"...this is just the kind of thing that the surfing community needs!"
The Best Longboard Waves in the World, According to the Locals
We've asked surf camp owners around the world to rate the single best longboard wave in their country. Below is the result so far, sorted alphabetically.
AUSTRALIA - FIRST POINT, NOOSA, QUEENSLAND
Description: "Internationally famous mal wave, home of the Noosa Longboard festival in early March every year."
Break type: Point break
Wave direction: East swell
Ideal wind: South East Wind
Ideal tide: Low to mid tides
Hazards: Some rocks and small reef around the point wave but mainly sand bottom
Average water temperature: Water temp never below 19 degrees, up to 26 degrees
Recommended by Merrick, at Noosa Surf Camp
BRAZIL - PRAIA DO ROSA, SOUTH CORNER - IMBITUBA, SANTA CATARINA
Description: "IT IS AN EXCELLENT WAVE FOR LONG BOARDS, IT CAN HOLD BIG SWELLS UP TO 10-12 FEETS, MELLOW RIDABLE FACE WAVES TO BOTH SIDES, AND GETS PERFECT SHAPES WHEN IT IS OFFSHORE WIND (SOUTH), THERE IS A CHANNEL BY THE ROCKS (CORNER SOUTH OF THE BEACH) WHICH IS THE EASY WAY TO PADDLE OUT WHEN IT IS BIG. THIS BEACH RECENTLY HOSTED THE OXBOW LONGBOARD CONTEST (2 YEARS AGO)."
Location: IMBITUBA
Beach type: BEACH BREAK
Wave direction: LEFTS AND RIGHTS
Ideal wind: SOUTH OR WEST
Ideal swell: SOUTH, SOUTHEST or SOUTHEWEST
Ideal tide: LOW TO HIGH
Hazards: Beautiful girls in Brazilian bikinis on the beach can be very distracting. ;)
Average water temperature: 73 Fahr
Recommended by Hans at Nexus Surf Florianopolis
LANZAROTE - MORRO NEGRO / LA SANTA RIGHT, LA SANTA
Description: "Morro Negro works in just about all tides and swell directions making it one of Lanzarote's most consistent waves.
This excellent right hand point break has 3 distinct lineup points and the walls are long and powerful with occasional tubey sections.
On big days the sections link up creating a huge wave with rides of over 200m. But this is a serious wave in big swells - experienced surfers only!"
Location: La Santa, Lanzarote
Break type: Reef point
Wave direction: Right hander
Ideal wind: Offshore in south easterly winds
Ideal swell: North westerly
Ideal tide: Mid to high
Hazards: Tricky entry, heavy when big, locals
Average water temperature: summer 22-24C, winter 18-19C
Recommended by Paul, at Zoco Surf Travel
NEW ZEALAND - RAGLAN, MANU BAY
Description: "Raglan has a long ride & workable 'longboard wave' at high tide (shortboard wave at low-tide)."
Location: Manu Bay, Raglan
Break type: Point break
Wave direction: South west
Ideal wind: South east
Ideal swell: 4' to 5'
Ideal tide: High tide
Hazards: Rocks
Average water temperature: 16 deg to 17 deg
Recommended by Mike, at Piha Surf Camp and Accommodation
SENEGAL - N'GOR RIGHT, NGOR ISLAND, DAKAR
Description: "This wave is good for all kind of surfers, but for the longboarder it can be perfect. It's not a hollow wave, so the take off it's pretty easy. Up to 2 meters, it's just a nice wall of water with three different section. When it connect properly, it's a 250 meters ride. The water is so clear and during your ride, you can enjoy a nice reef view full of fish.Remenber the first " endless summer movie "? Their first step was on this wave. Kind of famous, and deserves it."
Location: Situated at the end of the N'gor island, on the north side of Dakar peninsul
Break type: This is a very good reef volcanic bottom; We can call it a reef break.
Wave direction: The best direction for the wave is a north west swell.
Ideal wind: For the wind, like always, a little off shore is always what we want.
Ideal tide: There is a few rocks, so we better want to go on high tide or mid tide. It's possible to surf on low tide, but at your own risk.
Hazards: The hazards are mainly two rocks at the inside ( Papy and Mamy ) and the millions of hurchins on the bottom. But normaly it's safe.
Average water temperature: In the winter, the temperature of the water is around 18 degrees, and during the summer is 27 degrees.
Recommended by Phillipe, at Ngor Island Surf Camp
SOUTH AFRICA - THE POINT, JEFFREYS BAY
Description:"Further down from supertubes, past impossibles, salad bowls and tubes, lies the point. Its about two thirds of the way down the length of the point from the outside peak at supertubes.
Its a mellower version of supertubes, but still walls up fairly fast and offers a couple of fun light barrel sections. Perfect longboard wave!!!
A few years ago the oxbow world longboard championship was held at the point".
Location: 2 sections after legendary 'supertubes' in Jeffreys Bay
Break type: Righthand pointbreak that breaks on stone reef
Wave direction: Righthand pointbreak
Ideal wind: South westerly
Ideal swell: South westerly
Ideal tide: low to midtide pushing
Hazards: None. Very mellow.
Average water temperature: 17 celsius
Recommended by Robbie van Der Lindie, at Jeffreys Bay Surf Trips
SPAIN - LOREDO BEACH, CANTABRIA
Description:"Super fun, rippable banks all year round, board shorts in the summer. Good laid back vibe. Plenty of room, free showers, free parking and good bar!".
Location: Loredo, Cantabria, Spain
Break type: Beach
Wave direction: NW - NE
Ideal wind: South
Ideal swell: North West
Ideal tide: Mid to High
Hazards: None
Average water temperature: 16 celsius
Recommended by Chris Thomson, at Errant Travels, Loredo
