Surf at the West Coast

Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 March 2010 13:22 Written by Helga McLeod Tuesday, 02 March 2010 09:34

South African holidays - sights and activities - Surfing

Surfing on the West Coast - Melkbos to Elandsbaai, South Africa

Surf at Strandfontein, West Coast, South Africa
This right-hand beach break has shifty sandbanks, is bumpy and fickle - make sure you catch it on northeast windy days on incoming tides.

Surf at Doring Bay, West Coast, South Africa
With left reef breaks and insides running along rocks, surfing this bay you'll need a southeast (or east) wind.

Surf at Donkin Bay, West Coast, South Africa
With left-point breaks, this bay needs strong swells as the outside reef stops much of it. Low tides are do-able here. You might stumble upon a great big-wave reef if you're lucky enough.

Surf at Yo-Yos, West Coast, South Africa
Lamberts Bay's river mouth has great sandbank peaks during low tides and is best when calm or with light northeasters and an easy swell.

Surf at Garbage Dumps, West Coast, South Africa
With the garbage right and garbage left, you will encounter kelp and need a6 foot swell at least. The right point is great in a west swell and the left is great at low tide, when an OK point break.

Surf at Farmer Burgers, West Coast, South Africa
South of Lamberts Bay you will find a fun 3 - 5 foot wave in northeast berg winds.

Surf at Elands Bay, West Coast, South Africa
Famous for fantastic surfing it is now over-populated with all sorts of water enthusiasts. The spot offers a rocky point-break ending at a small river mouth and on good days you will find a big swell peaking off an outside reef and down the point creating a fast cylindrical wall for over 150m long. A western swell of over 6 foot will be required to create a 4 foot and best in light east to southeast winds.

Surf at Stompneus, West Coast, South Africa
Just off St Helena Bay you will find a left-hand point, turning 230 degrees to reach Shelley Points inside southeast-facing bowl - if there's a huge west swell to help wrap it. Ideally surfed in winter when groundswells are huge.

Surf at Pastures, West Coast, South Africa
Like Stompneus, Pastures is a left-hand point north of Shelley Point with a double-pointed headland north of Cape Columbine it pumps during a giant west swell and during massive winter groundswells. You can expect long lulls with regular sets.

Surf at Hell, West Coast, South Africa
Just before Heaven, you will find a rocky spot that is wild, faces north and with a southwest to southern wind creates huge westerly groundswell in high tide. A scary, but exhilarating ride of 6 - 9 foot if swell is clean and spaced-out.

Surf at Heaven, West Coast, South Africa
This hush-hush spot is not so secret when the surf is pumping before or after cold fronts. Then you can expect a huge 15 - 20 foot storm-swell and Heaven creates thick walls of at least 70 metres long, with exhilarating bowl section halfway through. So, if you have the heart, head for Heaven on a good day.

Surf at Cape St Martin, West Coast, South Africa
During south or southeast windy days, you'll find this spot entertaining left-hander that picks up more swell than Pastures or Heaven and is often the option when Heaven isn't. Similar swells to Elands Bay.

Surf at Ascensions, West Coast, South Africa
Just next to Cape St Martin you will find (if you're lucky) a rocky reef point that delivers beautifully from mid-tide in west swell and medium wind.

Surf at Paternoster, West Coast, South Africa
During medium west swell and easy east winds, you will find beautiful left reef breaks.

Surf at Trekoskraal, West Coast, South Africa
Just north of Trekoskraal you will find the super Supertubes that creates huge swell and a small right-haner corollas further on. Head out that way for a camping weekend when there's light easterly or berg winds.

Surf at Vredenburg Point, West Coast, South Africa
On high tides, with 5 - 8 foot swells and easy winds, you can expect great left-hand point breaks (and exciting surf in deep water off the rocks)

Surf at Swartriet, West Coast, South Africa
After paying your way in, you will be happy to find a nice beach break with 3 foot swells and light northeast to southeast winds.

Surf at Jacobsbaai, West Coast, South Africa
With a west swell and light northeaster this spot offers left-hand reefs.

Surf at Churchhaven, West Coast, South Africa
Here you will find the road taking you to the ever-great Sestienmylstrand with great breaks.

Surf at Yzterfontein Harbour, West Coast, South Africa
Inside the harbour you will occasionally get the fickle left reef point break.

Surf at Schaapeiland, West Coast, South Africa
This spot is radical when it gets big and gets hectically hollow. If you want an easier ride, check out the sandbar peaks further down. Great during 4 foot west swells and easy northwest to northeast wind.

Surf at Ganzekraal, West Coast, South Africa
When the swell is massive and the east to northeast winds is blowing, you'll find a cracker left point just south of Ganzekraal.

Surf at Bokpunt, West Coast, South Africa
A slow-mover, right-hand fickle point break with a chance of getting good during north breezes and big swell.

Surf at Farmer Duckitt's, West Coast, South Africa
On Sandsteenbaai'ss eastern side, you'll find the fast right-hander that with big swell and clean winds create exciting and sharp rides.

Surf at Silwerstroom, West Coast, South Africa
Great waves during days of light winds and clean west swells.

Surf at Gas Chambers, West Coast, South Africa
After leaving your car at the boom and walking for a while you will be rewarded with 6 footers if there's light northeast winds and the swell is clean. This is the place to head out to when Cape Town is down.

Surf at Matroosbaai, West Coast, South Africa
South of the Silwerstroom's boom-gate (above) is a spot of sandbar point breaks from the pump house to the south. Great with medium swell and easy northeast winds.

Find a bed & breakfast in the area.

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