Surfing HQ

Top 5 Surf Destinations in Paradise - Hawaii

Hawaii has many great surf spots all over the island. I have gone ahead and listed for you the top 5 surf destinations in Hawaii. Keep in mind that I am not taking into consideration skill level of the surf, or anything such like that. This list is based off overall greatness. Simply, the best surf destinations in paradise.

1. Bonzai Pipeline - The infamous "Pipeline" has been a surf spot icon for years. The best of the best from all over the world come here to surf Pipeline. And with good reason, it has good size potential, glassy waves, and picture-perfect tubes. World championship surf contests have been held here. Bonzai Pipeline is the most famous surf destination in the world.

2. Waimea Bay - Waimea Bay has a long heritage in Hawaii. Known for both massive, monster waves at it's point break. And also for it's beastly shore break. Waimea Bay's shore break is one of the most famous shore breaks in the world. Shore breaks are waves that break extremely close to shore creating high impact surf. Waimea Bay is also where they have the Eddie Aikau Surf Invitational. This surf contest is for big wave riders only. Massive 25-foot plus waves are to be surfed. Waimea Bay is a must stop destination in paradise.

3. Sandy Beach - Sandy Beach is another famous shore break located on the south-east side of the island. It's known for it's fast, critical surf and very shallow waters. Even though to most the conditions seem a bit dangerous, the wave is one of nicest around. Even on very small days, you can count on Sandy Beach to still barrel and provide a fun wave for everyone to enjoy

4. Sunset Beach - Sunset Beach is another famous surf spot located on the North Shore of Oahu. Numerous professional surfers go there regularly. The waves are nice and long and many surf contests have taken place there. It's an easy stop along the way while your driving to the North Shore. And it's the perfect place to be to watch the Sunset.

5. Kaiser Bowls - Kaiser Bowls is a surf spot on the south shore of Oahu. Arguably the nicest tubes in town, Kaiser Bowls is clean, and easy to ride. It's great for beginner to advanced surfers. It gives you both a fast right barrel, and a long left hand ride. The paddle out isn't that far and once you get there, you have a channel on the side to help incase you get caught on the inside breakers. My favorite surf destination spot in town.

About the author - John S. Jones is an entrepreneur, webmaster, internet marketer, bodysurfer and freelance writer. John currently does freelance writing, website promotion and helps promote the website - Destination Paradise Hawaii - See Some Awesome Hawaii Surf Photos Here - go to destinationparadisehi.com 

Walls of waves tackled at Mavericks

Two dozen surfers show up for the contest just south of San Francisco to challenge one of the world's most dangerous breaks.

Mavericks, a rock-studded, once-secret surf spot named after a dog, looked for all the world Saturday like the Super Bowl of big wave riding as thousands of people streamed to this fishing hamlet to see two dozen surfers challenge one of the world's most dangerous breaks.

With powerful surf and gentle winds forecast, Mavericks pioneer Jeff Clark kicked off the sixth edition of the surf contest by issuing the call late last week to surfers from California, Hawaii, South Africa, Australia and Brazil. They had 24 hours to get here, and all but one -- who had just become a father -- arrived in time to take on waves forecast to reach 25 feet or higher.

But the surfers were not the only ones who had to mobilize for the contest held near Highway 1 about 20 miles south of San Francisco. "When they call it, everybody springs to action," said Helmut Erhard, site manager for the Air Force missile tracking station half a mile away, where the judges and scores of news outlets were allowed to set up camp for a bird's-eye view of the waves.

Party boats sold standing room for $275 a head so surf fans could bob in the sea alongside the break -- by far the closest vantage point.

But about 6 a.m. Saturday in the predawn blackness, Daniel Hinojosa, 49, of San Jose was hiking resolutely up the narrow lane toward Mavericks with something else in mind. Wearing a red wetsuit and carrying a surfboard, two disposable underwater cameras, a bottle of water and cheese sticks, he was planning to paddle out for a ringside seat. "I hope I can last two hours," he said, referring to the water temperature, which was in the low 50s. "I'll stay away from the party boats. I don't want somebody throwing up on me."

Last year, the mountainous waves that have made Mavericks famous and claimed the life of Hawaii surfer Mark Foo in 1994 did not materialize, and no contest was held. But as the first light poked through the overcast Saturday, hulking swells already were rolling to the reef, pitching upward and exploding in foam.

An hour later, at 8 a.m., the air horn sounded and the first heat was on. Most of the participants were from Santa Cruz and the San Francisco area, locals who treat Mavericks as their backyard break. One of them is sturdy Matt Ambrose of nearby Pacifica, a surfboard factory owner whose wife and two children looked on.

Is it terrifying to see him charging into house-sized waves above a shallow reef? "He surfs these waves all the time," said Leigh Ann Ambrose, an emergency room nurse. "He was never injured seriously. He was cut on the lip twice and then the board hit his cheek and the skin burst. . . . He is as crazy as you can be out there and still be sensible."

The event was broadcast on a large-screen TV at the beach with a ride-by-ride announcer, including instant replays, and at the Giants baseball stadium by the bay in San Francisco.

As the contestants took breathtaking drops and carved long lines across thundering waves, the area just to the south of them looked like McCovey Cove when Giants slugger Barry Bonds was chasing the all-time home run record. In addition to a flotilla of 50 party boats, there were several kayaks, spectator surfboards and a Coast Guard cutter.

There were also numerous Jet Skis, which are used to rescue surfers and tow them away from rocks after wipeouts. Federal officials granted permission to allow them in the marine sanctuary encompassing Mavericks.

Wildlife specialists from the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary stood on the bluffs with spotting scopes, counting watercraft and watching whether helicopters or boats disturbed wildlife. "We want to make sure that seabirds, seals or whales are not impacted," sanctuary spokeswoman Mary Jane Schramm said. "Birds . . . are doing nesting prospecting and we do not want them frightened away from their habitat."

Contest organizers worked with federal officials to try to avoid a repeat of the 2006 contest, during which hundreds of people walked onto the reefs to get a closer look at the surfing and trampled aquatic plants and animals. "That's one of the reasons the organizers encouraged people to watch [the contest] online," Schramm said.

The combination of high tides and big surf Saturday gradually shrank the sliver of beach where spectators almost looked up at the staircase of waves.

The water surged high enough to cause Jeff Wilson to retreat to a sandy rise near the contest headquarters, where he could watch the surfing in the distance and on the TV. "We were at the end of the beach and the waves came and washed over everyone -- people and their babies," said the surgical technician from the East Bay.

After a series of storms and gloomy weather last weekend, sunshine bathed the crowd, which was a mix of surfers and nonsurfers. "I moved back from Hawaii a year or two ago and was missing the ocean," said Jeannine Falletti, a real estate appraiser from Dublin, east of Oakland, who was snacking on the beach with a friend.

Read full story [LA Times]

The Surfing Capital Of Australia

If surfing is your thing, then you must check out Bryon Bay, the Mecca of surfing in Australia. There you will find a place where surfing is not just a sport or favorite past-time but a lifestyle and local obsession.

Set against a back-drop of warm weather year-round and spectacular beaches, Byron Bay is an inviting venue that promises a laid-back lifestyle. Why, you can even go native and be part of a teeming “alternative” community whose ranks are constantly being bolstered by an increasing number of writers, artists and filmmakers.

Byron Bay is nestled at the North Coast of New South Wales in Australia. It boasts of four main beaches. Byron Main, the most popular of the four, is perfect for surfing newcomers because of its smaller swell that usually breaks close to the shore. It has non-stop breaks and is great for swimming.

The Pass is the next most popular beach in Byron Bay just south of Byron Main. It is a favorite of long boarders who comb the beach in droves during summer.

Watego Beach is hidden from view and, as such, is ideal for surfers who want to avoid the crowds. The challenges it offers are more difficult for surfers, which is why the most advanced surfers prefer Watego Beach.

Finally, there is also Tallow’s Beach, the most isolated of Byron Bay’s four beaches. Most tourists have not discovered it yet especially since it is only visible from Byron Bay’s headland. It is rare to find outsiders wandering around Tallow’s Beach but the locals just love it.

Aside from surfing, Byron Bay is also a great scuba diving venue and one of these rare places where you can sit back and occasionally catch a whale or two passing by. At night, dolphins come out to play and it is not unusual to see these friendly creatures swimming side by side with people.

There’s also an excellent fine dining restaurant on Byron Bay called Fins which offers succulent seafood and an impressive wine list. Fins is one of Australia’s best restaurants.

Fine Dining

Fins Restaurant
Fins Restaurant offers fresh local seafood spiced with local herbs and supplemented by an attractive wine list. The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide has awarded FINS with two chef’s hats every year since 1998. Fins also received a Restaurant and Catering Award of Excellence as "Best Seafood Restaurant All Regional NSW" in 2005 as well as the award for "Best Seafood Restaurant in Australia" in 2004.

About the Author - Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Travel, Outdoors, and Recreation

Preparing to Surf

Some people think that surfing is a glamour lifestyle that will allow a surfer to be exposed to members of the opposite sex on a daily basis. Since most women think that surfers are very alluring, most surfers will tend to get very prepared to surf because one wrong move could make them unattractive to women who sit in the sand and watch them perform tricks all day.

Most surfers put a lot of thought into the type of surfboard that they will use. The length of the board should fit the length of their bodies and any other size will not work right or look right when the surfer is under scrutiny by spectators on the shore. Most surfers will learn about surfboards from friends, and some surf shop owners will share interesting surfing anecdotes with them if business is slow.

