Last year in August I reported on the Mascaret, or the tidal bore on the Aquitaine rivers, but Pierre and I missed the waves because we were not prepared -- this year Pierre and his surf board are in Mexico, and I have a house full of beautiful people renting the Chateau Lalinde for the summer holidays, but I do not intend missing the mascaret, or the tidal bore on the Dordogne or the Gironde once again!
Two weeks ago when Bordeaux celebrated the river (the Gironde) during the Festival of the River, I was all agog to hear where and which day the best spot was going to be this year to catch the big waves on the rivers. But no luck. Those in the know stay mum on the secrets of the place and time of the best waves. I can understand why -- anyone who has ever surfed a mascaret or tidal bore, know that if half the world is there in the water with you, there is not much pleasure for the surfer. This is one time when sharing is not fun!
But! -- a scoop for the Chateau Lalinde blog! I have the time table of the best waves on the Gironde for 2007!
The Festival of the Mascaret is from the 1st to the 2nd of September this year, but looking at the timetable, I would say be ready with your surfboard on the 29th August onwards. The coefficient - anything above 100 is excellent and these are the numbers for that period:
Wednesday 29 August : 103 : at 17h55
Thursday 30 August : 107 : at 18h35
Friday 31 August : 104 : at 19h15
Saturday 1 September: 100 : at 07h40
95 : at 19h55
Sunday 2 September : 89 : at 08h15
81 : at 20h40
The mascaret forms in different places on the river and in different widths and heights. But the best, according to the connoisseurs, are:
On the Dordogne River: at Saint-Pardon (where the wave can be as high as 2.5 meters in height) a few kilometres from Libourne
On the Garonne River : between Langoiran and Podensac (2,5 m in height)
Christian Rollet, the president of the masacaret association of Saint-Pardon de Vayres, says : "The advantage of the mascaret here in the Aquitaine, is its length and height. Compared with any other bore in Europe, the French mascaret lasts at least 1.4 kilometres --- that gives you at least 10 minutes of surfing!"
That, and the unique ambiance of the surfers - with ages ranging from 7 to 77 years, makes the mascaret in France a very special experience -- and one not to be missed!
And the best place? A little bird told me that the best place to be for the best wave is without a doubt St Pardon.
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Chateau Lalinde : The perfect venue for your event
