Watch: Mundaka // The Legendary Day
"Those were probably the best waves and the best surfers in the world," says Basque surfer Eneko Acero, "that's what makes it a legendary day."
When the first day of the 2006 Quiksilver Pro France brought a heaving north-west swell with howling west winds, the bulk of the Top 44 bailed south. There was no chance the contest would be on, however with great swell and wind, reportedly good sand, and the lowest tide of the year, all the elements were lining up for Mundaka - two hours south - to fire.
Meanwhile, local Basque surfers, who'd endured a summer without waves, were likewise waiting for the bank to turn on.
What resulted was a session for the ages where hot locals and the world's best shared a short window of perfection. The skills on display combined with the clock running down - Mundaka only breaks on low tide - meant there was only so much room for admiration and respect. Incredible barrels sit alongside ruthless drop-ins.
The footage is superb, especially Slater's hands-free backside barrel riding - two years before the Wizard Sleeve changed his rail line.
When the contest resumed, Mick beat Kelly in the semis, as did Parko beat AI, with Parko comboing old mate Mick in the final. Two weeks later, during the Billabong Pro Mundaka, the bank could barely rouse itself. It took six days to run the contest with some days having just two heats before the waves stopped. Bobby M beat Slater in a final that was 2-3 feet and inconsistent.
Comments
KS on a CI with a red square on the nose makes me nostalgic.
Far out his backhand tube riding was (is) next level. Suspect that wave is harder to surf than the pro's make it look.
He was carrying a snapped Simon Anderson at one stage.
I bet the drop-ins & general shit-housery would be even worse these days! Big Pancho’s barrel was epic!
Everyone and there grandma turns up from all corners of Europe.
Swell poachers
Wayne Lynch 1989
Thanks for posting this!! It’s been decades since I oggled it last!!
Wonder when it was discovered and first surfed? I was there in September - October '78 and it was already well known among traveling surfers, although a lot fewer starters back then, riding single fins. A classic rivermouth wave - similar to quite a few others, some well-known, others less so. The town was wonderful and welcoming. I didn't know about the rescue the year before though. Obviously sometime between late 70s and early 2000s surfing went viral, there and globally. But not an ideal contest venue, as the Aussie expat noted of his struggles. Getting the required low tides and big swell lasting for enough days with offshores etc. ain't an easy equation.
Far our Lindo - '78 - suspect no leggie either - hard work
Andy on the short wide mayhem quad fishy thing too.
Yeah, what was that fishy thing he was riding?
I think a variation on a biolos round nose fish/RNF.
Back up board for Bakio.
Anyone surfed Mundaka in the last decade?
Crowds?
Got to admit, those Basque crowds do not sound inviting.
Surfed it in the mid 90s, and it was already a shit show. Ruthless locals.
What’s more of a shit show ruthless locals or none what so ever?
Good question.
Depends on how many levels down Dante's Inferno a spot has already descended.
When I surfed Mundaka it wasn't that crowded, but the locals were just absolute pricks.
No locals is all good, so long as everyone shares common ideas about what's OK. Everyone's lucky to be there, no one can pull rank. Had a recent experience like this at an Australian surf zone I won't name. But yeah, mix in some dudes who think snaking and/or dropping in is all good and it must be the worst thing, you'd long for a couple locals to be there to kick things into shape
@ freeride76
I did two trips over there in euskadi/ Espana
+ Portugal.
All before the CT arrived to Peniche.
Left a few weeks before the first search contest in 09
Did some time there in 03.
Haven't been back since , I surfed it maxing in 09.
Crew were charging.
Plenty of other waves around nice Parr of the world.
I actually met the grandson and eneko
Had no problems, everyone was super friendly.
I spent a month there in September 2019 didnt get it any good but had so much fun in the village, very welcoming, amazing food and wine. Some locals have cheeky red for breakfast, and took a while to get use to the afternoon Siesta , no chance of getting a meal until 8-9pm. Highly recommend a visit if in EUrope.
