SPOT OF THE WEEK

Here you will find all of the "SPOT OF THE WEEK" featured on SURFM8.COM....... We DO NOT own all of the photos in this archive, so if they are yours and you would like them removed, please email [email protected]

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SANTA CRUZ - California

With more breaks than you’ve got fingers and toes there’s pretty much everything on offer for all levels of surfer.

There’s beginner level waves at Capitola Beach to offshore 20ft+ monsters at the world renowned Mavericks.

Localism is rampant and numerous breaks are dominated by aggressive surfers who aren’t backwards in letting you know you’re in the wrong place !!

One thing Santa Cruz does have tho, is a bunch of “secret spots” to match the everyday crowded ones. If you’re up for a bit of a drive and a walk there are a bunch of breaks along either hwy out of town.

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Knights Beach - South Australia

If you ride a bodyboard, love sandy shorebreak barrels and big wedging ramps then this little area is for you !!

Located in the Victor Harbour/Parsons Beach area there are numeous spots that can produce some epic and destroying waves. It catches the last bit of south swell as it heads north up the coast towards Adelaide.

The crowds aren’t generally too bad as the sharky reputation tends to keep the numbers down. The area also has a strong indigenous connection so be sure you’re respectful – bad vibes and sharky waters might not mix !!

Definitely worth a stop as a last surf on your trip to Adelaide from the east, or as your first break if you’re trying to get out.

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Arica - North Chile

Located way up the top of Chile, amongst a bloody big desert is the bustling coastal town of Arica.

Surrounded by some of the most insane reef breaks in the region – lefts and rights grinding over some serious reef outcrops offered up enough punch for Ripcurl to hold a “Search’ event there back in 2007.

Described after the first day of competition as “a grunty, jacking horseshoe; an R-rated wave out of a Tarantino movie, more likely to introduce Grindhouse-style carnage than deliver soft-sand perfection” the wave known as the Chilean Pipeline is becoming ever more popular.

Check the pics and the vid and decide for yourselves !!

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Noosa Heads - Queensland, AUS

A destination for many if not all surfers on the eastern sea board of Oz !

Noosa has 9 premium surf spots all within a stones throw of each other. Starting at the north end of the beach and the aptly named North Shore and heading south you’ll find a river mouth, points and bays till you get to the south side of the headland and Sunshine Beach.

The place has waves for all sorts of boards and can hold a fair bit of size, there’s sandy beach breaks and rocky sand covered points that can offer up rides to a couple hundred meters if all the elements align.

Unlike the Gold Coast further south, Noosa still holds that small beach town feel even tho prices these days are getting a bit steep. Definitely worth a visit on your log, alai, short board, longboard, fish, retro egg, surfmat, simmons or even a macca’s tray !!

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Barbados

  Located in the Atlantic Ocean the island of Barbados if a fair swell magnet. When big ocean swells come rolling into the island regardless of the direction they arrive from, they’ll be greeted with a nicely formed offshore reef or long white sandy beaches that gives countless opportunities for a surfer !!

The East coast is the most popular and consistent, the North-west corner can hold it’s own against the likes of Hawaii on its day, the West coast has a point break to remember and sharp coral reefs, and the South coast offers up waves for any style of riding from hollow, dredging short board waves to cruisy longboarding or pitching shorys for the lidders !!

  The place sounds near on perfect no matter what you ride !!

SURFM8.COM

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Western Sahara - Morocco 

Somewhere remote, lots of coast with numerous points and bays, good weather and favourable winds nearly all year …. It’s getting more popular due to all these factors, but is still somewhere you can go for uncrowded waves and a relaxed break. From beginners to full blown professionals there’s a wave to suit everyone, long point breaks, sucky barrels and calm beach breaks – its all here. It’ll be sunny during the day, freezing at night, foods cheap, locals are friendly… it keeps sounding better and better. The only downfall (to some?) might be that you will be the only surfer to be seen for miles !!!

SURFM8.COM

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Winkipop - Victoria, Australia

Arguably the king of Victorias Surfcoast, Winkipop is an epic right hand reef break, known all over the world for its perfect long and fast walls! 

There are three sections to the wave, Uppers, Middles and Lowers. When its a good six foot and bigger all three sections link up creating a wave that stretches approximately 200m+. This is when Winki is at its finest, throwing some barrels you’ll remember forever!

Although Winki can hold a reasonably good shape in onshore conditions and any time of the year, it is at its optimum in the months between March and October.

Definitely an experienced surfer only break, and very crowded when its on.

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J Bay – South Africa

  Jeffrey’s Bay would have to be the prime surf spot in South Africa and one of the greatest right hand point breaks in the world.

The water might be cold all year round and there might be regular sightings of noahs in the line up, but the waves the place produces are more than worth it !!

The right hander starts at “Kitchen Windows” and then proceeds to make its way in along the point thru 7 other named sections. Not all sections link up, but often on its day, some will, giving the lucky ones a ride of a lifetime.

The ASP World Tour hold an annual event at the section known as “Supertubes” which by itself can crank out some 300m long freight trains !!

  With all the hype and story that surrounds the place and the waves it is supposedly still able to maintain that true surf town atmosphere with a relaxed and friendly vibe.

  Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

SURFM8.COM

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Galapagos Islands - Equador

A province of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are located more than 800km from its coast and are open to long-distance swell activity from both the north and south. 

The majority of Galapagos surfing is found on the island of San Cristobal. Though the Galapagos welcomes waves of between 2 - 12 feet year-round, the optimal “surf season” is from December until May. The coast welcomes waves of between 2 - 12 feet.

The Galapagos lies in an ideal geographical location to pick up the brunt of North Pacific ground swells which pound Hawaii and California but largely miss Mexico and Central America due to their south-facing orientation. While the North swells receive a lot of attention, the South Swells are actually bigger and more consistent most of the year.

El Canyon, located within a restricted military zone, has a great left hander for those that are given permission to enter the military base or who can boat in. The best spots you will find are around the Tongo Reef and Loberia, producing lefts and rights, but difficult access and a hole heap of Sea Lions make the paddle out difficult.

SURFM8.COM

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Kovalam Artificial Reef – India  

Good job or bad ?

The verdict seems to be out in the critics world as to the success of the artificial reef, created to help sustain the beach and bring fish life back to the area after the devastation of the tsunami in 2004. The waves however seem to have drastically improved ?!

A new left hander has been created that seems to work quite regularly and can provide quality waves, and there are plenty of fish now hanging around the deep side of it.

Check the pictures and watch the vid … then make your own mind up as to its success ? I can think of a few places that would greatly improve with a few decent sized slabs of concrete being dropped into the ocean to create a better shape in the sea floor.

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Scorpion Bay - San Juanico, Baja

A loooooooooooooong right hander !! A headland jutting out into the ocean with 4 separate points and stories of rides making it from 4th Point all the way thru 3rd, 2nd and past 1st into the sandy bay…. How true these are ? I couldn’t find any ‘real’ truths during my ‘net research ? Either way the place looks unbelievable ! In the middle of a dusty nowhere there lies an oasis for the natural footer that will hold near picture perfect waves from as little as a foot to over head !! Crowds don’t seem to exist and if you like fish it sounds like they’re pretty much on all the menus. So if you short board, long board or S/UP this place sounds kinda like heaven. SURFM8.COM

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Torquay Point - Victoria, Australia

If you’re on the west coast of Victoria then you definitely know it. If you’re not here’s a quick run down. Right hand point break that can hold a bit of size. Can deliver loooong walling rides. Can be crowded or empty regardless of the conditions. There can be a mix of long boards, short boards, skis, rescue boats, rescue boards and the odd bodyboard all vying for waves, sharing’s not uncommon but blatant drop-ins aren’t taken lightly. The wave is definitely good fun if you get its when it on but it can absolutely do your head in as well.

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Nova Scotia - North Atlantic Ocean

Located on the south east corner of Canada and facing right into the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, the coast gets its fair share of waves !! There’s numerous points and rocky beaches with plenty of peaks to choose from. 6/5mm suits, gloves, hoods and booties are the call for winter but over the warmer months the water can reach as high as 20ºc. Hurricanes and tropical storms well offshore produce the swell the coast needs to fire on all cylinders but there are waves all year round for the keen.So if you’re after a chilling uncrowded session this could be the place you’re after !! 

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The Box - Western Australia

West coast of Australia’s answer to the famed Shark Island over on the east. THE BOX … Aptly named for the shape it throws barrels over the flat reef it breaks on. Gets waves all year round, spits thick lips into the air and will happily hold any novice to the reef at any chance. Its not a hidden spot and can get crowds – but not out of control, used to be a famed bodyboarding wave and still holds an international rated event annually, but is now frequented just as much by shortboarders. World Class !!

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Vitnam

Monsoon swells, warm water and unexploded bombs…. Rubbish in the water and unexploded bombs…. Beach breaks and shories.… Cheap food and accommodation… Unexplored stretches of sand and unexploded bombs … If you’re keen and get it at the right time of year you can catch some sweet beachies with no crowds to be seen. If you’re a bit of an explorer and happy to negotiate in badly broken English, take a few chances and see what happens the worst you could stumble upon is an … unexploded bomb. There are no real dangerous animals, the foods usually pretty safe, locals are usually friendly. What more could you want for a true surfari !!

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Cape Hatteras - North Carolina

With it’s huge beaches and laid back fishing towns, Cape Hatteras is considered as one of the most fun and relaxing surf destinations along the East Coast of USA. Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the farthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the Atlantic coast of North America. Its a beach break that can produce both left and rights, from ankle height to triple overhead. The best time of the year to see this wave cranking is during winter. The water will be absolutely freezing but you will experience some of the best barrels that you could ever imagine. During hurricane season, Cape Hatteras experiences some of the biggest wind chops the East Coast ever sees! With this towns cruisy laid back feel, it is not surprising that the most popular accommodation in the area is camping right on the beach. You can park and set up camp right in front of your favourite bank, anywhere along the stretch of beach. Wicked!!

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Portsea Back Beach - Victoria, Australia

From national ironman events to the disappearance of an Australian Prime Minister in 1967, Portsea back beach has it all. Rips and rocks, sand dunes and a national park. Popular in summer and pretty hard core in the winter, there can be some insane waves to be had when the elements are all aligned but it can also do one of the best washing machine impersonations going around.