Queen Classic Surf Festival

Queen Festival presented by Vans will be held on 13, 14 and 15 September 2024, on the Côte des Basques beach in Biarritz. This year sees an extra evening added to the festivities to celebrate four years of the first free, inclusive and social surf festival, the organising of which remains a challenge but a source of great pride.

Queen Festival is largely made possible thanks to the support of brands including Vans, G-Shock by Casio, MUBI and Tinder, as well as the city of Biarritz. It’s also down to the growing commitment of volunteers, merchants, friends, families, Biarrots and the city’s technical services, who all contribute to making this festival a free, human-sized and local event.

The festival reflects four years of surfing, dancing, debating and drinking to change representation in surf culture. The Txapeldun team remains unchanged, its name meaning ‘champion’ in Basque. The same three Biarrots – Aimée, Margaux and Amaya – are back too, resisting the invader year after year, supported by ever more people.

So, what’s happening on our beloved beach – the aptly named Côte des Basques? While we unfortunately can’t surf much there anymore due to overcrowding in the water, there’s plenty more to look forward to…

Music

This year, we’re opening the festivities on Friday evening, with concerts from 7pm to 1am. Here’s a glimpse of the artists and performances that will light up our festival:

Friday: DJ set only – local DJ and pole-dance performance celebrating women

• T-Roy (aka Matt Debauche): Blending the worlds of skateboarding and music, T-Roy is a local DJ sensation who skilfully mixes US trap hip-hop and captivating rhythms.
• LA REINA: Of Portuguese origin, LA REINA is an artistic alter-ego disrupting binary systems through curatorial practices, DJing and cultural hacking.
• Salo: Franco-Spanish DJ Salo brings a Latin vibe mixed with hip-hop and house, with a passion for baile, reggaeton and rap.
• Dustin: An artist with shades of red, Dustin Muchuvitz develops her unique style, recently awarded at the Premiers Plans Festival and in Toronto.
• I Believe I Can Pole: Exceptional pole-dance and queer twerk performance by Jean Philippe, already acclaimed in previous editions.

Saturday: Live karaoke, poteo & Afrobeat

• Patxaranga: An itinerant musical animation group, Patxaranga blends rock, karaoke and poteo for a festive and energetic atmosphere.
• Marge: A Bordeaux DJ inspired by her stays in Brazil, Marge delivers electric and percussive sets that highlight the queer community.
• Anaïs B: A talented DJ known for her joyful and eclectic sets, Anaïs B performs at top festivals and collaborates with the fashion and luxury industry.

Sunday: When Basque culture meets queer culture

• A Basque band will perform at sunset on Sunday, creating a village festival atmosphere with a guaranteed rendition of ‘Free from Desire’.
• Euskoprincess (aka Minet): Born in Hernani, Euskoprincess creates her own star-system with energetic and free songs, taking the audience from Gipuzkoa to Hollywood.
• Divin0: A multi-genre project defending a perreo elevated by global club culture, offering an inclusive and free dancefloor.

Surf

The Côte des Basques beach will vibrate for two days, 14 and 15 September 2024, with longboard competitions featuring the world’s best surfers. Selected for their style and technique as well as for their attitudes and commitments, these athletes include iconic figures such as Sasha Jane Lowerson, the first transgender surfer. The festival highlights diverse profiles, including Lola Mignot, nicknamed ‘the Rosalia of Surf’, Elisa Aberlbide, our local from Côte des Basques, as well as Basque surfers Alaitz Cabada and Ana Morau. This year, the competition format innovates with a team event, bringing together surfers from Japan, Morocco, Norway, Mexico and the United States.

Representing all sizes and genders, they illustrate the diversity and inclusivity of this sport. To further promote inclusion, we have offered a Wild Card, including a plane ticket, to Rafael Nogalo, a queer surfer from the Philippines, to participate in the festival. A raffle has also raised €600 to support Gaza surfer Rawand, founder of the Gaza Surf Club. The Expression Session (free sessions outside the competition) will be organised by the Queer Surf Club and will be dedicated to promoting and including LGBTQ+ people in the sport of surfing.

Podcasts, associations and activism

Saturday, 14 September and Sunday, 15 September 2024 – Côtes des Basques, Biarritz, France.

Podcasts and performances: The festival will also offer an immersive experience with debates and podcasts recorded live, hosted by the Disco Queen show from DIA RADIO, with feet in the sand. These shows will tackle social issues, this year sponsored by the MUBI platform.

Iconic figures, medalled athletes, glorified champions: history has shown that athletes can speak out on social issues and become voices for new protests. What are the risks of public expression? From the Olympic ceremony to the local skatepark, the world of sports remains a highly influential space with a social impact yet to be fully realised. Do elite athletes have as much power as we imagine? Can they really change the world?

Speakers: Chloe Célerien (author), Lucie and Gaetan (Skate Her), Marie Patouillet (activist athlete), Anais Bohuon (sociologist), Rawand (Gaza Surf Club), Gabriella Angotti-Johns (documentary photographer/zine book: I Just Wanna Surf), Lucy Small (filmmaker and activist).

Performance: If Malo were to be described, it would be an XXL Basque beret and a grandmother’s checkered skirt. Malo la Fleur offers a unique performance combining slam, poetry, humour and dance, creating a rich and captivating artistic experience. Her versatile talent and communicative energy enchant and surprise audiences at every performance.

Associations and activism: The Queen Classic Surf Festival is enhanced by its associations village, showcasing local, feminist and ecological organisations.

Don’t miss this exceptional edition of the festival, celebrating artistic and cultural diversity in a festive and inclusive setting!