Surfing professionals confirm an increase in sports practice since the health crisis linked to the Covid-19 epidemic.
A new audience, especially city dwellers, is looking to reconnect with nature through surfing.
In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where the most beautiful waves on the coast are stranded, the challenge will be to make these neo-practitioners coexist with other seaside activities.
"We are coming to a point where there is a shortage of surf instructors for the supervision of beginners", worries Jacques Lajuncomme, president of the French Surfing Federation. Since the relaxation of health rules, surfing professionals in New Aquitaine have noticed an increase in the practice. “It's very simple: we have the impression that the whole planet has started to surf! », Loose Nicolas Jabaudon, director of the Médoc Atlantique tourist office, who sees more and more people with a board in the water off Lacanau (Gironde).
Outdoor sport par excellence, surfing provides a feeling of freedom and well-being, particularly sought after after months of confinement and restrictions.
"Surfing allows a sporting outing at a lower cost with a direct change of scenery", we also explain to the store selling and renting board sports equipment Sessions Libres in Bordeaux.
"An outing like any other, just like the tree climbing"
At the Big Mama surf school in Lacanau, we add that the practice also enjoys a “fun” image, and that it remains “easy to access” compared to other board sports, such as kitesurfing. , which require much more substantial equipment. In addition, the technicality of surfing “has been reduced thanks to manufacturers who are designing more and more consumer products, less expensive and adapted to the practice of beginners. "
As a result, this activity is becoming more and more popular, especially by urbanites, who want to reconnect with nature.
"It becomes a family outing or an outing with friends like any other, just like tree climbing, for example," we observe at Sessions Libres.
The increase in the practice observed in recent months, however, is part of "a process of democratization of surfing, already started a few years ago", slips the president of the federation.
"Bring a surf culture to new practitioners"
It now remains to make all these new practitioners coexist, with other seaside activities, as the summer season approaches and the beaches are filling more and more. To practice surfing in complete safety, "it is necessary to bring a surfing culture to new surfers," insists Jacques Lajuncomme. It is necessary to transmit to them the knowledge on the functioning of the ocean, but also on the rules of safety and priority which are acquired by the other surfers. "
For this, the Surf Federation is working on the training of instructors, and the installation of signs and information on the beaches.
On some beaches there is also a division of the space between surfers and swimmers, or even with other sports and seaside practices.
On the other hand, it is out of the question to "regulate individual practice, which would amount to prohibiting access to the beach" warns Jacques Lajuncomme.
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