Wheels & Waves 2024: Artride and More!

Part 1 from Wheels & Waves 2024…

Last month was the 13th annual edition of the Wheels & Waves Festival, which takes place in the gorgeous French seaside town of Biarritz and the surrounding countryside. This year we were thrilled to have one of our very favorite moto-friends and photographers, Kati Dalek (@kayadaek_photography), on hand all week to shoot the action and give us the full report on the various races, exhibitions, and showcases that comprised Wheels & Waves 2024.

In fact, Kati and Gille Leenknegt (@gilleee), organizer of the Vintage Enduro Rally, gave us so much great photography and reporting that we’ve decided to dedicate a feature to each of the various Wheels & Waves races, hubs, and exhibitions: Punk’s Peak, The Village, Artride, The Race of Lords, the Vintage Enduro Rally, and El Rollo Flat Track races.

Today we’ll begin with a general overview of the festival and two of the main in-town attractions, The Village and Artride.

Overwhelming Energy: Wheels & Waves 2024…

By photographer and BikeBound correspondent, Kati Dalek (@kayadaek_photography)…

To the south, the green mountains of the Basque country; to the west, the blue ocean as far as the eye can see. Surrounded by a unique atmosphere of music, the sunset, and the sound of engines. A place where time seems to stand still, where longboards meet scramblers, skateboards pair up with 90s enduros…welcome to Wheels & Waves #13.

When in 2012 a couple of friends from Toulouse invited people to the first “Wheels and Waves”, they had no idea what they would unleash. Some motorcyclists met at the Biarritz lighthouse and celebrated in style. Unlike the usual motorcycle gatherings, it was not just bikers who came together, but a refreshing mix of creative free spirits on mostly old, wildly converted motorcycles.

By the following year, the festival had already established itself as a meeting place and hotspot for a completely new movement. More than 1000 followers of a previously unknown scene came together in 2013 for surfing and live music. There were 3,000 the following year and 10,000 in the summer of 2015…and the engine was on fire.

The undisputed appeal of the new, plenty of creativity, and a touch of freedom became the symbol of the festival. The new hotspot spread like wildfire around the globe and reached every backyard garage, no matter how small. Everyone who was there or who understood the concept felt part of a new global family. A cult was born.

Moto anarchy in all the squares and in front of all the bars! Hundreds of cheering people and thick burnout smoke everywhere! The masses overrun the city! The city of Biarritz threatened with all bans possible. Luckily they’ve always managed to come to an agreement so far.

Unfortunately it was the last time under the Biarritz lighthouse and a new Wheels & Waves was in the starting blocks. Bigger, faster, more international. But the new location was no less spectacular. Between the most beautiful skatepool with cinema, the Cité de l’Océan museum, and the Plage de la Milady, the famous old green army tents were set up.

The setup was amazing! Punk’s Peak race, El Rollo Flattrack, LOG Surf competition, Artride, live music, film screenings and workshops. Industry sponsors, big brands, and exhibitors are now part of the show. International stars from the motorbike, art and surf scene take part in the races and exhibitions. The wild child Wheels and Waves has grown up!

The W&W #13 week is on. We’d already arrived some days earlier and enjoyed the still sleepy city, beaches and boulangerie with plenty of pastries and coffee. There are hardly any more motorcycles than usual, but the local scene is already celebrating the spirit.

A small exhibition by the artist Brainshots at the Bistro du Haou turned into a roaring street party. The “Etxola Bibi” bar, with a breathtaking view of the Atlantic and the longboard surfers, is already filled with smiling and happy moto people.

In order not to overwhelm the city and its inhabitants, the city center is closed to traffic this year. Riding down to the old harbor on a motorcycle and enjoying fresh fish and good wine in the evening sun and parking in front of Bar Jean — that’s no longer possible. Contrary to expectations, this does not detract from the experience, because the light, the food, and the wine are still there…just park your bike and walk!

The Village

The holy ground of W&W is the Village. A huge playground for motorcycle enthusiasts. The over 100-year-old Wall of Death is waiting to start, live music, open air cinema at night, delicious food trucks, swap meet, backyard projects, and so much more to discover.

The festival has an increasing international influence. It attracts visitors, participants, and exhibitors from all over the world and has become an important meeting point for the global motorbike community.

What is striking every year is the strong trend consciousness. No matter if it is the custom style of the motorbikes or fashion. Even if you knew nothing about surfing or motorcycles or music or art. You walk out, you’re just like: l wanna go, l wanna go do something new! It’s very inspiring.

The stage at the top of the Village and the ocean-side stage welcome more than 25 bands and DJ sets during 5 days! This year’s line-up includes power pop with The Motorists (Canada), garage rock with Lavomatic (Paris), indie rock with rising Australian band Great Gable and DJ MAE, the king of Parisian nights and energetic note thanks to the electro-pop duo Lilly Wood and The Prick.

Next to the stage the trial rider Christophe Bruand, heats up the atmosphere with his breathtaking Dust show and the crowd is out of control.

In the green army tents you can marvel at the latest moto fashion brands. Royal Enfield, Indian, and Honda show off their custom treasures. There is something to discover and marvel at in every corner.

W&W has a reputation for being a hipster event and without a full beard and denim pants you’re nobody. Hell no. The hipsters have trimmed their beards and are showing the youngsters the good life. Old and young stroll through the avenue between the army tents and the atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back.

There is something for everyone and if it’s too busy on the grounds, just sit on the meadow and look at the sea and the two rocks.

The Artride

It’s time for the Artride! Daring, poetic, off-beat, creativity exploding in every shape and form! Between major works of art, radical visions and forgotten “savoir faire,” this is the place to be drawn into a world of artists, in which to be amazed, to discover and to feed one’s imagination.

For the opening, the Canadians’ Vox Rea were playing in front of the huge skatepark window. Inside, Artride uses the modules, walls, and floors of the skatepark, offering a panorama of what nurtures our imaginations: historic motorcycles, surfboards displayed as works of art, collections of iconic skateboards, photos of underground cultures…

All to be discovered between live painting performances, screen-printing workshops, cold drinks, and food-trucks until nightfall.

The Japanese builder “Cheetah” presents his “Meteor,” an incredible 1946 Harley Davidson WL, winner of the Wheels and Waves x Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show in 2023.

Chiseled down to the smallest detail, this work of art is also a real racing machine that will be on the starting line of Punk’s Peak and El Rollo.

In Conclusion…

Even in 2024, the 10th time I’ve joined this special event, Wheels and Waves hits me right in the heart with an overwhelming energy and leaves me breathless. For me, Biarritz is like a second home and somehow I know more people there now than on my own doorstep.

I’m already looking forward to our German-Spanish-French travel group getting together again and Sito from 5Special imitating a broken two stroke engine with all his might. Rapapapapam!