To deal with the democratization of outdoor sports, the Ministry of Sport is establishing controlled development as the basis for public action. The purpose is to promote professionalized supervision and bring the free practice of sport back within the embrace of an institutional framework. Once supervised, trained and made safe, outdoor sports enthusiasts would thus improve their skills in terms both of technique and environmental protection. They would preserve not only their own physical safety but also the environmental quality of natural areas used. However, in the context of devolution, the State confers on the local authority, the département, the operational implementation of the public action in favour of outdoor activities. Sports Law entrusts the local authority with the development of a local Spaces, Sites and Itineraries Plan (PDESI) related to the outdoors sports. This Plan is then introduced as a working tool of local governance and divisional planning. This article looks into the way the local authority of the Landes département appropriates the reference framework devised by the State. It sheds light on the fact that taking action for a controlled development is seized on for the benefit of a promotional campaign around outdoor sports, and more especially for surfing, considered as an element for territorial marketing, asa means of fostering territorial construction, and strengthening the area’s tourist attractiveness.