Three Best Surfing Beaches

Tamarindo, Costa Rica - Best Surfing Weather

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Jackson) — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 01:24:00 +0000

All it took was the popular surfing film, The Endless Summer 2, to feature Tamarindo's awesome waves and most perfect weather, and surfers and tourists alike were waiting standby to get here. Now Tamarindo is a Central American hotspot with world-class resorts and top shelf service. None of that took away from natures' exclusive surf destination.

It's a boomtown! Tamarindo has a mix of mostly small hotels with a variety of price ranges to the larger players slowly moving in. There doesn't appear to be much rhyme or reason, with some strip malls just totally out of place.

Breaks like Little Hawaii and Witches Rock are legends thanks to consistently huge waves and picture-perfect weather. There are waves for everyone here - longboarders and shortboarders - just ask the locals what are your best options.

Tamarindo is a long beach, but remember if your friends come to watch and swim, it can get a little rough. And, be careful where you swim - rocks are just offshore, barely below the surface. Of course, this is what makes it ideal for surfing! But if you're bodysurfing, take note - you could get hurt.

Swimming near the mouth of the estuary is a little dangerous at times because of the strong currents. Try to do your swimming down at the southern end, near Punta Langosta.

Easy to get to, Tamarindo, Costa Rica is a top tourist destination as well, with the winter months (October through March) being the peak weeks. Don't get discouraged. Here wave action is "totally awesome" from April through July.

The biggest waves you'll ride can get up to 9 feet. Tamarindo is a great place to use as home base as you explore many of the breaks to the north and south. There are several breaks in town including Rivermouth and Langosta, but the real attraction is that you're centrally located between world famous Playa Negra (south) and Witches Rock (north).

So logistically, Tamarindo offers the easiest place to explore the most surf in the shortest amount of time. And Tamarindo is big on nightlife.

Tamarindo is connected by paved road all the way from San Jose (4 1/2 hours) or by shuttle plane (no boards over 7 ft). If you come without a board, don't fret. Local surf shops will rent everything - even snorkeling equipment, boogie boards, sea kayaks, and surfboards. They have half-day and hourly rates for most of these items.

And if you're totally lost and want to learn - there are a couple of surf schools in Tamarindo. Tamarindo Surf School - 653.0923, or Witch's Rock Surf Camp - 653.1262.

We rate the surf destinations on best waves, ease of access, weather and enjoyment. Sure, there are more surf locations across the globe, but some are not easy to reach, or are always under the weather.

Hey! Surf's up in South Africa, and the No. 1 surfing destination... Next >>

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa - Surfers' Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Jackson) — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 00:13:00 +0000

If you're a surfer, you've heard about the curls at Jeffreys Bay, or "J-Bay" as it's know to anyone who has taken even the slightest interest in the sport. Mention Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, and watch their eyes light up with excitement as they know J-Bay offers some of the most consistent waves on the planet.

And South Africa knows surfing. Located some 600 Km (375 mi) west of Cape Town, in Eastern Cape Province, J-Bay is near some of South Africa's wildest coastline. Inland is some of Africa's most spectacular rainforest, complete with beautiful animals.

Not long ago this was a sleepy town, but now J-Bay sports round-the-clock development with low-rise apartments (you could live and surf here), beachside resorts, and dozens of cafes. Ask any local, though, and they'll tell you J-Bay is a surf town.

Relaxed and friendly, even the rich and famous want a piece of the action. Along the coast you will spot some of best mansions to grace a beach. The beauty continues all the way down to the break at Cape St. Francis, immortalized by the 1960's movie "Endless Summer".

To get to Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, fly or bus into Cape Town, then get another bus or hire a car or mini-bus. Remember, it's 600 Km.

And if you want to see the pros in action, come in July during the world famous Billabong Pro. It's held at "Supertubes" beach. The top pros have called Supertubes the most perfect and predictable wave in the world.

But the tournament was once delayed due to sharks in the area. Because of the warm water from the Indian Ocean, sharks are attracted here. But locals say the sharks main hang out is at Nahoon Reef, some 400km down the cost.

