Our surf instructors in Hendaye
Our surf instructors in the Basque Country
Passionate about their craft, our surf instructors offer lessons for all ages, from beginners to advanced surfers. Their teaching methods ensure a smooth learning experience, whether in private lessons or group classes at the Lehena Surf School.
Our photography service in Hendaye will capture your best waves, leaving you with an unforgettable memory.
JULIEN CASTE
- Date of birth: March 17, 1983
- Degrees: State-Certified Surf Instructor, BTS (Nature Management and Conservation), and Special Education Teacher.
- Stance : Goofy
- Favorite tricks: Roller, Tube, and Reverse Backside
- Inspiration(s): Mark Occhilupo, Shane Dorian, Rob Machado
- Favorite waves: Alcyons (Basque Country), Uluwatu (Indonesia), Lennox Head (Australia), Supertubos (Portugal), and of course Bidart!!
- Surf trips: Australia, Indonesia, the Canary Islands, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, and the Philippines.
- Where and when did you start surfing? It was in Hendaye, during the winter of ’93, with the Bidarteko Surf Club. Talcum powder and a plastic bag to put on the wetsuit… Pure joy!
- Best session: It’s hard to say—there have been so many—but the best one was definitely here at home with my friends! Bidart, early one fall morning, with long lefts.
- Biggest scare: In southern Australia, in rough conditions, my leash broke and I got tossed around by a few waves before I managed to get out of the water.
- Best trip: Australia, because it was my first trip and I had so many unforgettable experiences and met so many unforgettable people. It was also during that trip that I decided to become a surf instructor.
- The biggest hassle on the trip: Typhoon Haiyan hitting while I was in the Philippines. It didn’t end up causing much damage on our island, but it sure gave us a scare!
- Why come surf in Lehena? Because it’s the best surf school ☺!
BATTITT CHAUDIÈRE
- Date of birth: July 21, 1987.
- Degrees: State Certificate in Surfing and Rugby; Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science (Education/Motor Skills and Health-Related Physical Activity).
- Stance : Goofy
- Favorite moves: Snap, Floater, and Tube.
- Inspiration(s): Owen Wright, Fred Patacchia, and Rob Machado.
- Favorite waves: Chicama (Peru), Santana (Nicaragua), Lakey Pipe (Indonesia), and Hendaye Beach!
- Surf Trips: Indonesia, Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru, the Canary Islands, Morocco, and the Caribbean.
- Where and when did you start surfing? : The summer I turned 7, at this very same surf school with the former owner, Jean-Lou Le Guine. I quickly joined the Hendaye Bidassoa Surf Club before becoming an instructor and then co-manager of the Lehena Surf School with Julien.
- Best Session: After 10 days of “flops” in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, we decided to take a chance on “Chacahua,” a long right-hand break on the edge of a nature reserve.
On the day we arrived, the waves weren’t even 50 cm high. By the very next day, the waves had tripled in size, and there were fewer than 10 of us surfing that endless right-hand break.
We ended up staying for 5 days, scoring some great rides, and “saved” our trip! - Biggest scare: It was in Lafitenia, in rough winter conditions. I must have been 12 or 13, and there were only three of us in the water. The waves must have been 2.50 meters high, and I came out in tears!
- Best trip: My first trip to Indonesia in 2007, where we caught all the best waves. Uluwatu, Padang Padang, and Bingin in Bali, as well as Lakey Peak and Lakey Pipe in Sumbawa. A month and a half of surfing, surfing, and more surfing!
- Biggest hassle on a trip: On my way to Nicaragua, I got stuck at the Madrid airport because of a passport issue. Since I wasn’t authorized to transit through the United States, I had to change my tickets, fly through Costa Rica, and—worst of all—wait three days in the Spanish capital!
- Why come surf at Lehena? Because the quality of our instruction is our hallmark!
Surf Instructors on the Basque Coast
Ione Lopez
- Date of birth: April 4, 2000.
- Degrees: Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science with a focus on Education and Motor Skills / Master’s degree in Management of Sports Initiatives and Projects, BPJEPS in Surfing
- Stance : Regular
- Favorite trick(s): Surf re-entry and bodyboard rollo
- Inspiration(s): Jack Robinson / Tatiana Weston-Webb
- Favorite wave(s): Les Landes.
