The Top Surfing Destinations

 

Surfing tend to capture the hearts of people all over the world either while practicing the sport or just enjoying it in from distance. The speed, the freedom, the love for the ocean, and finally the quest for the perfect wave make people travel around the globe testing different waves and seas. If you’re an avid surfer, a beginner, if you’ve decided to teach your kids, or you want to just watch the surfers, here are some of the best surfing destinations where you could do that.

Mahé, the Seychelles

The Seychelles is a beautiful archipelago located in the Indian Ocean that offers a unique and exciting surfing experience. The Seychelles has two main surf seasons: March to May and September to November. During these periods, the islands receive consistent swells that produce excellent surfing conditions.

The best surf spots are on the main island of Mahé where Anse Intendance beach is. The consistent waves and long rides make it perfect for experienced surfers.

The neighboring islands of Praslin and La Digue are also popular spots for surfers. As the Seychelles offer clear waters, tall waves and friendly surf conditions, the beaches can become quite crowded. The quality of the waves, however make it worth the trip.

If you plan to visit the island of Mahé or any of the other islands, do not forget to apply for the Seychelles Electronic Travel Authorization – eTA which is obligatory for every foreign visitor.

Hawaii, United States

Hawaii is among the world’s most famous surf breaks, with Pipeline, Waimea Bay, and Sunset Beach attracting people from all over the world. Numerous surf schools offer lessons for kids and grown-ups. The island of Oahu is particularly known for its excellent conditions and is a great place to start your surfing journey. With year-round warm weather, clear water, and large waves, Hawaii is the perfect destination for both beginners and experienced surfers.

Bali, Indonesia

Moving to south-west, our next preferred destination is Bali – a tropical paradise and an excellent destination for surfing enthusiasts. The island has some of the best waves in the world, and the warm waters and sunny weather make it an ideal destination for year-round surfing. Bali’s west coast is particularly famous for its challenging waves, while the south, where the sea is calmer, the conditions are more suitable for beginners.

Gold Coast, Australia

Australia’s city of Gold Coast gave birth to some of the best boards lovers. Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Heads, and Snapper Rocks are the beaches where hundreds come to learn how to ride the waves. The climate ensures 365 days of excellent surfing conditions.  Some of the international surfing competitions such as Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro, they both take place on the Gold Coast too.

Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz is a famous surf destination located in California, USA. The city is home to several world-class surf breaks, such as Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point. Santa Cruz is also known for its excellent weather and scenic coastline, making it an ideal destination for both surfing and sightseeing.

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

Jeffreys Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa. The town is home to the famous “Supertubes” wave, which is one of the world’s most famous and challenging waves. The town also hosts the annual J-Bay Open, which is part of the World Surf League Championship Tour. The sea is sometimes flat, and surfers have to pay extra attention for sharks. Despite this, Jeffreys Bay has 7 excellent reefs to surf on.

Nazaré, Portugal

One of Europe’s most famous surfing spots is Nazaré in Portugal. In contrast to the tiny, cozy town, the beach and the sea between October and March are wild and cold, with waves as big as 15 meters. Occasionally, the waves can even reach 24 meters. One of the reasons for the unique surfing conditions on this part of the Portuguese coast is the existence of 170 km long and 5000 meters deep underwater canyon that makes the water swell and turn.

As you can guess, this place is not for amateurs. The surfers coming to this particular beach are not that many compared to those going to Golden Coast or to Santa Cruz due to the potentially deadly waves. The number of those coming to watch on the other hand is really high.

Hossegor, France

Moving north to another of Europe’s surfing prides – Hossegor in France. A popular surf destination located in southern France on the Atlantic coast is known for its world-class beach breaks and consistent waves which can become up to six meters high.

Other types of surfing

This article so far described the best destinations for classic surfing. There are however other ways to surf the waves.

Here are the best spots for the alternatives of the classic Malibu longboard surfing:

• Windsurfing – the good thing about windsurfing is that it can be practiced not only in open sea but also in lakes like Lago di Garda in Italy, where the mountains surrounding this beautiful, 51 km long sweet lake create a windy microclimate perfect not only for windsurf lovers but also for kite surfers and yachtsmen.

• Kitesurfing – this type of surfing has become extremely popular during the last decades. Just like windsurfing, kitesurfing needs wind rather than waves. One of the popular surfing destinations to learn and practice it is the north beach of Burgas, Bulgaria. The strong winds and small frequent waves offer perfect microclimate around the 1700m-long beach.
• Wakeboarding – this is basically a board with boots for the feet. The surfer is towed by a motorboat which speed can attain 50 km/h. Usually, this type of surfing is practiced in wide lakes because of the calm waters like those in Lake Tahoe, the Havasu Lake, and in Donner Lake, all in the USA.
• Bodyboarding – this type of surfing is another extreme way to ride the waves. The board is way smaller than the classic Malibu longboard. It gets from the head to the chest and surfers never have to stay up right of it. They lay on the board and leave the waves to direct them to the shore by using their body weight to direct the surf. Created in 1971 by legendary Tom Morley a.k.a. “Y”, the avid surfer and inventor, this sport was then named Boogieboarding.

Surfing has always been related to freedom, friendship, and summer. Hardly everyone feels excited even only by watching it. It’s not just a sport, it’s a way of life combining nature and human strength in a beautiful, extreme way.