Street: Wheels & Waves is back for its 12th edition

From June 21 to 25, Biarritz and its surroundings are getting ready to live to the rhythm of the roar of engines, surf contests and sequences of tricks...

The now legendary festival Wheels & Waves is back for its 12th edition! This year, some new events have been added to the historic events such as “The Race of the Lords” highlighting pre-1950 motorcycles or the “Milady Beach Swap Meet” where second-hand dealers and collectors will be able to exchange rare pieces. and unusual.

This festival, like no other, mixing motorcycles, surfing, skateboarding, cuisine and arts, will once again base its base at the Cité de l'Océan in Biarritz and will have as its playground the sublime landscapes of the French and Spanish Basque Country . From Milady beach to the San Sebastian Hippodrome, via Mount Jaizkibel, Wheels & Waves is a unique event which, for more than 10 years, has shown that it was not a utopia as flamboyant as 'short-lived !

On the contrary, Wheels and Waves has worked decisively for the rebirth of custom culture around the world, and today stands out as one of the major showcases of the movement. Carrier of a modern vision of a certain lifestyle freely mixing its favorite activities – motorcycling, surfing, skateboarding, artistic expression in its varied forms – the event continues from one edition to another to define its singular identity , bringing together in its wake the most creative scene of its flagship disciplines. This year it will host Mike Wolfe, nicknamed the “Jack Kerouac of scrap metal” by the New York Times, the creator and star of the show American Pickers on the History Channel has made his life an eternal quest for forgotten objects and places…

The 2023 edition of the Wheels & Waves will also rely on the now classics:

HEADQUARTER VILLAGE: Facing the ocean, it is the soul of the festival, an ephemeral theater of a bustling show. Meetings take place, innovations are revealed, creativity explodes in a fantastic cultural mix, in a unique atmosphere, between music, sunset and engine noise...
ARTRIDE MASTERPIECE: Bold, poetic, offbeat, creation explodes in all its forms! Between major works, radical visions and forgotten know-how, we let ourselves be carried away by the universe
artists, we are surprised, we discover, we nourish our inspiration.
PUNK'S PEAK SPRINT RACE: At the top of Mount Jaizkibel, the mist has dissipated, a cordon of bitumen lacerates the landscape. The air is electric, the excitement begins to build. The gunshot is fired, the mechanical duels can begin...
EL ROLLO FLATTRACK: On the hot track transformed into an arena, the drivers sweep the earth in
a fury of noise and dust. Negotiating the curve, mastering the slide... The heroes of this epic spectacle have only one credo: go hard to the left!
VINTAGE RALLY ENDURO: Fun spirit and adventures guaranteed! Bumps, speed, curves for a few kilometers of challenge, the riders take off, get stuck and bite the dust of this vintage enduro where the only battle to fight is against yourself.
THE RACE OF THE LORDS SAND RACE: On their superb pre-50 motorcycles, the riders took up the challenge: launching their machines onto the sand to compete two by two over 350 meters of straight line out and back. Within a scenography consistent with the period, the runs follow one another for a series of perilous duels which ensures spectacle at all levels.
SURFING CLUB SURF CONTEST: At Wheels and Waves, classic longboarding is now practiced by mixed teams: it is the Duo Log Contest, an original format that has recently appeared in 2022. For its part, the Garage Shaper Exhibition maintains its formula by inviting shapers to measure themselves on the waves with the boards they have shaped for the occasion. And while the wetsuits are drying, head to the heart of the Village to observe the shapers' know-how at work.
SKATEBOARDING: On the ramp, in the heart of the Village, the best French and international skaters perform tricks in a super-heated atmosphere during the “Hit the deck” cash for tricks. And for the second time, the most promising kids are also there with the “Blue banana skate contest” for a session full of enthusiasm and freshness.
RIDE LOSE YOURSELF: On the road, on land, getting lost in side roads, what would Wheels and Waves be without the “rides” through a Basque Country with infinite landscapes and curves…
Countless escapes that can be experienced alone or with others, each returning to the Village, with their stories, images and memories in their heads...
MILADY BEACH SWAP MEET: A true believer in restored, diverted, recycled, customized objects, Wheels and Waves is organizing the Swap Meet for the second time and giving it more space. Around ten second-hand dealers offer for sale a selection of their most beautiful pieces to pass on their history and give them a new life. Missing part, rare object, unusual find, vintage clothing... the Swap Meet is the new must-have for lovers of custom culture, collectors, the curious but also enthusiasts of beautiful mechanics with the sale of exceptional motorcycles .
BACKYARD PROJECT CONTEST: 10 custom motorcycle preparers reveal their latest creation during the festival. A source of inspiration for the public and showcase of choice for participants, the Backyard Project is a competition open to all, imagined as a space for expression dedicated to creativity and know-how.
Under the military tents, the preparers reveal their worlds, marked by the diversity of styles and aesthetic influences... and will try to win the support of the jury.
MUSIC ON STAGE: Great contributors to the festive and unique spirit of Wheels and Waves, the concerts and DJ sets will once again be at the heart of the event, whether at the Village, at Artride during the races and contests... Artists confirmed and new talents, the groups and DJ's will follow one another on stage from Wednesday. Rock, electro, garage bands, a “WAW 100% home made” line-up will once again be there!