WHEELS AND WAVES 2019
The air was full of song. The smell of gazoline and resin was everywhere. Colors of custom bikes and handmade surfboards attracted visitors as light attracts mosquitos. Fun, friends, ride, waves, dust, smoke, music, sun, rain, art, shape… These are the words that define best the last 5 days in Biarritz during the Wheels and Waves.
The event started with the Punk’s Peak Sprint Race at the Jaizkibel. And what a way to start 5 days entirely dedicated to custom bikes and surfing. Hundreds of competitors gathered on the unique road that crosses the mountain from Hondarribia to San Sebastian, surrounded by the ocean and the Pyrenees peaks at the back. They drove their terrible machines in a thunder noise. The show was epic. The Wheels and Waves was officially launched…
Photography: Oscar Valencia
In the meantime, in the main village located at “La Cité de l’Océan” in Biarritz, crowds of aficionados were discovering the tents of passionate exposants presenting there products, watching skaters ripping, listening to the live concerts and watching surf movies such as Surfers’ Blood and Sugar & Spade.
Invited by Damien from Chipiron surfboards, selected shapers and surfers, including Mat Crepel, Peta, Paul Duvignau and Salt Water creative directors Spoe, started building surfboards in the Shaping Caravan sponsored by Vissla before testing their creations on the waves of La Milady during the shapers expression session. Xabi Lafitte and Mat Crepel did the show but only one could won and this time, the trophy was for Xabi. But victory was not the most important. All the competitors were there to have the biggest fun, trying to catch some waves in tricky conditions and drink couple of Woll Beers.
As every year, an endurance race that started at Saint-Pee-sur-Nivelle was open to everyone. More than 150 riders participated this year.
On the Saturday, bikers headed to the Hippodrome of San-Sebastian, a horse racing track that, for one day only, turns into the El Rollo Flat Track Race, filling the air with dust and the roar of customized engines.
Photography: Adrien Ballanger
The surf side events ended on Saturday with the log invitational presented by Chipiron. Longboarders enjoyed a sunny day at La Milady in fun conditions. Nathan Sadoun took won the men’s event and local from La Côte des Basques Alice Védrine the women’s.