Waves can get pretty big - sometimes up to 3 meters (10 ft), however, Jeffreys Bay is known for being safe. But that combination together and you just must make a trip here during your lifetime. There are surf shops that plan trips and many die hard surfers go as part of a pilgrimage; join them - it's that good.

Best time to go in between the end of May and the end of August. This is perfect for surfers who surf the North Shore, Hawaii, or Tahiti, to get in some waves year-round. Many are making J-Bay a summer vacation destination because there is much to do around the Jeffreys Bay area.

The beaches with the best breaks are Boneyards, Kitchen Windows, Magnatubes, Phantoms, and the Albatross. Believe it or not, there are beaches that can provide you with a ride as long as three minutes. Keep your eye on that wave.

Now some say that KwaZulu, Natal's Durban - with its year-round warm weather and water beats Jeffrey's Bay - but don't tell that to a local.

Our thanks to local surfer Sven Herselman of East London for help with this article.

Head to Hawaii for the world's most amazing pipes...and a webcam dedicated to a king! - Next >>

North Shore, Oahu - Hawaii - Best Surf Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Jackson) — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 03:41:00 +0000

The wave are massive in the wintertime at this birthplace of surfing, the North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii. Frequently referred to as "wild water", this legendary beach is home to the World's Best Surf location on the planet.

Where did surfing come from? Lt. James King of the Capt. Cook expeditions, carried on Cooks work after he was killed in Hawaii. King, commander of the Discovery, wrote in 1779 that he noted natives riding waves by lying down or standing on long, hardwood boards. However, surfing was probably well ingrained into the Polynesian culture long before his arrival.

Called the "Sport of Kings", surfing was discouraged by missionaries arriving in Hawaii, since they believed it took up too much leisure time. How times have changed. Some of the best surfing schools on the planet are run by Christians.

Why the North Shore? It stretches for almost 20 miles - wide, sandy beaches - which between October and February, produce monstrous waves reaching heights of 20 to 30 feet. This can be dangerous for even the most experienced surfer. `Ehukai Beach (Banzai Pipeline), is the top location. Named "Pipeline" because of the massive tube that forms from the curling waves, `Ehukai is not for the inexperienced. During the winter, waves stay generally more than 10 feet and break over sharp coral no more than 24 inches from the surface.

But Banzai Pipeline is where surfing fokelore and legends abound. Only the best gather here and you can watch them for countless hours - till the sun sets.

Waimea Beach is another hot surf spot. It is also notorious for producing monstrous waves in the winter. The "big-wave" surfers flock here every winter hoping to catch "the big one". One surf event held each year is the Quicksilver Eddie Aikau Invitational. The only requirement for the contest is that the wave height must be 20 feet or higher.

The shore break at Waimea is one of the most dangerous in the world. Lifeguards have had to save many "onlookers" that got too close to the water's edge and were literally "sucked out" to the coral reef and crashing waves.

Curiously enough, you probably wouldn't recognize either beach in the summer as the water is what surfer call "flat". During that period, it's excellent for swimming, snorkeling and fishing.

Duke Kahanamoku is credited with popularizing surfing world-wide during the 1920's. He had just placed handsomely in the 1912 and 1920 Olympics as a swimmer, then toured with his famous 10 foot redwood plank all over the world drawing thousands to watch his performances on the waves.

Duke's contribution was recognized in 2002 with a commemorative postage stamp. The portrait of Kahanamoku in the stamp art, an oil painting by Michael J. Deas of New Orleans, La., is based on a 1918 photograph from the collection of the Bishop Museum. Behind Kahanamoku two surfers are depicted riding a wave at Waikiki Beach; Diamond Head is visible in the background.

One of my favorite webcams is pointing at the Duke's statue in Waikiki. You can see the shoreline in the background with the waves lapping up on the beach. It's a streaming cam run by the government, so it's always working and always fun to watch the tourist strolling by and taking their picture with the king.

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