1 0 G R E AT S U R F I N G D E S T I N AT I O N S A PA RT F R O M H AWA I I

C R E A T E D B Y H A N N A H C O R N E T T

• Surfing is an ancient pastime, originating among Polynesian islanders and first recorded by Europeans in the 18th century.

• Hawaii is the center of modern surf culture, with Hawaiian George Freeth being credited as the “Father of Modern Surfing.”

• And yes, while the waves of Hawaii are undoubtedly an excellent place for surfing, why limit yourself to one set of islands?

• A recent article listed 10 great additional surfing locations around the world where surfers flock for the most radical swells and point breaks, here’s a recap…

G O L D C O A S T, A U S T R A L I A

• Thanks to the 70 kilometers of beaches and four epic point breaks, the Gold Coast of Queensland has earned its nickname “Surfer’s Paradise.”

• You can check out such spots as The Spit, Narrowneck, Mermaid Beach, Palm Beach, Main Beach, Snapper Rocks Superbank, Kirra, Burleigh Heads and South Stradbroke Island.

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M E N TAWA I I S L A N D S , I N D O N E S I A

• Located off the western coast of Sumatra, the Mentawai Islands are one of the world’s most consistent surf destinations.

• There are altogether four main islands noted for their perfect waves: Siberut, Sipora, North and South Pagi, which you can access by way of ferry or charter boat.

• The best time to visit is between March and October, although the biggest swells usually occur from June to September.

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J E F F R E Y S B AY, S O U T H A F R I C A

• In the Eastern Cape of South Africa, about an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth lies Jeffreys Bay, one of the most famous surfing destinations in the world.

• Especially great for the summer months of June, July and August, surfers come to ride such beaches as Super Tubes, Boneyards, Magna Tubes, Kitchen Windows, Albatross and Point.

• If you come out in July, you can catch the annual Billabong Pro WCT surfing event.

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F U E RT E V E N T U R A , S PA I N

• Part of the Canary Islands and latitudinally aligned with Florida and Mexico, the temperatures here seldom fall below 64 or rise above 75, making this an ideal surfing destination year-round.

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E L S A LVA D O R

• While fairly new to the surfing game, the Pacific coast of El Salvador has started to win the hearts of more and more surfers, thanks to such surf spots as La Libertad, Sunzal and El Zonte.

• The main surf season, coinciding with the rainy season, is from March to October, when south swells can reach up to 10 feet.

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C O S TA R I C A• Due to consistent waves year-

round, Costa Rica is a popular surfing location for the most hardcore and dedicated surfers.

• Both coastlines produce great waves, with the major swell season from April until October.

• If you’re looking for a specific spot, try Potrero Grande or Playa Naranjo.

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C A L I F O R N I A

• Thanks to the Beach Boys, California is synonymous with surfing, and for good reason.

• There’s something for everybody; big wave hunters can head to such places as the mountains of Maverick’s during the huge winter swells, while people who aren’t into bigger waves can go anywhere between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay.

• Just keep in mind that the water is cold almost year-round, and if you’re a novice that’s easily intimidated, that most spots will be crowded with very good surfers.

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B A L I , I N D O N E S I A

• A few of the legendary surf spots in Bali include the area around Bukit Peninsular, Dreamland, Kuta, Padang Padang and Uluwatu.

• With the swells coming from the Southern Ocean, Bali consistently sees waves up to 12 feet high in the peak swell season (April to November).

• The only problem is that Bali’s beaches tend to be pretty crowded, and you could get hassled a lot.

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S A N TA C ATA R I N A , B R A Z I L

• Due to its plethora of beach resorts, this region in southern Brazil is one of the country’s most-visited places.

• It’s blessed with the best that Brazil has to offer, including a huge variety of waves and great consistency.

• Some spots worth checking out include Mocambique, Joaquina Beach, Santinho, Praia Mole, Lagoinha do Leste and Campeche.

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S A M O A

• Thanks to its warm waters and consistently high-quality waves, Samoa is one of the world’s best surfing destinations, with plenty of swell year-round from pretty much every direction.

• Some of the best surf spots include Boulders, Salamumu and Tiavea, A’ufaga Village, Salani, Coconuts, Solosolo, Laulii and Fagaloa Bay.

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