it is a bit ridiculous to ban things like this

one would imagine that some common sense would play into it, if you are learning or your skills are not great maybe don't paddle out near other people, even if you are really good the potential to surf waves that traditional surfers cant or wont almost means that you shouldn't have to surf a foil in a crowded line up

but then again if common sense was common you wouldn't have this potential problem

Jarryd

Yes, it is close by. Anglet is the the town just north of Biarritz. In this part of France (Basque Country) some municipal teams contain people that are the living cliche' of the old bitter crusty braindead locals-only surfer, with a heavy dose of a superiority complex ("the only true surfers are from the Basque Country, the rest do not know ****").
Anglet has already banned surf schools that are not from the town to use their beaches.

The actual ruling is weird, as:
- all the reasons given (safety of swimmers) would also require banning also all hard surfing devices, such as surfboards.
- and they are already in place! In the southwest of France, there are strict bathing zones (blue flags) where surfboards are forbidden, and if there are waves, swimmers are forbidden to go outside. Plus in France, no water craft can go at more than 5knots in the first 300 meters zone... and swimmers cannot go outside the 300 meters zone
- they do not distinguish between kitefoiling and surfoiling. If you have tried it, there is no way a surf foil could cut you. Surf fins on the other hand...
- there have been no foiling accident that I know of. But surfing accidents happen daily in summer.

Anyways, it was quite hilarious when Laird came last year make a demo of SUP foiling in the Basque Country. The old self-proclaimed "aristocraty" of the local surfscene was all over the news saying "yes, it is spectacular but only Laird can do it, it is too hard for mere mortals, and you should not try it, especially on our spots". These same kind of people organised a foil contest this year in the midst of a popular surf spot instead of going to non-surfable banks...

But to come back to the Anglet case, basically the mayor said that there have been case where foilers were too close to surfers, who were afraid to being decapitated (you know the type: they will harass a SUP 100 meters away because they are killing machines), asked the foilers to move away, and they refused. So the surfers lobbied for a ban. It sounds like this ban is a weapon to be enforced when foilers mix with surfers and swimmers, which is actually quite sane. It doesn't look like it will be applied to foilers practicing away from other users, as it should be done anyways.

Gorgo said..
I thought that if you ban stuff in France then everyone just goes out and does it more to assert their liberte. Vive le France! Vive le foil!

Actually France lawmakers have the tendency to think "better safe than sorry" and pass overly constraining laws, but saying "Don't worry we wont enforce them, it is just to have a weapon ready just in case".

For the foil ban in Anglet, I would not be surprised if the police make non-local foilers get out of the water, but leave the local ones in :-)

www.facebook.com/groups/1377152212346239/permalink/1875800469148075/

I wonder how much/if the behaviour of the foilers in this area have influenced the decision? I don't know though. Im not there.

Maybe good reminder/motivator to keep check on our own behaviour here in Oz, and to help others "find that motivation" who are maybe considering going out without thier leash and/or into crowds....or even when just a few people out....

I don't think this is a problem currently.....but as poularity and the foil technology increases.......

I am loving this new experience and do sometimes think about the human nature side of things killing the mojo.....play safe out there.....

Shame......it ony takes one.....