Surfing made its debut as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held between July 23 and August 8, 2021 -a year later than expected due to the coronavirus pandemic. After four days, between July 25 and 28, surfing waves, the Brazilian Italo Ferreira and the American Carissa Moore became the first Olympic surfing champions in their respective modalities.
This has made the rise of this sport have skyrocketed even more. There are more than 12,000 million dollars that move the surf industry worldwide every year and 120 million the number of fans worldwide. In Spain, and despite the fact that surfing has never been on the crest of the wave, the number of federated surfers already exceeds 30,000.
In this sport, which continues to maintain its relaxed and adventurous spirit, surfers not only pursue the best waves, but also destinations with good weather and gastronomy, adequate infrastructures for lodging or camping, natural beauty, and various marine activities. for when you can’t surf. In any case, whether you are looking for beautiful beaches, challenging waves or memorable getaways, we offer you 10 destinations out of the hundreds that exist along the more than 600,000 kilometers of coastline that our mother earth has.
1. Somo and Loredo beaches, Cantabria
Despite the fact that there are very good beaches in Spain for surfing, such as Pantán, in Ferrol, El Golfo in Lanzarote, Tarifa in Cádiz or Mundaka in the Basque Country, we have chosen the beaches of Somo and Loredo, in Cantabria , for being the cradle of surfing in Spain. Somo has consistent waves of sizes that vary between small and medium and its 6 kilometer beach has been named the first nature reserve in Spain and the second in Europe. It joins with Loredo, for another 3 kilometers, for the enjoyment of surfers. It is estimated that more than 500 of them have their habitual residence there.
2. Florianpolis, Brazil
Floripa, as the Brazilians call it, is a paradise with more than ten beaches , relaxed life and lots of partying, and also one of the best places in the world for surfing, surrounded by nature. exuberant. The waves of the beaches of Santinho, Moambique, Imbituba and Garopaba are of great quality for surfing. Many of the winds are generated by the deep low pressures that continue beyond Cape Horn, sending large swells out of the north throughout the year, especially between April and October. Floripa has become the most visited destination in Brazil, where the environment also encourages the practice of nature tourism and ecotourism. Eleven of the first 34 names in the World Surfing League (WSL) ranking are athletes born and trained in some of the more than two thousand beaches of the Brazilian coastline of almost eight thousand kilometers. that Brazil is no longer known only for good football but as the cradle of champions. This is the case of Italo Ferreira, current world surfing champion.
3. Siargao Island, Philippines
Siargao is an unspoilt paradise and one of the most beautiful areas on the planet to reconnect with nature. It is the surfing capital of the Philippines and home to one of the best waves in the world, known as Cloud 9, whose thick, hollow tubes create an exciting and challenging swell. There are also many other waves to surf for beginners and all levels. Siargao can only be reached by domestic flights and this has helped preserve the island’s atmosphere and environment, making it one of the most authentic island retreats.When not surfing, you can take an island hopping excursion, and visit the Sugbu lagoon, to snorkel in crystal clear waters among colorful fish and stingless jellyfish or enter the wonderful caves of Sohoton.
The island of Siargao is famous for its surf and for being the surfing capital of the Philippines. Regarding access, it can only be reached through domestic flights.
4. Malibu, California, USA
Since the 50s, this beach has been a reference point for the history and culture of surfing. For this reason it was named the first world surf reserve. Malibu enjoys an excellent location due to its proximity to Los Angeles and is a beach, on the west coast of the US, suitable for both beginners and expert surfers. It is a claim for surfers for its good conditions all year round and for being one of the first places in the world where it began to be practiced, outside its birthplace, in Polynesia.
Malibu beach has been a world reference for this sport since the 1950s.
5. Playa Grande, Costa Rica
In Playa Grande the water is warm all year round and its swell from the south has it all year round, making the surfing experience almost perfect. This beach stretches along the north Pacific coast in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica and, in addition to its incredible waves, it has wonderful sunsets. But the waves are reason enough, the surf breaks are consistent and moderate enough to accommodate a surfer of any skill level. The highlight, however, is the year-round southerly swell and wind conditions , ideal for a great surfing adventure. Another aspect that makes Playa Grande unique is the speed with which the tide arrives. The beach offers the best surfing experience at high tide and even at mid tide.
In Playa Grande, apart from surfing, you can also watch the impressive sunset every day.
6. Ericeira, Portugal
Due to its nine best surfing beaches and high environmental standards , in 2011 Ericeira became the first World Surfing Reserve in Europe with its five kilometers of coastline and home to the ASP World Tour World Surfing Championship. In addition, it is a traditional Portuguese fishing village with an old town that sits on cliffs and is filled with bustling cafes, shops and restaurants.
Ericeira is, since 2011, the first World Surfing Reserve in Europe.
7. Hossegor, France
Situated on France ‘s southwest coast of the Landes, it boasts miles of beautiful beach breaks and some impressive pro-level barreling reminiscent of Hawaii. With waves worthy of competition come world-class surfers and every year in September, the professionals compete in the Quicksilver Pro France in Hossegor.
Hossegor is located on the southwest coast of France. The Quicksilver Pro France competition is held here every year.
8. Gold Coast, Australia
Australia is a paradise in general and even more so for surfers. And Gold Cost , Queensland’s surf mecca. It is famous for its many right hand breaks, long beach breaks and a new artificial reef at Narrowneck. The best season for surfing is from January to July, although its temperate subtropical climate makes it possible to surf whenever and wherever. then there is the dizzying wave of the Gold Coast, Kirra, one of the fastest and most famous on the planet. They say that the best time to surf it is at dawn and the best month is February.
Australia is the country of surfing par excellence. Gold Coast is known for being the meeting place for the majority of surfers in the Queensland area.
9. Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital of the Hawaiian archipelago and is located on the south coast of the island of Oahu . It is well known for its iconic crescent beaches, which surfers from all over the world flock to. It has several beaches with easier and more dangerous waves. The case of Sunset Beach , located on the north shore of Oahu, is famous for its winter giants that are not recommended for beginners and for its spectacular views. It hosted the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational surfing championships until 1985.
Sunset Beach on Oahu is famous for its gigantic waves in winter.
10. Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
It is the jewel of African surfing and probably one of the best waves on the planet. Every year it hosts an annual event of the ASP World Tour that brings together spectators and surfers from all over the world. Jeffrey’s Bay is an inlet on the South African coast, located between the Garden Route and Sunshine Coast; In it, the warm currents from the Indian Ocean mix with those of the Atlantic , creating very special maritime conditions. The main surf spot in J.Bay is Supertubes which thanks to its constant swell is the site of the annual Billabong Pro surf contest held every July. other popular placesAlso frequented by locals and visitors due to their 10-foot waves are Kitchen Window, Boneyards, Phantoms, Magnatubes, and Albatross.
