After the first day of competition of the Twin Fin Invitational (TFI), the new swell was huge. The beach break at Zarautz was overloaded and so the crew split up between heading north into France or out to Mundaka for one of the first proper swells of the season.
As you can see in the second episode of the TFI series, Mundaka Mission, the crew scored a very special day in the Basque Country.
As a goofyfoot who had dreamt of the wave for years, it was an easy call for me to tag along to Mundaka. The wind was side-onshore so it wasn’t perfect but, in a way, it totally was. The lack of offshore winds meant that there wasn’t a rabid pack of 100+ surfers vying for every wave and the TFI crew was able to experience one of Europe’s most iconic waves in rare form.
And what a crew it was: Tom Curren, Kepa Acero, Clay Marzo, Ander Mendiguren, Miguel Blanco, Gatien Delahaye, Lili Young, William Aliotti and Pat Curren, to name a few.
The swell pumped steady for hours, from low tide around midday until the evening. The mid-period interval meant the sets kept coming and there were plenty of waves to be had by all.
A few standout moments from my recollection: Pat Curren threading in and out of a deep tube ride across the middle bar like he surfed there a million times (it was his first time there). Clay Marzo boosting an air that could be seen from the village. Kepa showing up fashionably late, by the time everyone was already getting tired, and laying down silky smooth lines on his yellow twin fin, a 6’9″ Magnetic from Pukas, wave after wave.
As for the OG GOAT, Tom was riding a vintage Maurice Cole from the early 90’s and, although he hadn’t surfed Mundaka in years, it looked like he never left the Basque Country.
Beyond the riders and the waves, the river itself was a marvel to witness. Surrounded by ridges and low peaks, the wide river valley was lush green and tree-lined as far back as you could see. Coming from California, it was profound to see a wild river of that size flow freely into the ocean, and with it bring the sand and sediment that creates the perfect left-hander.
The surrounding forest area is part of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-protected area where the Atlantic ocean meets a highly diverse coastal ecosystem. The village itself is small and charming with two cafes sitting just next to the harbor with good views of the peak.
Chris Dodds
With big tide swings, the river creates a strong current that keeps you paddling nonstop until exhaustion. To enjoy a few beers with a Basque tortilla afterwards while watching the waves is one of the finer things in the surfing life.
For reference, watch the clip below to see what the crowd can be like and then compare it to the episode.
Stay tuned for episode 3.