After a short time in the water, a surfer should become very comfortable with using surfing terms around friends such as the type of surfboard they plan to purchase after the art of surfing has been engrained in their memory. Surfers enjoy having choices and using a longboard or a shortboard is one of the personal choices in surfing that a person can make. he other choices that a surfer can make will be in the stylish gear that they wear while surfing and those choices will no doubt be very colorful ones that are based on comfort.

Some surfers do not care if they are thoroughly prepared for the sport because they are solely interested in making their way to the water to surf. They will often try to find the cheapest surfboard and realize after they are in the water that the board is not suitable for surfing anymore. Perhaps it is because the surfboard has been damaged in some way while surfing and is showing signs that it retains water. If they had done some research through the internet, they could have learned to recognize the warning signs for a surfboard that should not be used anymore.

Some surfboards are unfit for use in the water simply because a previous owner has not cared for the surfboard properly. One of the important factors that every surfer learns is that a surfboard needs to be waxed on a regular basis. This preparation technique is necessary because wax allows the surfer to grip the surfboard with the soles of their feet. By using the proper preparations, the surfer will be assured of maintaining a good grip on the board at all times.

As the surfer prepares to enter the water for the first time with their surfboard, they will be very conscious of what other surfers do. New surfers will spend many hours in the water learning to sit and stand on the board. After they have perfected these techniques, they will be ready to try out some waves and they will be less worried about the stares that they are getting from the crowd that has formed on the beach.

About the Author - James Brown writes about BoatersWorld.com on-line coupons, bartswatersports.com coupon code and shapersdirect.com on-line coupons

Waves and Babes

This is a pictorial Video from the Huntington Beach Fear at the Pier Jr. Pro Contest. This 2day event went off with great waves and young talented surfers ripping it up.

Beautiful Surf Babes

In early 2006 TransWorld SURF & Metalstorm Entertainment spent a week on Oahu's North Shore with four beautiful women, dozens of swimsuits, and a vision to bring out the beauty of the female form to the fans of TransWorld SURF. We invite you to join us for a behind the scenes look at what happens when clothes come off and swimsuits go on!

Surfing Hawaii

Visit The Sand And Surf Of Watergate Bay

The coastal road from Newquay snaked its way eastwards atop the high, craggy cliffs sculpted by the relentless Atlantic Ocean. Suddenly the road dipped and wound steeply towards sea level. Cars were parked everywhere; almost all had surfboards strapped to their roofs. This was Watergate Bay.

I turned into a car park and waited at the entrance. Just to my right a small, open camper van laid dormant. It had certainly seen better days and judging from the bodywork wouldn’t travel very far. Well, that and the fact it had no wheels and appeared to have taken root. The bed and kitchen utensils suggested someone might actually be living in it.

Suddenly, your stereotypical surf-dude emerged: medium length bleached blond hair, Bermuda shorts, and a cannabis induced lazy grin that made you feel as if you were missing out on something. (Actually I’m rather jealous of their carefree lifestyle and would like to be a surf-dude in another life). I left my car under his watchful eye and headed for the beach.

Clouds scattered sparsely around a clear summer sky; a gentle sea breeze took the edge from the sun’s blaze. The short path to the beach led past the surf hire shop. A middle-aged assistant with obligatory blond highlights adorned the latest in surf fashion. He stared at me inquisitively, anticipating a sale. His tree trunk thighs filled the wet suit well; unfortunately my skinny legs wouldn’t look as flattering (not to mention other areas) and I quickly shuffled out before he pounced.

The beachside bar and restaurant provide the patron with outstanding views of the bay, especially the upstairs seating area. However, book first as it can get very busy during the tourist season. With no available table I stepped outside and trod the golden sands of Watergate Bay.

The lingering early morning sea mist obscured the horizon; the smell of seaweed was evident throughout. You could almost taste the salty sea spray; waves and surf were building up to a crescendo.

Suddenly, a group of eager surf school students of all shapes and sizes appeared from the building behind. As they filed past I couldn’t help but wonder how some of them intended to float. They clenched their surfboards as tightly as their buttocks upon first sight of the shore’s violent waves they were expected to tame. Even the seagulls overhead laughed, before flying back to their nests among the high, craggy cliffs to watch the entertainment.

About the Author - Steven Cronin owns the City Breaks website featuring city break special offers from luxury hotels to budget accommodations. For further reading please visit sargas.co.uk

Why You Should Rent A Makena Surf Condo

Do you enjoy the sport of surfing? If so, there is a good chance that you also enjoy traveling to Hawaii, if you don’t already live there. If you are not originally from Hawaii and you enjoy surfing, you may want to think about taking a vacation. Although there are an unlimited number of places in Hawaii to surf, you may want to think about vacationing in Maui, namely the Makena area. In fact, you may also want to think about renting a Makena surf condo.

