Best place to surf in Kauai

[photocodo]

My father-in-law recently moved to Anahola and my wife and I are going out for 10 days in May. Im looking for some info on places to surf. Ill give a little background info on myself which may help direct the recommendations.

I lived in Santa Barbara CA for 4 years and mainly surfed Rincon. Im very familiar and comfortable on a long board (anything in the 8-10foot range) but my favorite board was my Stepchild. I can ride shortboards but since I will be renting I assume it will be on a longer board. I haven't surfed in a few years since I moved from CA to Asheville NC but Im looking forward to being out on the water again. Im not looking to get onto any local waves, just somewhere my wife and I can have fun together.

It looks like Anahola beach park has some surfing, his house is on the river that goes right to that beach so we may even be able to paddle right from the back door to the beach. That being said I don't mind driving to get some waves either.

I hope this was enough information and I look forward to any suggestions. Thanks for the help in advance

Cody

[oldmansurfer]

Anahola has some breaks maybe can longboard and if school is in session might be a reasonable choice. But for someone who hasn't surfed maybe Hanalei on one of the sandbar breaks particularly by the pier or Kalapaki (in Lihue) has really good longboard waves most often and a friendly crew unless the waves are up.

[oldmansurfer]

If you take some lessons the instructors can point you to some good waves. There are several groups that work out of Hanalei and at least one in Kalapaki. I live on Kauai so let me know if I can help you more.

[photocodo]

Thanks for the help. I probably won't be taking lessons as I already know how to surf. Looking forward to the trip thought.

[oldmansurfer]

Well after not surfing for a few you will have to see how it goes. There are some really great breaks all around the island. Anahola can have everything for every kind of surfer including huge big waves and waves good for small kids, but the crowd there can be not too friendly sometimes. I don't get around to the breaks much anymore but hear things from other surfers. Breaks where lessons are being taught tend to be more friendly breaks. Where I surf (Wailua beach) is occasionally good for longboarders but most often only good for the more experienced. It tends to have a friendly crowd (and lessons are taught there). In May the north shore (Hanalei) and Anahola aren't likely to have a big swell (although it's possible) which would be good for fun surfing and less aggressive crowds (if it's not completely flat) however I hear at Anahola the kids who are school aged can be a problem. Likewise I hear the crowd level is less during working/school days. I work so can't confirm this Early morning surfing is also less crowded. Around 9 am the crowd starts to show up at most breaks. If you are respectful most surfers won't cause you problems except for some kids.

[Soulmancer]

Most fun I had was at Polihale but the swell needs to be pretty small otherwise the currents get demonic and the bigger sets can crush you.

[oldmansurfer]

http://www.teok.com/drowning-deaths-in-kauai-ocean-shoreline-waters/ A description of the to be expected water conditions and other safety information related to drowning on Kauai. Just read through this to get an idea what happens over here in the ocean.

[oldmansurfer]

Here is another page from the same site that goes into more detail about surf and conditions and what to expect when and where http://www.teok.com/kauai-beach-dynamics/

[oldmansurfer]

The island in surrounded by breaks but the break you mention is sometimes really good for longboards. There is a long reef that goes out to the left of the river and I hear sometimes has really great waves especially for longboards so I hear but I haven't ever surfed there. There are so many good waves it really depends on your level of expertise as to where is the best to go. I have surfed a bunch of breaks all over Kauai but not recently and never that break by the rivermouth in Anahola. On the other side of Anahola bay there is an old pier basically just the pylons sticking out of the water and I have surfed that break a few times but not in the last 30 years. There are other breaks so I hear. Down the coast a ways is a break my friends and I used to call Braziers because it has two peaks. It's a left that breaks over a shallow reef and needs a bigger swell to break in deep enough water to be marginally safe but next to it is a right which I never surfed and I have heard it might be good for longboards depending on the swell.

[Namu]

If you haven't surfed in a few years you should hit the pool and start lap swimming to get some paddle conditioning back before your trip. You will be smoked in 45 minutes and sore for two days after surfing if your fitness level isn't up.