PHOTOS: KATI DALEK/kayadaek photography
PHOTOS: KATI DALEK/kayadaek photography
ow in its eighth year, Wheels & Waves is a festival held in the south of France every June in Biarritz, a town best known for its surf culture and great waves.
Over five days, revelers enjoy the Punk’s Peak Sprint Race, Deus Swank Rally, El Rollo Flat Track Race, surf contests, art shows, live music, movie screenings, and hundreds of custom and vintage motorcycles of every shape and size on display.
The focal point of the festival is at the Village Cité de L’Ocean, where a makeshift festival ground is built right by the ocean. Here, vendors sell some of the coolest motorcycle accessories and clothing I’ve ever seen and custom builders show off their bikes. Throughout the day at the village you can be entertained by crazy Frenchmen riding a wall of death (with no helmets or protective gear whatsoever), art installments, skate demos, and surf contests. Then enjoy happy hour at the many pop-up bars before the evening’s live music and movie screenings kick off.
The Punk’s Peak Sprint Race, Deus Swank Rally, and El Rollo Flat Track Race are all held off-site up and down the coast, with the Punk’s Peak event dipping into Spain in San-Sebastián.
Looking the part is very much the theme of Wheels & Waves, and everywhere you look there are stylish Europeans dressed to the nines in bespoke motorcycle gear.
There is nothing but good vibes throughout the whole festival and all of its events, and it’s truly a unique happening. If you ever plan on taking a trip to the south of France, I highly recommend going during Wheels & Waves.
(Main) The Punk’s Peak event is a run-what-you-brung sprint race just over the French border in the Spanish countryside. (Insets, clockwise from top) Hands on helmets for the start; some of the match-ups are quite interesting; Punk’s Peak competitor; surfercross; dressed to impress; French 30-second girl.
ow in its eighth year, Wheels & Waves is a festival held in the south of France every June in Biarritz, a town best known for its surf culture and great waves.
Over five days, revelers enjoy the Punk’s Peak Sprint Race, Deus Swank Rally, El Rollo Flat Track Race, surf contests, art shows, live music, movie screenings, and hundreds of custom and vintage motorcycles of every shape and size on display.
The focal point of the festival is at the Village Cité de L’Ocean, where a makeshift festival ground is built right by the ocean. Here, vendors sell some of the coolest motorcycle accessories and clothing I’ve ever seen and custom builders show off their bikes. Throughout the day at the village you can be entertained by crazy Frenchmen riding a wall of death (with no helmets or protective gear whatsoever), art installments, skate demos, and surf contests. Then enjoy happy hour at the many pop-up bars before the evening’s live music and movie screenings kick off.
The Punk’s Peak Sprint Race, Deus Swank Rally, and El Rollo Flat Track Race are all held off-site up and down the coast, with the Punk’s Peak event dipping into Spain in San-Sebastián.
Looking the part is very much the theme of Wheels & Waves, and everywhere you look there are stylish Europeans dressed to the nines in bespoke motorcycle gear.
There is nothing but good vibes throughout the whole festival and all of its events, and it’s truly a unique happening. If you ever plan on taking a trip to the south of France, I highly recommend going during Wheels & Waves.
(Main) The Punk’s Peak event is a run-what-you-brung sprint race just over the French border in the Spanish countryside. (Insets, from top to bottom) Hands on helmets for the start; some of the match-ups are quite interesting; Punk’s Peak competitor; surfercross; dressed to impress; French 30-second girl.
(Main) The Punk’s Peak event is a run-what-you-brung sprint race just over the French border in the Spanish countryside. (Insets, from top to bottom) Hands on helmets for the start; some of the match-ups are quite interesting; Punk’s Peak competitor; surfercross; dressed to impress; French 30-second girl.
(Main) The surf events take place right next to the main Wheels & Waves village. (Insets, clockwise from above) The wall of death; waiting for his heat; coolest mini bike ever?; space-age fairings on this custom bike; this old Indian motorcycle was in much better shape than the bike he actually rode the wall of death on; high-fives and good vibes.
(Main – Bottom) The surf events take place right next to the main Wheels & Waves village. (Insets, from top to bottom) The wall of death; waiting for his heat; coolest mini bike ever?; space-age fairings on this custom bike; this old Indian motorcycle was in much better shape than the bike he actually rode the wall of death on; high-fives and good vibes.
(Top Image) Although the El Rollo Flat Track Race and Deus Swank Rally are technically competitions, they’re all about having fun and looking good while doing it. (Main) How many skate ramps have a French chateau in the background? (Insets, clockwise from above) Posing for the camera; one of the many art installments; live painting; music is a big part of Wheels & Waves, with performers every night. 
(Top Image) Although the El Rollo Flat Track Race and Deus Swank Rally are technically competitions, they’re all about having fun and looking good while doing it. (Main – Very Bottom) How many skate ramps have a French chateau in the background? (Insets, below) Posing for the camera; one of the many art installments; live painting; music is a big part of Wheels & Waves, with performers every night.
