Cannes Is Awarded The City Of Surfing Label

The city of Cannes in the Alpes-Maritimes is better known for its film festival than for its water sports spots. And yet, surfing enthusiasts sometimes enjoy beautiful breakers on the spot of Long Beach. After cities such as Hossegor and Biarritz, the Côte d'Azur city is the first Mediterranean destination to receive the City of Surfing.

A recognition for the surf spots

The Surfing Town label has existed since 2015. It is awarded by the French Surfing Federation to municipalities that offer a welcome and an environment favorable to the practice of this sport.

This label of tourist quality, which also reflects the quality of learning of local clubs, is accompanied by a hierarchy in three levels, symbolized by stars.

This system with 1, 2 or 3 stars allows you to see at a glance the level of quality of local spots, thanks to a sign placed at the entrance of the municipality.

The city of Cannes awarded the label

Between the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, the French coastline is not short of surf spots. Surfing enthusiasts know of course the cities of the Landes and the Basque Coast, such as Hossegor, Guéthary and Biarritz...

But did you know that the craze for this discipline has also spread to the Mediterranean coastline and that the city of Cannes on the French Riviera has just been awarded the label of Surf City on June 23, 2022?

The French Surfing Federation has added the Cannes coastline to the list of the best spots on the French coastline to practice this sport. It grants this label to municipalities that value the practice of surfing but also that of associated sports, such as stand-up paddle which is very fashionable at the moment.

A first on the Mediterranean coast

This recognition is a great first since Cannes is the first city in the Mediterranean to be awarded the label City of Surfing.

The city's mayor, David Lisnard, was delighted with this unprecedented distinction on Twitter under the hashtag #CannesAvance.

News ???? : Cannes becomes the first and only French Mediterranean city to be labeled "City of Surfing" by @SurfingFrance! A label awarded to cities that value the practice of surfing and its associated disciplines like Stand Up Paddle. #CannesAvance ??????? pic.twitter.com/kpuVfg9bGl— David Lisnard (@davidlisnard) June 23, 2022

This labeling should further increase the city's tourist appeal. By adhering to this label, the municipalities also invest in the development of the coastline and respect for the coastal environment.

Water sports in full expansion

The city known for its Croisette and its film festival joins cities in the Basque country (like Biarritz, a 3-star surfing city) and Brittany in the club of surfing cities.

It is no coincidence that the city of Cannes has been granted this precious label. For several years already, the number of water sports practitioners in the town has increased, to the great delight of the Cannes nautical club and other specialized structures.

Even if this spot is less known than the cities of the Atlantic coast, one can see hundreds of surfers in the waters of Cannes in summer. And the labeling should attract even more surfers!