5 Epic Winter Trips
Mr. Tuna
- December 17 2008
- 7,583 views
- 9 comments
A winter surf sojourn is a cathartic experience. It serves as tropical therapy from the relentless cold and dwindled daylight, a chance to charge rare pumping swells, or simply an exhilarating change of scenery. There are many reasons to pencil one onto your calendar. The challenge isn’t so much finding a motivation why but deciding where. That’s why we dove into our TransWorld SURF research lab and did the analysis for you. Here are five of our go-to destinations, diverse in culture and climate, but equally enticing for the winter wanderer. –Mike Fish
BARBADOS
In the summer the Caribbean, although idyllic and exotic, looks like a giant lake. But in the winter, it’s a surfer’s paradise with consistent swell and endless nooks and crannies. Where to start? Barbados, which some claim holds the Atlantic’s most consistent surf. This isle in the Lesser Antilles is home to a variety of breaks and is open to swell on all sides. However, its eastern shore receives the majority of attention because of Soupbowl, an epic right-hand reef break that’s almost always rideable and sometimes world class. Nearby are a number of other fun spots, and a short drive will unveil even more. Conditions range daily (and hourly) from onshore and messy or glassy and playful to offshore and tubing. Locals are always out at the ’Bowl, as are droves of visitors, and the takeoff spot is narrow. But if you visit for two weeks, stay on top of it and show some respect, odds are you’ll return home sunburned, surfed out, and smiling for months afterward.
WHAT TO KNOW
Water Temp: 81 degrees.
Consistency: Plenty, the wind is the real wildcard.
Crowds: Claustrophobic on the best days at Soupbowl, moderate during normal days—other spots are mellower but not as good.
Local Scene: Irie Bajan culture and a true glimpse into the Caribbean, as well as plenty of rum at beachfront watering holes.
Watch Out For: Sea urchins and theft.
Links: www.surfbarbados.com; www.surf-barbados.com; http://barbadossurf.typepad.com/zeds_surfing_adventures
8 Comments For This Post
1 Trackbacks For This Post
-
Winter Surfing Destinations - Both Hot and Cold! | WINTER-TRAVEL.org Says:
March 18th, 2009 at 3:13 pm[...] 5 Epic Winter Surf Trips - Transworld Surfer [...]
»
December 18th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Maui’s inclusion on this list is questionable. Don’t forget the number one thing about this island: it’s fu%$in windy! We may get solid/great swell frequently but our North shore is blown out (as in victory at sea, water blinding you, chop in every direction) maybe 80% of the entire winter. You basically have a small window of time in the morning and evening that you can surf the North shore. You better believe that all the high school gremmies and 9-5ers are caffeinated, irritated, and looking for any excuse to drop in on anyone at these times.
The Upper West side of the island (think Kaanapali Point to past Honolua Bay) has favorable offshore winds 80% plus of the time. However, these spots need huge WNW or NW, or solid N, NNE to even be surfable. Couple these environmental factors with the fact that most everyone who grew up here or moved here is in to surfing and other watersports. When it’s windy people kitesurf or paddle canoe and when it gets good the whole island is out at the popular spots.
Unlike Oahu’s seven mile miracle there are approximately three spots that get 95% of the traffic on Maui’s North shore. Although, the Upper West Side has much more spot diversity.
If you got the coin to come here I’m sure you could do a little more research and find much less crowded conditions elsewhere. Kauai, in particular has a lot more spots and is not shadowed for Winter swells like Maui. Maui does, however, offer a lot to do other than surfing, but Hawaii in general is one of the most expensive places in the U.S. Coming here would be worth it if you have a family, picky GF, or are in to kiting, windsurfing or paddling canoe.
This is not a very consistent island to surf great waves. In a whole winter I may get 2 or 3 magical sessions of awesome waves with a minimal crowd. To me a better call would be Indo, Philipines, Fiji, or the Galapagos for Northern Hemi Winter.
December 18th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Thanks for info Maui Local. The main reason we included Maui is that a lot of times in January or February, the North Shore of Oahu (and Kauai for that matter) is huge and out of the average surfer’s league. Pray for Kona winds when visiting Maui!
December 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Nova Scotia’s toooo cold for me. Morocco or Barbados is the call.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Canadian surfing is pumping right now. Ridiculously cold but some unreal waves go down. East and West coast.
December 19th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
No Come Kauai
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:18 am
Barbados rocks! The locals are as friendly as you’ll find anywhere and are very happy to share their knowledge of the waves, tides, winds, and secret spots.
There is an awesome peeling right on the north west part of the island (but beware, the reef is as shallow as they come).
Also, if you happen to go into the main surf shop on the west side of the island, don’t mention that you are a Kelly Slater fan. The owner hates him and will btich and moan about how the Irons bros are ten times better, and that Kelly isn’t even a top 10 surfer, etc. He’s kind of a nutty dude, but he is also stoked on surfing and was happy to bring my buddy and I along with him to one of his secret spots.
All in all, Barbados is an amazing island and one of the best in the Carib!
(If you’ve got the coin though, head to St. Barths…gnarly reef, but perfect waves.)
June 16th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
i am reaching out to all surfers out ther some help looking for a friend that surf barbados secret spots this name is stuart newman he surf maui bigwaves realtor my name is hadley forde birth barbados stroud bay crabhill st lucy help me i would cook you lots of seafood diners and up top of that the secret of all secrets spots hadley forde@hotmail.com
October 10th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
HEY HADLEY Its Stuart now in San Diego since livin Kauai..been too long … write me buddy snewman123@gmail.com Still surfing and traveling…time for some flying fish sandwiches and some offshore turquoise barrels ! Yaa mon