Wheels & Waves: Punk’s Peak 2025

Words and photography by Kati Dalek (Kayadaek Photography)

There are festivals—and then there’s Wheels and Waves. Now in its 14th edition, the legendary gathering in Biarritz has long outgrown its status as just an event. It’s become a movement, a mindset, a canvas for creativity where motorcycles meet surf, skate, music, art, and pure, unfiltered passion.

Rooted in the spirit of custom culture, Wheels and Waves is more than the sum of its parts. It’s where nostalgia blends with innovation, where vintage engines roar alongside modern visions, and where the smell of fuel is as important as the feel of salt in the air.

As tradition has it, the eve before the opening of the Wheels and Waves village in Biarritz begins with a relaxed yet spirited “Off Night” at Bistrot du Haou in the city center.

It’s an evening that brings together participants, builders, industry pros, exhibitors, and riders. a warm-up for the intense days ahead and a chance to reconnect with old friends over good wine and stories of the road.

Punk’s Peak – The Mountain Duel of Legends

The undisputed highlight of Wheels and Waves is, without question, Punk’s Peak. Held every year atop the stunning Mount Jaizkibel in Spain. Just across the Spanish border, for a quick 40-minute road trip through the Basque Country, the road to Mount Jaizkibel is as scenic as it is legendary.

Once at the summit, take a seat in the grass by the track, wait for the first gunshot and the start of the duels.

Set against a backdrop of mountains and sea, different categories of custom machines face off in thrilling duels where both rider and bike shine equally. With over 70 participants spread across four categories—vintage to modern—riders competed in raw, head-to-head duels on the 400 meter track. The start—neutral gear, one hand on the helmet—is a classic gesture that calls for pure coordination and focus.

A joyful spectacle of sprints and friendly rivalries, made all the more refreshing by a few welcome rain showers cooling off the early summer heat.

The atmosphere was electric, and the standout machines? The Royal Enfield Sureshot, fresh off its win at the 2024 Hot Rod Custom Show in Yokohama.

I can still hear the crowd shouting a loud “Wooohoooo!” as Dimitri Coste and the badass SMCO guys battled it out on their LiveWire bikes.

The perfect wheelie came from Jake Edey on his wild Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Supermoto—crossing the finish line one-handed.

This is Sticky’s Speed Shop’s latest build, with a livery designed by mastermind Ryan Roadkill that takes us straight back to the 80s/ 90s. The moment he dropped a gear and hoisted a beautifully controlled, one-handed wheelie over the finish line at Wheels & Waves’ Punks Peak hill climb, is a memory that will live long in the mind of Sticky’s Speed Shop founder, Matt Coulter.

And Jake? “If it looks like you’re gonna cross the line in 2nd, put on a show!” Hell yeah!

But this is just the beginning. Down at Milady Beach, the Log Surf Contest brings elegance and flow to the shoreline, where mixed duos glide over waves in a format unique to the festival. For the first time, Wheels and Waves invites Duo Log participants and other riders to surf the wave with their favorite board, regardless of style, during a free session at sunset.

At this time I enjoyed a yummy plate of Chipirons at the old Biarritz Harbour. Sorry no pictures of the tanned, good looking surfer. 😉

At the Village, the Skatepark of Biarritz becomes a battleground of creativity. “The Blue Banana Contest” for skaters under 15 and “Cash for Tricks” sessions bring raw energy and adrenaline to the ramps. There’s even a creative twist—Bruno Granel’s “Tuft Your Rug” workshop combines skate graphics with the tactile art of rug tufting.

The Motordrome returned bigger and better—gravity-defying wall rides on vintage machines, including a 1930s Indian. Riders performed in sync, one, two, even three bikes at once, led by the legendary Dany Varanne, whose performances remain unforgettable.

In front of the Harley-Davidson booth, BMX Flatland icon Alex Jumelin wowed the crowd with acrobatic precision—his moves echoing the rhythm of Klipsch-powered beats.

The soundtrack? Non-stop. From early-morning DJ sets to late-night rock shows, the village never sleeps. This year featured Madam, an all-female rock band from Toulouse, DJ Falcon, electro veteran of the French Touch, Tea Eater from NYC, and the wild, genre-bending energy of Naïve New B.

Wheels and Waves Village was a treasure trove of two-wheeled history. From breathtaking Triumphs and Harley-Davidsons to a few rare BMW Earles-forked beauties, the classics were out in force.

But it was Royal Enfield that truly stood out—remaining loyal to the spirit of Scramblers and Café Racers long after most brands moved on. That consistency has paid off.