Surfing Waves

Hi all, im new to the board, and must admit, find it to be a good read!

Basically at the start of next year, im travelling around the world, alone, and i have some destinations which im not to familiar with the surf conditions they get. . .

If im completly honest im a complete rookie,. so huge swells wouldnt be advised for me to tackle.

during my tour i shall be hitting Tijuana,. Mexico, i was woundering if there are some good surf spots here?

Also i shall be rolling to Brazil, and probably be located in Rio, some good surf spots?

Melbourne is where im 90% sure i'll be based for about 6 months or so, so its here i'd really like to wake up everyday and not have to commute to far for some waves, .. . i was told Melbourne is on a bay, and that ''There's good surf on the Mornington Peninsula (Portsea, Gunnamatta) and at Phillip Island - these are about 1.5 hrs south of Melbourne. The Victorian Surf Coast is 1.5-2 hrs Sth-West of Melbourne - Torquay etc. Great surf here and many surf schools that can help you learn. '' . ..the issue with this is, i really dont wanna be commuting that fare each time i fancy a surf.

If there isnt really much surf in Melbourne itself, then purhapse i should consider locating myself in Sydney to work for 6 or so months, for some great surf?

also in or near any of these locations, if you guys know of any big swells that occur, i sure as hell would love to witness some!!

sorry for the niave post, but all info regarding these locations would be of great help!

Makka wrote:Hi all, im new to the board, and must admit, find it to be a good read!

Basically at the start of next year, im travelling around the world, alone, and i have some destinations which im not to familiar with the surf conditions they get. . .

If im completly honest im a complete rookie,. so huge swells wouldnt be advised for me to tackle.

during my tour i shall be hitting Tijuana,. Mexico, i was woundering if there are some good surf spots here?

I can give you a bit of advise about surf spots in South San Diego and Norte Baja. Not too many surf around Tijuana, but Imperial Beach, CA can have good waves. Roserito Beach south of TJ is not bad. There are several point and beach breaks as you work your way south toward Ensenada (K38, San Miguel, Trash Can Beach). If you have a car it is easy to see good waves from the road, but not the toll road. Have fun.

cheers buddy, that helps, ive heard alot about the surf on the Baja coast, . . .another issue im slightly hampered with is that im not taking my board on my travels, for various reasons which i wont bother going into. . .

so whats the deal with these areas with the possibilty of renting a board??

Rental boards are usually beaters and will ruin the overal experience. Some people buy tee shirts of places they vacationed at. I prefer to buy a surfboard. In Ensenada there is a surfshop next to the Hussongs that sells new boards (San Miguels) at very reasonable prices or you could check out Tony's Surfshop in Rosarito Beach.

Makka, all the spots you seek in TJ will be south. The first spot is called Baja Malibu. A semi point break with a very nice left when it's on. A lot of SD surfers make the drive down, but it also has a gnarly rip. Spots can continue down further past Rosarito (beach break) where it's just open beach. Once in a while works okay with the right sandbars. Past that you'll find busstops, gaviotas, k38, down to san miguel. Good luck.

You should try the tip of Baja, Cabo San Lucas. A healthy number of breaks within a relatively short distance.

As for Melb. Looks like you've done some research and yes, the spots are far away, especially if you live in and around the city. You're better off in Sydney somewhere in Manly. You can base yourself there and drive the other spots quite easily like DY, Bondi, etc. Good luck.

squid wrote:Makka, all the spots you seek in TJ will be south. The first spot is called Baja Malibu. A semi point break with a very nice left when it's on. A lot of SD surfers make the drive down, but it also has a gnarly rip. Spots can continue down further past Rosarito (beach break) where it's just open beach. Once in a while works okay with the right sandbars. Past that you'll find busstops, gaviotas, k38, down to san miguel. Good luck.

You should try the tip of Baja, Cabo San Lucas. A healthy number of breaks within a relatively short distance.

As for Melb. Looks like you've done some research and yes, the spots are far away, especially if you live in and around the city. You're better off in Sydney somewhere in Manly. You can base yourself there and drive the other spots quite easily like DY, Bondi, etc. Good luck.

many thanks Squid, your info has proved very handy, tho with the beaches/areas youvesuggest in or around TJ . . . . whats the chances of mee finding a place to be able to rent a board for the day or week??

its looking for benificial for me from a surf perspective to base myselfin Sydney then, tho i purhapse in a niave way picture pretty big waves in and around that area, im looking for waves to still be able to learn on.. .

if you know any info on sydney with reagrds to Hostels etc . . i also imagine it being a rather expensive place tolive, am i wrong, are there budget hostels around there??

