Surfing Waves

I wanted to create a thread to talk about where our favorite longboard surfing spots have been around the world.

I'm a longboard surfer and am looking for new places to travel to. After a frustrating week-long stint in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, I realized that some spots are just cut out for longboarding while some aren't.

When I say longboarding, I mean being able to do the whole nine yards - gliding, cross stepping, trimming, nose riding, etc

Also, no need to name particular breaks ... Just the nearby city or town is fine.

I'll go first - Waikiki, Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawai'i. The birthplace of modern surfing. Mostly consistent and forgiving reef breaks in crystal clear blue water with tropical temperatures. Pricey due to tourism but every surfer should go there at least once.

Noosa Heads, QLD, Australia - usually very crowded
Crescent Heads, NSW, Australia - less crowded if not on weekends and public holidays
Batu Bolong, Bali, Indonesia - crowded with beginners and pushers
Gurupuk Inside, Lombok, Indonesia - less crowded
Ekas Inside, Lombok, Indonesia - not crowded, very good for longboard.

KitesurferAU wrote:Noosa Heads, QLD, Australia - usually very crowded
Crescent Heads, NSW, Australia - less crowded if not on weekends and public holidays
Batu Bolong, Bali, Indonesia - crowded with beginners and pushers
Gurupuk Inside, Lombok, Indonesia - less crowded
Ekas Inside, Lombok, Indonesia - not crowded, very good for longboard.

yep all of the above, add TLand Nusa Tenngara Timur, Karangabat lefts and Burger World Mentawais.

KitesurferAU wrote:Noosa Heads, QLD, Australia - usually very crowded
Crescent Heads, NSW, Australia - less crowded if not on weekends and public holidays
Batu Bolong, Bali, Indonesia - crowded with beginners and pushers
Gurupuk Inside, Lombok, Indonesia - less crowded
Ekas Inside, Lombok, Indonesia - not crowded, very good for longboard.

I take my longboards out to batu bolong sometimes. What’s a pusher? Not familiar with that term.

Malibu, First Point

This is one of my favourite longboard waves and I was happy to photographed enjoying it!

Pan Dulce, Costa Rica - Osa Peninsula just south of Puerto Jimenez. Right point break. If you're skilled enough, you can ride for 2 minutes. Also check out Pavones, directly across the peninsula. That one is a left point break and the waves are known to be larger.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Geezer wrote:

KitesurferAU wrote:Noosa Heads, QLD, Australia - usually very crowded
Crescent Heads, NSW, Australia - less crowded if not on weekends and public holidays
Batu Bolong, Bali, Indonesia - crowded with beginners and pushers
Gurupuk Inside, Lombok, Indonesia - less crowded
Ekas Inside, Lombok, Indonesia - not crowded, very good for longboard.

I take my longboards out to batu bolong sometimes. What’s a pusher? Not familiar with that term.

Pusher is usually a local guy, surf instructor who will push his client (usually a complete beginner on a softboard) to help him catch a wave. The problem that they don't care if there is somebody already on this wave and things may not end very well.

KitesurferAU wrote:

Geezer wrote:

KitesurferAU wrote:Noosa Heads, QLD, Australia - usually very crowded
Crescent Heads, NSW, Australia - less crowded if not on weekends and public holidays
Batu Bolong, Bali, Indonesia - crowded with beginners and pushers
Gurupuk Inside, Lombok, Indonesia - less crowded
Ekas Inside, Lombok, Indonesia - not crowded, very good for longboard.

I take my longboards out to batu bolong sometimes. What’s a pusher? Not familiar with that term.

Pusher is usually a local guy, surf instructor who will push his client (usually a complete beginner on a softboard) to help him catch a wave. The problem that they don't care if there is somebody already on this wave and things may not end very well.

Ok, I get it now. Those guys/camps/schools are a chronic problem all over Bali, but especially on any 1-2ft “advanced beginner-intermediate” friendly day.

Out back at batu bolong can be fun, especially on a bigger day when the crowds thin but then it’s not really a longboard wave per se though there are lots out there.

I have heard medewi on the nw coast a couple hours up from canggu can be a very good longboard wave. I have yet to go there. Also heard that every new face visiting there gets roped into buying a surf medewi tshirt by locals there. Could be legend but makes me want to go there just a little more.

During Covid Kuta was a good longboard spot. Sometimes there were no nlyn2-3 others in the water so lots of room to let a big board run. It’s back to it’s usual state now; at least 200 out this afternoon when I stopped off for a quick 1.5h in the middle of running errands.

Any spots in Portugal or the whole of Europe that people can suggest?

bttf wrote:Any spots in Portugal or the whole of Europe that people can suggest?

Saunton Sands, Devon
Cote Basque, Biarritz
Almost Europe, and absolutely fantastic waves: Imsouane, Morocco. Health considerations apply though - you walk/climb through excrements, food posining is common, and jellyfish abound - it is so bad most people wear plastic gloves in the lineup for protection.

Maybe out of left field, but: Jeju, South Korea.
On its day, Jungmun Beach can be pretty good and LB best choice most mellow days, but it is very fickle.
Learners can be a bit of an issue too.
Otherwise, Pacific side of Luzon is also petty ideal and I think some know where I mean
Heard that about Med too Geezer, I think it was Brown Sugar Surf Camp? Was always curious if it was true or not.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. There are some uncrowded reef breaks good for longboarding