- Surf Trips: The Canary Islands (Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria), Panama, Morocco, Portugal, Guadeloupe
- Where and when did you start surfing? : I started when I was 5 years old during a “baby surf” camp at the Hendaye Surf Club. Since then, I’ve never stopped, and I was able to train at the club until I was 18.
- Best session: My best session was in Nazaré at Praia do Norte. The waves were pretty big; I didn’t catch many of them, but that session was the best in terms of the adrenaline rush and the thrills I experienced, with some really good surfers out in the water.
- Biggest scare: My biggest scare was at La Guancha in Gran Canaria. The wave really doesn’t have much depth, and I didn’t really feel like going in the water, but my friends and my coach had encouraged me to go. A big set of waves came in right away, and I was really nervous. I didn’t catch many waves, actually, and I got out of the water quickly—a walk back over rocks covered in sea urchins that wasn’t exactly easy 😅
- Biggest hassle on a surf trip: (I haven’t been on many surf trips far from here, so I haven’t had too many hassles.)
- Why come surf at Lehena? : Lehena is located on the best beach on the Basque Coast for beginners. The facility is perfectly equipped with top-quality gear selected by Battitt and Julien. On top of that, the team is energetic, multilingual, and highly skilled, thanks to instructors who are also amazing surfers! There’s always a great atmosphere, thanks to Julien’s hilarious jokes!😉
ANANDA BAGALCIAGUE
- Date of birth: July 27, 1991.
- Degrees: BPJEPS in Water Sports (Surfing Track)
- Stance : Goofy
- Favorite tricks: Reentry and Nose Riding.
- Inspiration(s) : Taj Burrow & Melanie Bartels.
- Favorite wave(s): Stimpy’s (Philippines) and the waves of the Médoc.
- Surftrips : Maroc, Canaries, Açores, Portugal, Espagne et Philippines.
- Where and when did you start surfing? : In Hendaye, when I was 11, with the Bidassoa Surf Club. It took me a year to convince my mom to let me quit ballet, and… it was a revelation!
- Best session: It was at Cloud 9 (Philippines) early in the morning—tubes were on the menu that day in crystal-clear water, with the sun shining over the coconut trees: a dream come true!
- Best trip: Carcans, on a foam board—the waves were powerful that day. And that famous set that shifts! I struggled and ended up stranded on the sand, out of breath.
Antonin Patino
- Date of birth: October 8, 1995
- Degrees: BPJEPS in Water Sports (surfing track)
- Stance : Goofy
- Favorite trick(s): Carving and tubing
- Inspiration(s) : Mick Fanning
- Favorite wave(s): Uluwatu (Indonesia), Pavones (Costa Rica), and the left-hand break by the church in Hendaye.
- Surf Trips : Australie, Indonésie, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Maroc, Canaries, Portugal, Mexique, Panama, Costa Rica
- Where and when did you start surfing? : From a very young age, I spent my afternoons at Hendaye Beach with my parents. That’s where I first discovered board sports. When I was 8 years old, I joined the Hendaye Surf Club, where I really got into the sport. I haven’t stopped since. I spent my days in the water
- Best Session: During a surf trip to Lombok, Indonesia, it was a very rainy day, so we decided on a whim to go surf a spot that was only accessible by boat. After a 45-minute drive in the rain, we arrived at the spot to find perfect waves and no one else in the water. A right-hand wave all to ourselves.
- Biggest scare: That was also in Lombok, at a different spot. The waves were pretty big. A friend was determined to go in the water; I wasn’t so sure, but I finally decided to go with him. On my very first wave, I got tossed up and down… then hit a huge tub, which gave me quite a scare. I got out right away.
- Best trip: Driving along the coast of Mexico, going from spot to spot in search of the best waves
- The biggest hassle on my trip: I got bitten by a dog, which gave me quite a scare and required several trips to the hospital for various vaccinations. Especially since I was heading to Indonesia next—so I got to experience a variety of Asian hospitals.
- Why come surfing at Lehena? Because the conditions let everyone have fun—and, above all, because the team is simply the best.
