Beach break / galets · Seine-Maritime · Beginner → Advanced
Forecast for Monday 31 August
Intermediate : The wind wrecked it. Not today.
Today's score by level (at the day's best, out of 100)
Iconic spot beneath the Normandy needle cliffs. Quality waves on a big NW swell — one of the most spectacular surf settings in France. Better at mid to high tide. A bucket-list session.
Best from September to March, when large Atlantic depressions send a swell into the Channel.
Good level required. You can stand, paddle and read a peak. When it fires, better know what you're doing.
Pebble beach — watch entries/exits and impacts. Booties useful.
Wear an appropriate wetsuit. Scout the currents before you paddle out. Respect the locals and right-of-way. Check weather and tides.
Étretat is rather recommended for intermediate surfers. If you're a beginner, prefer a surf school, a small swell and a suitable tide, or look for a more sheltered nearby spot.
The ideal wind at Étretat comes broadly from South-East: it's offshore, which helps shape and hold the waves. A strong onshore wind generally degrades conditions.
Around Étretat, you can also check conditions at Yport, Sainte-Adresse, Veulettes. Compare the scores, wind and swell direction before choosing where to surf.