Watch: Mundaka // The Legendary Day

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Reels

"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

BBrowny's picture
BBrowny's picture
BBrowny Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 at 3:07pm

KS on a CI with a red square on the nose makes me nostalgic.

FrazP's picture
FrazP's picture
FrazP Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 at 3:23pm

Far out his backhand tube riding was (is) next level. Suspect that wave is harder to surf than the pro's make it look.

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 at 9:04pm

He was carrying a snapped Simon Anderson at one stage.

gggiiibbbo's picture
gggiiibbbo's picture
gggiiibbbo Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 at 4:21pm

I bet the drop-ins & general shit-housery would be even worse these days! Big Pancho’s barrel was epic!

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 at 8:34pm

Everyone and there grandma turns up from all corners of Europe.
Swell poachers

BarbB's picture
BarbB's picture
BarbB Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 at 8:53pm

Wayne Lynch 1989

Swany's picture
Swany's picture
Swany Thursday, 26 Sep 2024 at 11:38pm

Thanks for posting this!! It’s been decades since I oggled it last!!

BarbB's picture
BarbB's picture
BarbB Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 at 8:52pm

lindo's picture
lindo's picture
lindo Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 at 9:05pm

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.

FrazP's picture
FrazP's picture
FrazP Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 10:29am

Far our Lindo - '78 - suspect no leggie either - hard work

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 at 9:06pm

Andy on the short wide mayhem quad fishy thing too.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 6:53am

Yeah, what was that fishy thing he was riding?

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 7:04am

I think a variation on a biolos round nose fish/RNF.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 7:19am

Back up board for Bakio.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 7:15am

Anyone surfed Mundaka in the last decade?

Crowds?

Got to admit, those Basque crowds do not sound inviting.

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 7:47am

Surfed it in the mid 90s, and it was already a shit show. Ruthless locals.

Stu2d2's picture
Stu2d2's picture
Stu2d2 Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 8:46am

What’s more of a shit show ruthless locals or none what so ever?

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 8:51am

Good question.

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 9:00am

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.

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Monday, 30 Sep 2024 at 7:44am

@ 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.

amb's picture
amb's picture
amb Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 10:25am

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.

Ash's picture
Ash's picture
Ash Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 2:32pm

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.

lindo's picture
lindo's picture
lindo Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 10:52am

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.

lindo's picture
lindo's picture
lindo Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 10:54am

Whoops, FrazP - apologies re spelling

FrazP's picture
FrazP's picture
FrazP Thursday, 26 Sep 2024 at 9:48am

Not needed bud. Gee I remember those. Wonder how they surfed that wave pre leggies

coxypk's picture
coxypk's picture
coxypk Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 1:47pm

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

NDC's picture
NDC's picture
NDC Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 5:14pm

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

AndyO72's picture
AndyO72's picture
AndyO72 Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 at 6:43pm

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.

Yendor's picture
Yendor's picture
Yendor Thursday, 26 Sep 2024 at 6:53am

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.

FrazP's picture
FrazP's picture
FrazP Thursday, 26 Sep 2024 at 9:52am

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.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Thursday, 26 Sep 2024 at 12:11pm

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.

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Monday, 30 Sep 2024 at 7:46am

I guess when every big surf co is now owned by new york stock traders.......
The fringe companies have now become important.

AlfredWallace's picture
AlfredWallace's picture
AlfredWallace Thursday, 26 Sep 2024 at 6:28pm

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

seaslug's picture
seaslug's picture
seaslug Thursday, 26 Sep 2024 at 9:02pm

Bruce Smith, ex Odyssey Surfboards from Perth was one of the first to make surfboards there arriving around 1982 if I recall correctly.

mixed@kom's picture
mixed@kom's picture
mixed@kom Saturday, 28 Sep 2024 at 7:52am

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...)

ron's picture
ron's picture
ron Sunday, 29 Sep 2024 at 11:57am

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.