BERTIERE AGUIRRE Unax
- Date of birth: October 21, 2003
- Degrees: BPJEPS Sports Instructor, Surfing Specialization
- Stance : Goofy
- Favorite trick(s) : Tube, Floater, Cut-Back
- Inspiration(s) : Andy Irons, Gabriel Medina, Mick Fanning.
- Favorite wave(s): Mundaka (Spain), Les Landes (France), Greenbush (Indonesia).
- Surftrips : Mentawais and Sumbawa in Indonesia, Canary Islands.
- Where and when did you start surfing? : I discovered surfing at a very young age—when I was 7—at the Hendaye Surf Club. I started by taking summer camps, which was my first taste of the sport and immediately won me over. Being in the ocean, the feeling of gliding across the waves, and the surfing atmosphere made me want to take it further. So very quickly, I decided to surf year-round. Over time, what started out as a discovery has turned into a true passion, one that I decided to pursue until it became my career. Today, I’m a surf instructor, and I’m committed to passing on this passion to others.
- Best Session: My favorite session is undoubtedly the one I had at Mundaka, a legendary spot located about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Hendaye. Renowned for its perfect tubes, Mundaka offered exceptional conditions that day, with waves reaching up to 2m50. I was in the water with Battitt, in an atmosphere that was both intense and magical. During that session, I was lucky enough to catch one of the most beautiful waves of my life—a moment etched forever in my memory as a surfer.
- Biggest scare: My biggest scare while surfing happened in Lafiténia when I must have been about 11 years old. That day, a wave crashed over my head and knocked me to the bottom. As I tried to surface, I realized my leash was caught on a rock. For a few seconds that felt like an eternity, I knew I had to stay calm. I was then forced to detach my leash so I could get back to the surface. It was a life-changing experience that taught me at a very young age the importance of self-control and safety in the ocean.
- Best trip: So far, my first real surfing trip will always be the one I took in 2025 to the Mentawai Islands with Battitt and Julien. It’s a dream destination for any surfer, renowned for offering some of the most perfect waves on the planet. I was lucky enough to go there when I was 21 and surf those legendary waves—an experience that’s still hard to fully grasp because it was so extraordinary. Looking back, I realize just how unique that opportunity was, and one thing is certain: I’ll be back.
Sonzogni Laurent
- Date of birth: June 18, 1968
- Degrees: BPJEPS in Water Sports (surfing track)
- Stance : Goofy
- Favorite trick(s) : Top turn and the five (longboard)
- Inspiration(s) : Mark Richards , Rob Machado, Duane De Soto
- Favorite wave(s): Macaroni (Indonesia), La Couronne (Morocco), Santa Teresa (Costa Rica), Le Caz (HomeSpot Hendaye)
- Surf Trips : Indonesia, Africa, Latin America, Africa, Europe
- Where and when did you start surfing? : I started surfing when I was 10 years old; I was following my brother and sister, who were both surfers at the time. I discovered a real passion for the sport and haven’t stopped since. I started with shortboarding, then moved on to longboarding (French Masters runner-up in 2010 and 2013), and later discovered stand-up paddleboarding and foiling. I served as president of the Hendaye Surf Club and was elected to the Aquitaine Surf League (Judging Committee); I was also a national judge for the French Surfing Federation, and I began teaching in 2002.
- Best session: Way too many!
- Biggest scare: That was also in Lombok, at a different spot. The waves were pretty big. A friend was determined to go in the water; I wasn’t so sure, but I finally decided to go with him. On my very first wave, I got tossed up and down… then hit a huge tub, which gave me quite a scare. I got out right away.
- Best trip: Driving along the coast of Mexico, going from spot to spot in search of the best waves
- Biggest scare: There are plenty of them, so it’s really important to check your gear and the spot before jumping in.
- Why come surfing in Lehena? : First of all, from the front desk staff to the instructors, you’ll find a friendly team that’s passionate about surfing and eager to share that passion with you. Their professionalism and enthusiasm will ensure you have a memorable time. Ideally located right across from the Caz spot (our home spot), all you have to do is get geared up, cross the street, and you’ll be standing in the water, ready to surf. See you soon for some sessions! 🤙
Our Surf Lessons & Equipment Rentals
