The best and the worst surfing countries

[99nunkey]

Hi all,

I've just joined this forum, and am looking forward to gaining some wisdom, as I'm new to surfing.

I wanted to start with asking if people, based on their experience/knowledge could rate the following countries out of 10 for the quality of their surfing for a chart I'm compiling. Alternatively, if you know of a website that already ranks/rates countries for their surfing, please fee free to let me know.

EUROPE:
Belgium
UK
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
The Netherlands

AFRICA:
Angola
Benin
Cameroon
Gabon
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Morroco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Tanzania

ASIA:
India
Indonesia
Japan
Maldives
Mauritius
Philippines
Reunion
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam

PACIFIC:
American Samoa
Australia
Cook Islands
Fiji
Hawaii
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Tahiti
Tonga
Vanuatu
Western Samoa

NORTH AMERICA:
Canada
Mexico
United States of America

CENTRAL AMERICA:
Barbados
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Guatemala
Haiti
Jamaica
Netherlands Antilles
Nicaragua
Panama
Puerto Rico

SOUTH AMERICA:
Argentina
Brasil
Chile
Columbia
Ecuador
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela

Many thanks in advance,

Nunkey

[PapaW]

are we talking quality of breaks, or consistancy, Reef only Beach only everything?!


Everywhere is good on its day...

[99nunkey]

Hi Papa,

I'm talking about a general rating, that considers all criteria.

[kitesurfer]

What are you planning to use the chart for? Are we just helping you with your school project or is this a commercial venture or perhaps you are planning a big surf trip?

KS

[99nunkey]

Hi KS,

I wanted to use it for my own use, in relocating to another country. It may also be useful to others.

[PapaW]

Then we kinda need to know what you ride and your style!

[99nunkey]

Fair enough, Papa. I ride a shortboard, but I'm a real newbie. I suppose I was looking for a general rating for each country. I.e., Australia, USA might rate 9/10, France might rate 7/10, and the UK might rank 5/10. Does that make sense?

Unless anyone knows of a website/resource that already rates countries for their surfing?

[dafoink]

wow. it is a bit tough to rate an entire country with one single point scale. Just look at the US. There are so many different locations that are completely different. Just in Southern California, there are point, beach, reef, etc. All different.

I think that this type of rating system is futile and a bit worthless for any real information.

Are you just trying to figure out what country to move to? If so, I want your job. basically throwing a dart at an atlas to figure out where you want to move.

[99nunkey]

I think that this type of rating system is futile and a bit worthless for any real information.

Thanks for your input.

If anyone has anything constructive to contribute, please do so. There are reasons for my asking, and there is method in my madness

[PapaW]

Where ever you are its all up to you and making the most out of the conditions there. Like I said everywhere is good on its day... sure some are more consistent than others... but not always better. IE Auz all coasts.. pretty consistent but warm water brings the health hazzards with it.. (jellies, urchines etc.)

[Surfer513]

If you're really talking about permanent relocation and expat-ing yourself, then there is WAY more to consider then just waves. For instance, Costa Rica has (what I feel) the best waves I could ever dream of. But if you can't speak Spanish, or you don't really fit into their lifestyle, then you'll be miserable. If you need to be making $70,000 annually, then you won't. You need to figure out what you're looking for.

[99nunkey]

If you're really talking about permanent relocation and expat-ing yourself, then there is WAY more to consider then just waves. For instance, Costa Rica has (what I feel) the best waves I could ever dream of. But if you can't speak Spanish, or you don't really fit into their lifestyle, then you'll be miserable. If you need to be making $70,000 annually, then you won't. You need to figure out what you're looking for.

Hi Surfer513,

I didn't ask for expat advice, and I certainly gave no indication that the surf would be the only criterion I would use if I was relocating. But you know what they say about ass-uming.

...

To anyone reading this thread, please read my original question. If you have an answer, please reply to this thread. If you don't, please don't reply; I don't need advice, thank you.

[dafoink]

There are reasons for my asking, and there is method in my madness

if you could explain your method to madness, perhaps we could understand how to answer you. Basically, you are asking for a very generic rating system that is impossible to do. Having lived on both the east and west coast of the US, the regions are very different surfing wise. and even on each coast, it varies greatly by just driving a few blocks.

[dafoink]

I didn't ask for expat advice, and I certainly gave no indication that the surf would be the only criterion I would use if I was relocating. But you know what they say about ass-uming.

so what are you asking? this sounds very fishy to me. you are asking for things but not telling us what you are asking. This is my last response to this futile discussion.

[billie_morini]

EUROPE:
Belgium 1 to 3
UK 1 to 10
France 1 to 10
Germany 0
Ireland 1 to 10
Italy 1 to 5
Norway 1 to 5
Portugal 1 to 7
Spain 1 to 10
Sweden 1 to 3
The Netherlands 1 to 2

AFRICA:
Angola 1 to 10
Benin ??
Cameroon 1 to 5
Gabon 1 to 3
Ghana 1 to 5
Ivory Coast 1 to 7
Kenya 1 to 5
Liberia 1 to 5
Madagascar 1 to 7
Morroco 1 to 7 (rating provided for the country spelled with one "r")
Mozambique 1 to 5
Namibia 1 to 5
Nigeria 1 to 5
Senegal 1 to 3
Sierra Leone 1 to 5
South Africa 1 to 10
Tanzania 1 to 10

ASIA:
India 1 to 3
Indonesia 1 to 10
Japan 1 to 7
Maldives 1 to 10
Mauritius 1 to 7
Philippines 1 to 7
Reunion ??
Sri Lanka 0
Taiwan 1 to 5
Thailand 1 to 5
Vietnam 1 to 7 (see related movies)

PACIFIC:
American Samoa 1 to 10
Australia 1 to 10
Cook Islands 1 to 10
Fiji 1 to 10
Hawaii 1 to 10
New Caledonia ??
New Zealand 1 to 7
Tahiti 1 to 10
Tonga 1 to 7
Vanuatu 1 to 5
Western Samoa ??

NORTH AMERICA:
Canada 1 to 10
Mexico 1 to 7
United States of America 1 to 10 (zero in Kansas)

CENTRAL AMERICA:
Barbados 1 to 7
Costa Rica 1 to 10
Dominican Republic 1 to 7
El Salvador 1 to 7
Guatemala 1 to 5
Haiti 1 to 7
Jamaica 1 to 7
Netherlands Antilles ??
Nicaragua 1 to 5
Panama 0
Puerto Rico 1 to 7

SOUTH AMERICA:
Argentina 1 to 5
Brasil 1 to 7 (see related competition)
Chile 1 to 7 (see related movies)
Columbia 1 to 5
Ecuador 1 to 5
Peru 1 to 10
Uruguay 1 to 7
Venezuela 1 to 5 or 7

Nunkey 00 (double zero)

Additional notes:
1. "1 to 3" sounds like "1, 2, 3." Makes this rating my favorite
2. data prepared according to GIGO computer programming (i.e., "garbage in; garbage out")
3. No tolerance allowed for surfing adage: "the surfing having the most fun has found the best surfing country"
4. New surfer advisory: do not surf any locations scored above "1"

[naniekso]

my advice.

hawaii to surf. if your single go to brazil. if you like cool water, go to northern california. if you like spanish girls got o costa rica. if you like sharks go to africa. if you like australian beer go to australia.

also watch teh movie Endless Summer. it might help you decide.