoa and its potential for preservation]
[Image description: The famous photo of the Bidassoa wave published in 1964 in a specialized American magazine]
Finally, Peyo Lizarazu is convinced that this “heritage” is valuable: “This wave was the main photo in the first article about surfing in France, published by an American magazine.” It was in 1964. Holding the camera was Stella de Rosnay, wife of Joël, a surfing pioneer in France. “If this wave is to continue, this story could be told.”
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The first dredging campaign of the channel is expected to end on May 14. The mayor of Hendaye, Kotte Ecenarro, is counting on the prefect to intervene: “I ask him to bring together all the relevant actors to work together to maintain this intangible Hendaye heritage while ensuring the smooth running of the dredging operations.”
