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Which Five Beaches Offer The Best Surfing Experience

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The sport of surfing had its beginnings in the South Pacific and early explorers documented the fishermen using the waves to help them return to shore with the day’s catch. Soon surfing, for fun, spread to Hawaii and was reserved for royalty. Today, surfing is an international sport with competitions held around the globe and surfers continually searching for that perfect wave.

Much of the lore that surrounds surfing has originated in Hawaii and Waikiki beach is at the very root. Waikiki hosts clear water, unlimited sunshine and awesome breaks. Papara beach in Tahiti offers big waves within a short paddle from shore. A boat ride will put wave riders into some of the monsters the place is well known for.

Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa is a surfer’s paradise with six breakpoints creating near perfect waves. Jeffrey’s Bay is home to the Billabong Surfing Festival.

Lanzarote in the Canary Islands is Europe’s top surfing spot with consistent warm water and great waves. The biggest waves are from November until February.

Huntington Beach is the birthplace of American surfing and is known as Surf City, USA. It has what might be called the perfect break, caught right off the Huntington pier.

Five Must Surf Places In California

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Though surfing was invented in Polynesia, California has become one of the must places to surf. Five of the best must surf places follow.

Manresa State Beach in Santa Cruz County is an excellent surfing spot just a few miles south of Santa Cruz, though the weather, like the waves, is a bit fickle. Malibu, in Los Angeles County, is home to Surfrider Beach. The First Point, north of the famous Malibu Pier, has very fine waves for long boards. Surfrider Beach is open from sunrise to sunset.

The gorgeous Manhattan Beach and the nearby El Porto Beach are also known for excellent surfing. Manhattan Beach, among other things, is famous because the Beach Boys used to surf there, and mentioned the beach in their song “Surfin’ USA.” Though it can also be crowded during the peak season, the sun and waves make it a fantastic place to visit. El Porto Beach is famous for a nearby, underwater canyon that helps creates amazing, high waves.

Huntington Beach/Surf City, California, has also been immortalized in songs by the Beach Boys, and is considered not only one of the best places to surf in California, but one of the best places to surf on the planet. More, the whole family can surf here. Huntington Beach is also host to surfing events like the Hello Kitty Boardfest, and the 2011 U.S. Open of Surfing.

Why Surfing Is Better Near The Storms

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Anybody that knows anything about surfing or better is a surfer, knows that the best surfing happens when there are big waves. There are surfers all around the world and they each have their own nuances as far as wave height goes but any surfer will tell you that the best surfing is where the biggest waves are.

This leads to the question of why surfing is better near the storms. All you have to do is go to Hawaii and Australia. Both of these areas are known internationally for where huge rain storms frequent and when they come to their shores, all of the big time surfers come out in droves so they can make sure that they can ply the biggest waves.The whole story can be found at http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/darrenleech/1/1300050045/tpod.html The same came be said for the Atlantic Coast ie. Hurricane Alley. When the huge hurricanes come through, they generate huge waves which brings out the biggest and best surfers.

Surfing is better near storms because a storm front has the ability to churn up water which in turn brings massive waves to the shores and the coasts. This is the reason that coastal regions are so much in demand for surfers. They know when a storm comes through, there is certain to be the massive waves.

Best Places to Surf in the US

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Surfers across the US are constantly planning extravagant trips to catch the best waves, but did you know some of the best surf spots are right here in the good ol’ US of A? Here we take a look at some of the best destinations for surfing in the US – all you’ll have to do is pack a bag and set your security systems!
Hawaii: Okay, this one’s not exactly close for most people but Hawaii is still considered domestic travel. A perennial favorite for beginners and professionals alike, Hawaii’s waves often crest 20′. Flights and hotel deals can be found year round, so it may be time to consider a Hawaiian vacation.
La Jolla: California is no stranger to surfers, and La Jolla beaches have some of the California Coast’s best waves. Hit the beach early to avoid the crowds and invest in a wet suit – any time but summer can still be frigid, even in California.
Charleston, SC: Most people don’t think of the south when they think of surfing, but some of the East Coast’s best waves are right outside Charleston. Consistency and ease are some of the reasons surfers love shredding it here so if you live nearby, it may be time you learned!

