Buying boards in France

[timbo85]

G'day

I'm travelling to Europe in September for a few months. I'm going to be surfing
allot but travelling around Germany for a few weeks prior to hitting the French
coast. I'm considering not bringing a board as lugging one round Germany will be a pain.

I was wondering whether anybody has experiece of surf shops in the
Biarritz/Hossegor area. Would buying a new board there be the equivilent rack price (S700 aus)
as here in NSW? Any good shops to recommend?

Cheers
T

[alakaboo]

Timbo, I asked a mate who surfs there regularly, this is what he said, edited a bit.
He's a longboarder, and doesn't mind shelling out for boards, he lives in Switzerland and orders boards custom from California...so he's mostly across the higher cost stuff.

a great but expensive longboard/retro board shop is called More & Less (http://www.more-and-less.com/).
Another great bunch are: Rainbow and Waimea, but those are in Anglet, mostly shortboards.
Otherwise there is that surf shop in the parking lot of the Vieux Port beach.
the Rip Curl surf shop which is on top of More & Less, mostly shortboards.
Hossegor has tons of surf shops in the town center.
there is also the Quicksilver boardrider shop in Capbreton.
If he is loking for craftsmanship, tell him to check for Daniels longboard, there is the website somewhere.... fantastic boards!!

I've only been there once, for a few days.
There are heaps of longboard shops around Biarritz, heaps of shortboard shops around Hossegor/Anglet.
Prices are slightly more expensive than Oz for off the rack, though that was when the Euro was stronger, but higher end stuff and composites seemed a lot cheaper.

Don't take a board with you. Do take a good wettie, the average water temps you see on the net are bogus.

[timbo85]

Cheers Alakaboo,

Apologies for the delayed response, I gave up on the thread after a week or so.
Thanks for your research, sounds like there's plenty of options...

[alakaboo]

Timbo is back on the Christmas list

[spelled3]

I know Mark Phipps is shapes in France during our winter. Might be worth contacting.
http://markphipps.com/Contact.php

[swvic]

Phil Grace from the Mornington Peninsula doing the same. Hossegor (I think) for most of the year and back home in vicco for a few months. Started way back. At least 30 years so he'd have his boards wired for French conditions

Maurice Cole? He's called Maureeeece over there though

[godsavetheking]

I think all the quiksilver shapers' boards are available from the Euroglass factory through http://www.quiksilver-surfboards.com. There are also local shapers, many of whom are listed here http://shapers.awprod.com/index_1024.html

As said before though, there's tons of shops in that area so just get one when you go. Price-wise, aussie stuff like Simon Andersons, Bourtons etc is around 600 euros for a shortboard, which is pretty much bang on $700 Aus.

[timbo85]

Sickness, Leaving tomorrow. Cheers for the info

[Dingus]

Good luck and bon voyage. We need pics, stories, and swell reports!

[Natho]

I checked out a surf shop here in France yesterday. They mainly had Simons and Phipps as far as Oz shapers go. Boards were about 20% - 30% more expensive than home by the time you factor in the exchange rate.

Where did ya go in Germany Timbo? I just came through there a week ago. Thought the Rhine/ Mozel valley areas were pretty special. Enjoy France. I gotta head home tomorrow .