When it comes to Makena surf condos, there are a number of individuals who wonder why they should stay at one, but even more individuals wonder exactly what a surf condo is. There are a number of different meanings for surf condos, but, essentially, they are another way to describe beach condos. The word surf is often incorporated into the name when the condos are located in an area that is ideal for surfing, such as the Makena area. As for why you should stay at a Makena surf condo, well, there are a number of different reasons why you should.

One of the most obvious reasons why you should stay at a surf condo is if you enjoy surfing or if you plan on surfing while on your Maui vacation. As previously mentioned, Makena is an area that is well-known for its surfing waters. Having a beachfront condo, otherwise known as a surf condo, is a great way to have access to those waters, at just about anytime. Staying close to the beach will not only give you twenty-four access to it, but it will also make it easier for you to examine the conditions of the waters. This is a great way to not only enjoy your vacation, but make sure that you do not waste your time preparing for a surf when the weather or the waters may not be cooperative.

Although those who enjoy surfing can benefit the most from a Makena surf condo, they are not the only individuals who can. If you are visiting the Makena Maui area and you would just like to stay close to the beach, you can also stay at a Makena surf condo. In fact, even if you do not enjoy surfing or if you cannot surf, you may still enjoy watching others. In fact, depending on the distance between your Makena surf condo and the beach, you may even be able to watch locals and other tourists surf, right from the comfort of your condo.

If you feel that a Makena surf condo is perfect for you, you will want to start making your reservations. Since Makena is a popular area, among tourists, you may want to think about making your reservations in advance. At least, five to six months before your Maui vacation is set to take place is a good time to make your reservations. When making your reservations, it is important to remember that you should be prepared to pay a little bit more for a Makena surf condo than you would if you were staying at a hotel or a resort. The cost will all depend on which Makena surf condo you plan on renting, but whether you are beachside or not, the cost will sometimes be high, but always worth it.

If you would like to start making your reservations today, you are advised to. You can make your Makena surf condo reservations by booking them directly; however, this will require you to search for and find surf condo owners. For an easier way to book your Makena surf condo reservations, you are advised to contact your travel agent or make your reservations online, through an online travel website. Regardless of how you go about making your Makena surf condo reservations, once you arrive in Makena, you will be glad that you made them.

Written by -  Brittney Foster

Surf Spots Guide

The wind comes brushing through the hair, the surfs are up and you are at the verge of the never-ending expense of the pacific. The great American dream is incomplete probably without the great exploits of the sea. The sea never needs the coast guard to be glorified in the USA; it is in fact the integral part of people’s lives in almost half of Americas. Now where in America can find that definitive beach, is an odd question to ask, because hardly can there be only one answer to this. From the east to the west coast the sea god has bestowed North America with probably the best beach line in the world. The extended beaches in the island countries around the American continent are also perfect places to get the tan and the surf.

Hawaii is one of the most traveled beach destination of the world. It attracts tourists due to its never ending coastlines and the secret beaches, which are so exotic that it can be called the heaven on earth. The expanse of the Ho'okipa Beach is approximately 8.4 square miles! Now that is huge!! Americans and people from around the globe visit Hawaii and bask in the golden sands of this beach. The augmented facilities on such beach resorts make it a traveler’s paradise.

The beaches are filled with activities and adventure sports. Surfing has found a new definition here in Hawaii. The surfers hit the waves early in the morning and are welcomes by the froth of the virgin seas. They take the surfers up and down and just jostle them in their vast embrace. It’s no wonder that sipping in the summer sun is one of the most pleasurable pass times. The experience at the American beaches is so fulfilling that many have made this their philosophy.

Malibu finds its name among the top beaches of America. The beach offers vivid activities ranging from surfing, parasailing and gliding. Having all these present at the same spot has made beaches the choicest destination for the holiday goers. Also the beaches of America are host to the best surfing competitions of the world. The Aloha Classic is held every year to choose the ablest rider of the American waves. The competitions are covered by almost all sports media and this has boosted the popularity of the beaches around the globe. But the American water lines are the best in many ways.

There are many adventure opportunities these beaches have to give. But the sea is not an easy customer to trade with. The waves can at times be too dangerous and too big. The surfers find it very difficult and sometimes fatal to venture into rough seas. The US cost guards as well as the local life guards can be seen posted at ever beach. This gives the tourists and the people a carefree atmosphere to surf and enjoy the beauty of the sea. Experiences like tsunami may have reduced the number of sea going people but this has in no way reduced enthusiasm that drives America. sea is still the favorite toy to play with.

About the Author - Mansi aggarwal writes about surf spots Learn more at surfsuptravel.com