Must Surf Locations That Can Be Found In Australia

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Australia, being the world’s largest island, has no shortage of water and the continent’s coast hosts a variety of water sports that are unequaled anywhere on the planet. There is exceptional scuba diving, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing for marine monsters, waterskiing, sailing and above all, Australia can be considered the surfing capital of the world.

The Gold Coast of Queensland may be a paradise for surfers with 40 miles of white sand beaches offering reef and point breaks suitable for both novice and experienced riders alike. The surf here is consistent with nice daily breaks, but in times of cyclones and fierce east winds, the swell can grow to awesome proportions.

New South Wales has some of the most consistent waves in the country and it is, no doubt, why New South Wales has produced so many of Australia’s world champion surfers. The surf in NSW is best in the summer and early fall, but the entire coast has good surf year around and there are a multitude of beach, point and reef breaks.

Both Queensland and New South Wales is very surfer oriented and hosts many surfing schools and package surfing tours taking in a variety of spots and conditions.

Five Locations That Every Surfer Must See

admin — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Whether you are just beginning or have been surfing for years these are the 5 spots you must see or surf. As with all sports, they change with time, but these locations have remained the favorites for many surfers throughout the years.

Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa is on top of many surfers list. The best time to surf here is between June and August. Super Tubes, Boneyard, Magna Tubes, and Albatross are some of the hot spots here.

North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii is home to the Banzai pipeline known to the world of surfing. This is a must see along with Ehukai Beach Park and Sunset Beach.

Mentawai Island, Indonesia has some of the most consistent waves all year long. The best surf time is from March through November.

Gold Coast, Australia graces the list with spectacular sites including The Spit, South Stradbroke Island, and Main Beach. The waters here are warm all year long providing a getaway during winter months elsewhere.

Cloudbreak, Tavarua, Fiji is pricy but worth every penny. The only way to access this amazing wave is to check into Tavarua Surf Resort and take a boat ride 1 mile offshore.

If you decide to travel to any of these spectacular locations you will not be disappointed. The surfing is prime and the memories will last a lifetime.

Alaska Surfing? Yes, Indeed

www.mysurftravel.com — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Alaska Surfing? Yes, IndeedWe bet that few people would ever consider sleepy little Homer, Alaska as a surfing destination, but it seems it’s about to make its mark in a profound way thanks to Homer resident Scott Dickerson and a few of his buddies who have been surfing the area to the point of excitement that they plan a documentary titled “Alaska Sessions” slated to be released next year.In an article written by Maddie Fuller of the Homer Tribune she writes that Homer is “becoming one of Alaska’s premier surfing areas, a great place to start a surfing business.” Scott Dickerson goes on to point out that “Homer is becoming a ‘beach town.’ People from all over are coming to surf, stand up paddle-board, and kayak” even though “Alaska is still the last frontier for surfing and it will stay that way for awhile.”If you want to get into Dickerson’s thinking before the documentary is released you might check out his Surf Alaska blog where he writes of his dream of “surfing a pristine ocean surrounded by mountains of wilderness” where over 34,000 miles of Alaskan coastline can be explored and discovered.And in case you were wondering about the commitment level of Dickerson and his pals Mike McCune, Don “Iceman” McNamara,his wife Stephanie, and Donna Rae Faulkner, thinking this might just be an attempt to garner a quick claim to fame, the Homer Tribune article reported that a “whopping seven hours on December 21^st” was dedicated in pursuit of the perfect wave.Dickerson’s father Fred points out that “a lot of surf films are just focused on the surfing, but theirs is focused on the people too. We want to really show Alaskans engaging with their environment and the unique characters that make up the people here.”We call that a holistic approach to surfers and their passions.