I'm with you on that AMB
Was there in September 2019 for 4 nights, had a coupla ordinary surfs but thoroughly enjoyed the stay. 2 euro clean skins that were as good as $25 bottles here, village life, and the scenery. Heaps of expat Aussies living there as well. I'd happily go again.
Hey FazP - there were commercial, but very rudimentary, leggies back then - rope inside rubber tubing from vague memory, and before rail savers there were episodic major cuts into the tails of boards ... I somehow avoided that - surfed a 6'11" swallowtail flier shaped by Darrel 'Rooster' Dell, glassed by StringBean Bruce in early '76 - took it round the world in 1 piece before finally breaking it in half on a too-late drop on the racecourse right in Bali in '79. Balance Designs were one of the go-to board makers in Noosa back then.
Whoops, FrazP - apologies re spelling
Not needed bud. Gee I remember those. Wonder how they surfed that wave pre leggies
I was there for 2 months in 87, had a great time and got plenty of waves, there was a small local crew there but they weren't too agro at that time
In 93 it was busy and there were burnings... but not so many that it ruined the experience
Had one epic day and a handful of more marginal ones
The the spanish basque region in which Mundaka lies is my favourite travel spot/area ever
A golden time in my life amongst warm people who want to enjoy their lives and love the place they come from
Remberance Day 1996 . 4 to 6 ft not to crowded. Bookend to a great 4 months in Europe. Another Aussie in the water called it mirror Kirra.
Surfed it in 92 at about 5ft with an unseasonal August swell. Wasn't too crowded and pretty well behaved with about 15 out. I paddled out early just as it started breaking with the tide, and rode my first wave for 30m without it actually even breaking (first and last time I've done that). Soon there were barreling 4 to 5 ft sets coming through.
My only regret was having missed the evening before which was bigger and only had 5 out. We meanwhile were surfing the average beachbreaks at Laga around the estuary and had no idea.
The poorer swell forecasting back then made random scores much more possible. Beautiful part of the world and spirited people.
Forecasting and surf cams - the brilliance and evil. Certainly changed the ability for the uncrowded sneaky. Many a wasted trip for my folks driving us to PI or west coast in my Vic days.
Off topic but anyone else surprised to see Oxbow still a going concern.
Haven't seen or heard that name for a decade at least- thought they had long gone extinct.
I guess when every big surf co is now owned by new york stock traders.......
The fringe companies have now become important.
Surfed and lived in Mundaka for a month in June 1986.
3-4ft, better than nothing.
I agree with all the aforementioned comments, town folk were ace, they loved us.
Craig Sage had only opened Mundaka Surf the year before in 1985.
I’ve got a great photo of heaps of us and him standing in front of his shop.
Good guy, that little shop became a big enterprise wow, wee. Good luck to him and his family.
He lives comfortably. AW
Bruce Smith, ex Odyssey Surfboards from Perth was one of the first to make surfboards there arriving around 1982 if I recall correctly.
I spent 3 months there in 1987 or 88, van life in the town square, had endless swells. My brother and I took turns getting up and surf checking" fuck, it's cooking again " was a constant refrain. Was a judge at the first comp to be held there ( they wouldn't let me surf in it - " no gires" ( foreigners ) allowed. Bruce was the winner in cooking 5' waves, although I had top local Alphonso Fernandez in first. Another great session was sharing waves with Maurice and Belly and a handful of locals. Weekends were hectic ," Spainiacs" out in full force, never seen such brave committed surfing by novice surfers as that in my life, doubtless the talent levels are sky high nowadays. What a place, still top 3 waves in my book, eventually left just before Christmas , the boatyard asked me to park my van in it and be security for the holidays but I couldn't handle the cold any longer. Loved the Basque people .vowed to learn Spanish and return to marry one of the pretty girls. ( never did...)
Surfed it a few times in about 2005. 1 classic day. Was much squarer than it looks on video so the crowd became naturally sorted out with good locals getting the best ones as it should be. Most of the van lifers and French blow ins further down the point. Bit of a scene, grumpy locals, happy locals and broken boards. All in all compared to an average day on QLD points it was easy going.