I'd also say head for Sydney..........Around Bondi/Eastern suburbs is mostly Brits and Irish in cheap backpackers hostels or shared houses. Also if you stay in Bondi there's some nice beaches further south like Tamarama and Bronte etc

But like squid says, Manly is a good spot with better acces to the Northern beaches which are beautiful.

If you're in Oz I'd say you definatley have to go to Byron Bay about 800km north of Sydney

Check out http://www.tntmagazine.com.au/ for lists of backpacker hostels

I was just in Rio.......Here's a photo of Arpoador in the middle of the city.
It's such a beautiful backdrop, but as you can see it's sooooooooooo crowded





I'd say a better option would be to head out to Barra........ a 15km long beach with loads of peaks all to be had for yourself

here's a link to a hostel:

http://www.bootsnall.com/hostels/d/1799 ... n+Stay.php

I didnt stay there, but now that I know the area I would defiinateley stay there the next time, cos I spent every day out at Barra anyway (a 30 minute bus ride to Copacabana)

But your first time in Rio you'd probably want to stay in the centre.

Although I enjoyed Rio, I preferred it much more down south in Santa Caterina...........Places like Florianopolis, Praia da Rosa, Guarda da Embau, Ferrugem...................And the women are way better looking in the South!!!!

Pat, those pics are great. Looks like Malibu on any given day. hahhahahaa. Farkin slalom practice around all the human buoys.

Maka, not sure about the board hire situation. Actually in TJ there are probably none, but down in Rosarito you'll have better luck. What is the reason you're not traveling with your own board(s)?

pat42 wrote:I'd also say head for Sydney..........Around Bondi/Eastern suburbs is mostly Brits and Irish in cheap backpackers hostels or shared houses. Also if you stay in Bondi there's some nice beaches further south like Tamarama and Bronte etc

If you're in Oz I'd say you definatley have to go to Byron Bay about 800km north of Sydney

Check out http://www.tntmagazine.com.au/ for lists of backpacker hostels

Awesome man, my mind is nearly made up... i sent a message with my questions to the really helpfull guy @ STA travel who r hooking me up my ticket for this RTW tour, and he actually suggested i base myself @ Byron Bay, saying there was many similar backpackers located there with plenty of cheap accomodation at work availible, and also suggested it has probbaly the bestsurf conditions for me, and the baches will literally be on my doorstep!!

is this something anyone here has had experience in?

btw: those pics looks great, tho the crowds alarm me some what, can see if could get a bit competative for the waves. . .

shall def be based in Rio, hey Pat, how did you find accomodation prices out there, relatively cheap?

squid wrote:What is the reason you're not traveling with your own board(s)?

Well its a long story, but basically the board i 'own' is a south african 5.11 Chilli board, now before everyone goes crazy, i know the board is way to small for my ability in surfing, but the reason i bought it was simply due to the crazy cheap selling price, it is perfect condition, and i was located in newquay, and just needed a board to play about on while i was down there,. . so 1 main reason is, its not a good board to learn on in newquay, never mind the locations im heading to, also i dont have a carry case for it.

I stayed in Byron for about 3 months, if I remember correctly (I was stoned most of the time). I dont know about getting work there though.......some friends of mine did fruit picking, which paid alright, but I reckon you'd make more money in Sydney

In Byron I was on the campsite right in front of the beach, most of the time.......I think it was called 'First sun' or 'sea and sun'....something like that..........anyway, it's right in front of the beach where 'the wreck' is..........good spot for learning.

Just wake up, have breakfast, walk over the sand dune, and youre in the surf!!

In Rio, I got a really good deal and stayed in a 4 star hotel right on Copacabana, which was a mistake, cos you dont really meet other like minded people and they didnt like me traipsing my board through reception dropping sand all over the place. But I can say I stayed on Copacacabana for what it's worth!

But hostels (there are loads) are cheap and a better way to meet fellow travellers try www.hostelbookers.com

You can get dorm beds in Rio from about £5 a night I reckon

I bought a pretty decent board, brand new in Rio with a leash, deckpad and some wax for £150!!

But you can pick up decent second hand ones for a lot less. There's a shopping mall with just surf shops near Arpoador, between Copacabana and Ipanema....................

If you head down to Florianopolis I can hook you up with a really good shaper who made me a beautiful 6' with a deckpad included for £100

Here's a photo: