Taming a natural phenomenon

Foiling is more than just a sport; it is a way of life. And today we give you a glimpse into the French foiling life.

Picture this: the Bordeaux region, close to the river Garonne. World-renowned for its fine wine, delicious cheese, hills showered with castles and a river with excellent waves. Yes, you heard right, the South of France is not only famous for its fantastic food and picturesque landscapes but is also home to a natural phenomenon: Le Mascaret.

Foiling on a river

Mascaret is a must on any wave-riding bucket list: taking on the tidal bore is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for fans of surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing and now we have added foiling to the list.

Occurring in very special conditions, the right moment came in early September. During the early autumn days, the perfect conditions aligned and of course, our riders were not going to pass out on such an opportunity.

The marvelous thing about the Mascaret wave is its length and speed with which it travels, reaching up to 2m in height and speeds between 15 to 30 km/h. Unlike most of the ocean waves, you ride the Mascaret for more than 10 minutes if your legs can take it.

Foiling: a way of life

Led by the French actor Vincent Cassel, the crew consisted of the Takuma team riders Leo Paul Etienne and Chipri Courde and 4 extraordinary guys who were responsible for the trip's logistics, image and video: Vincent Kardasik, Simon Favier, Sacha Kouprianoff and Pierre Caley , who armed with their new Takuma Morning Sun prone boards and a camera set out to tame the natural phenomenon and capture the essence of the famous tidal wave.

Being out on a foil allowed them to take wave after wave from dawn till dusk. The guys spend 2 whole days out on the water charging hard and having the time of their lives. What a pleasure to see that a cast member of Ocean’s Twelve is such an exceptional foiler.

“The Morning Sun was the perfect choice for this endeavor. For me, it’s the ultimate prone surfing board even more if you pair it with the new Takuma Carbon Mast. This setup is super light and stiff, giving you full control and incredible maneuverability.” Leo Paul Etienne

A royal welcome for our foilers

What took the experience to a whole other level was the warm welcome they received at the Château De La Dauphine. A whole weekend the crew was able to explore the Château ‘s royal history and incredible cuisine.

A quick glimse into the history of the castle

Château de La Dauphine was built in 1750. Its name reflects its royal past, a souvenir of when the Dauphine (the wife of the Dauphin, the heir to the throne) came to stay at the property. Maria Josepha of Saxony was to be the mother of the last three kings of France, including Louis XVI.

Since the 18th century, Château de La Dauphine has shared a strong common history with Versailles that still resonates today.

A more conscious way of farming

Nestled on the slopes of Fronsac in a bend of the Dordogne River, the château’s vines form an amphitheater that soaks up the southern sunshine. Their wines are particularly appreciated for their fresh, vigorous tannins, and their silky, creamy texture.

Being organic certified, La Dauphine decided to take its environmentally friendly approach even further, adopting biodynamic methods. Their goal is to protect flora and wildlife while improving quality and production as well as reducing their impact.

We add this experience to a long list of amazing Takuma trips and are looking forward to sharing with you our next adventure.

To get more information on foiling don’t forget to read up on our latest articles.

Riders:@leo_etienne0 @chipricourde
Image: @vincentkardasik
Drone coordinator: @simonfavier
Editor: @sachakouprianoff
Production: @pierrecaley
Director: @vincentcassel