The basics of surfing terminology

www.mysurftravel.com — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:49:15 +0000

If you’re just starting out in the surfing world, interacting with other surfers will introduce you to a variety of unknown terms. Not to say you don’t know your stuff, but when long-time surfers start using words like “duck dive” and “goofy foot,” it’s understandable to be a little confused. Before you head out on your next surf trip, read over a few of these basic terms.Air/AerialWhen you are able to briefly ride the board in the air above the wave, and then, successfully land and ride the wave afterBottom TurnWhen you make that first turn at the foot of the waveCaught InsideWhen you can’t paddle further than the breaking surf, and thus, are unable to reach the safe part of the ocean and find a wave, you are caught inside.Close-outWhenever a wave breaks on top of you or in front of you (when that wave hits every position along the face at one time).Duck Dive When you push your board nose first underwater, as well as diving under rather than riding on top of a wave, you are duck diving.Goofy FootWhen your left foot is on the back of the boardWipe OutWhen you fall off your board when a riding a wave, you have wiped out.

World’s Best Surfing

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:42:13 +0000

Every surfer dreams of traveling the globe, hitting up the best beaches in the world and taking on the ultimate crests. Whether you just want to day dream about blue water and ten-foot swells or are actually planning a surfing vacation, take a look at our pick of the world’s best surfing.

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa: J-Bay is the host of the annual Billabong Pro ASP World Tour event and provides some of the most consistent surfing conditions in the world. This beach is perhaps best known for its right hand point break and incredible supertubes. The tourism in this area has fed off and grown from the local surfing, making it a lively vacation destination.
Gold Coast, Australia: Located in Queensland, this surfing paradise covers 35 miles of coast with numerous different beaches. Year round warm weather has surfers flocking to these impressive swells at beaches such as The Spit, Coolangatta, and Snapper Rocks.
North Shore, Hawaii: The entire state of Hawaii has a reputation amongst surfers as prime wave territory. However, when it comes to the best of the best, North Shore stands alone. Each year a number of competitions attract professionals of the sport as they take on some of the biggest waves in the world. The most impressive waves can be found during the winter months with swells up to 20 feet.
Bali, Indonesia: Like most of the surfing in the southern hemisphere, the best surfing is usually done in July and August, though you will find quality waves any time of year. Arguably the best surfing beach on the island, Uluwatu sees left-breaking swells up to 12 feet.
Fuerteventura, Spain: Unlike most of the other well-known surfing favorites, the beaches in this area can accommodate a range of skill levels, not just the experienced surfer. Many visitors also appreciate the quieter atmosphere of Fuerteventura with its smaller crowds.

Safe Surfing

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:26:53 +0000

Hollywood and the media have successfully portrayed surfing as a high-risk, dangerous sport. Though there are dangers associated with this activity, it’s not significantly more hazardous than any other sport. The biggest difference is that you are, in a way, at the mercy of nature, over which you have no control. In order to ensure your own safety and the safety of other surfers around you, there are a few tips you should always remember.

Never Fly Solo: Even though being out on the open water all alone has quite the appeal, it can be extremely dangerous. If an accident were to happen, no one would know or be able to help you.
Don’t Give the Ocean the Upper Hand: You should always keep your back to the beach so that you can watch the approaching waves. Even if you think the coast is clear, a sleeper wave can emerge at any minute and knock you off your board.
Surviving a Riptide: These ocean phenomena can catch you completely off guard, and if not handled appropriately can be fatal. A riptide will create the sensation that you are being sucked out to sea. Though you’ll probably be panicking, don’t struggle against it. Relax and attempt to swim out of it. Don’t swim toward the shore but parallel to it. If the riptide is too strong to even do this, float on your back and allow the riptide to pull you out. Once you are past the riptide, swim horizontally away before returning to shore.
Protect Your Face: When you are knocked off your board, cover your face and ears with your arms and hands. Stay under water a few extra seconds to try and avoid coming up to the unpleasant surprise of being smacked in the face with your board.
Take Note of Your Surroundings: Underwater surprises such as coral or rocks can be extremely harmful when you aren’t expecting them. Get a feel for the beach and water before you hit the waves so you’ll know what areas to avoid.