Etretat

Etretat is a left-hand reef break with a rocky bottom that can hold waves for over 100 meters when conditions align. The break requires intermediate to advanced skills due to the sharp rocks and fast walls, and it fires unpredictably—best during winter swells from the west or northwest, typically mid-tide around three hours before or after high water. Southwest offshore winds clean it up, though it never breaks often; January is the most consistent month with rideable conditions roughly half the time, while summer is mostly flat.

The spot sits beneath the striking white limestone cliffs of the Côte d'Albâtre, adjacent to the famous needle rock formation L'Aiguille Creuse. When working, it draws crowds and the usual hazards of rocky breaks apply: sharp rocks underfoot and in the water, strong localized currents, and the industrial pollution typical of the Seine-Maritime coast.