At Straight Up, winter is much more than a break: it’s a key moment to keep learning, exploring, and evolving our vision of surfing. This winter, Paul and Camille chose to head to the other side of the world—to Indonesia and then Australia—two legendary destinations for any surf enthusiast.
Their first stop was Indonesia, a true surfing mecca. It’s a region they already know well from several previous trips, drawn back by the exceptional quality of the waves and the richness of the local surf culture. But this year, a new milestone awaited them: the Mentawais.
For many surfers, the Mentawai Islands represent the best the world has to offer. Perfect, consistent, and powerful waves breaking in warm, crystal-clear water. On the ground, the experience goes far beyond just surfing. It’s a total immersion, almost timeless, caught between wild nature and a simple life—very much a “Robinson Crusoe” spirit.
For several weeks, Paul and Camille lived by the rhythm of the ocean. Dawn sessions, long days spent observing conditions, sharing, and progressing. The famous Mentawai tubes—precise and demanding—allowed them to push their technical limits and refine their wave-reading skills. It was an intense experience, as physical as it was mental, and the perfect way to reconnect with the essentials after a busy summer season in Biarritz.
After two months in Indonesia, a change of scenery was in order: Australia. Once again, a destination they are familiar with, but one that remains a global benchmark for surfing.
In Australia, surf culture is deeply rooted, the spots are mythical, and the overall level of surfing is incredibly high. It is the ideal place to keep progressing, observing, and learning by facing the best in the world. Between challenging sessions and exchanges with experienced surfers and coaches, this stay was a true source of inspiration.
This dual journey—between the perfect waves of Indonesia and the high standards of Australian surfing—allowed them to enrich their surf culture, develop their technique, and sharpen their teaching approach.
Now back in the Basque Country, Paul and Camille have returned with renewed energy, a head full of ideas, and reinforced motivation. Their goal: to keep evolving Straight Up Surf School and to provide the best possible support for Titouan and every student learning to surf in Biarritz.
They are putting everything in place to create the best possible conditions in the water: structured surf lessons, modern pedagogy, and that constant desire to share much more than just a sport.
These travels are part of our DNA. They nourish our approach, enrich our surf lessons in Biarritz, and allow us to offer you an experience that is more comprehensive than ever, inspired by the most beautiful waves in the world.
