All over the world, surf zones steal headlines with AAA waves, great set-ups and thriving surf communities. Those factors make each one feel distinct and in some ways, connected to each other. But what about those countries that don’t often see that sort of mainstream traction – but still have brilliant surf scenes?
There are hundreds of underrated surf spots across the globe. They’re all not going to make your bucket list, but the locals there are doing it anyway, creating their own movement and surfing whatever crops up. And, for the most part, are happy to share with the rest of the world how good their spots can be.
For instance, we know a certain traveling surfer is interested in a European country that’s off the beaten path. When they mentioned it to locals, there was ‘no, don’t come here,’ but more about logistics planning, things to show them, swell information and so much more. And that’s probably because good days are not as frequent as other more mainstream spots.
What does underrated mean exactly? It’s about those destinations where you can surf, but not might necessarily appeal to everyone for a whole range of different reasons. Here’s a few of them.
Albania
When we talk about traditional surfing nations, Albania isn’t even on the page. Albania has the Adriatic Sea to the north and the Ionian Sea to the south, which are part of the wider Meditteranean Sea. Now, the Med does get waves – and can be powered up when Medicanes rifle through this surf zone. But when this happens, it’s usually the likes of Italy that gets the most attention. But given the right swell, Albania’s coastline can come alive – just not as frequently as its neighbouring contries. And even then, Albania is more reliant on short-period local wind swells to get things moving. What surfers look for is Bora swells – a powerful, but cold, north easterly wind that runs down the Balkan mountains and over the Adriatic. This can help whip up those close-to-shore wind swells, creating surf where you least expect it. Forecasting can be a bit of a nightmare but get it right and you’re in for an exploratory mission and adventure.
Uruguay
It shouldn’t be any surprise that Uruguay picks up swell. The country is sandwiched between Brazil and Argentina and though we hear much of the Brazilian surfers – it’s rare you hear of a pro out of Uruguay. Unless you were watching the 2016 Pipe Masters, when Marco Giorgi made it to the semifinals before being knocked out by Kelly Slater and Bruce Irons. But its position facing into the South Altantic offers a whole range of decent set ups. Playa Brava can be a punchy Hossegor-esque beach break, producing fast, powerful waves with hollow sections when a decent swell washes in from the east or southeast. Head over there from November through March for the best results and get ready for a paddle – rips can be strong.
Related: When to Surf Every Continent on Earth for the Best Waves
Taiwan
Have you heard of Neil ‘Moonwalker’ Armstrong? Neil’s a surfer and photographer out of Australia who now operates surf tours in Taiwan. Some of his work has helped position the country as a place to visit amongst surf circles, especially when typhoons start to stir out of the Pacific Ocean. Taiwan may be on your surfing list already but it’s certainly not up there in the realms of must-visit destinations. There’s a whole list of diverse set ups too, powerful beach breaks, point breaks, a few river mouth waves – all found along the east, southeast and south coasts. The east coast is home to the most consistent surf, around Jinzun Harbour, featuring black sand beaches and boulder points too.
England
That’s right. For all the publicity England has had over the years, people are still shocked there are decent waves there. The surf zones of the country’s south, like Cornwall and Devon, west pick up the most consistent swells. But further up the English Channel there’s a whole range of other surf spots that probably won’t make it to the international travel list — but can have their day. During the summer, on a rare swell, the water turns translucent with mini-barrels breaking over golden sand beaches. Like most beach breaks, you’re at the whim of the sand – and how the storms shape that sand means it’s either going to be a very good, or very bad, season. There’s also a few powerful reefbreaks around and a few out-of-the-way big wave spots aside from the popular Cribbar, which breaks off the coast of Newquay. Ireland both literally and figuratively overshadows England for surf quality and international draw-power but it’s worth a look if you’re heading that way.
Sardinia
Another Mediterranean spot that has escaped the public eye. Surfer Alessandro Piu grew up in Sardinia and has spent the past few years documenting his findings. He’s also the seven time Italian champion. Despite perhaps being lesser-known than other Med spots, Sardinia is quite consistent and can hold powerful swells during the winter months. There’s a solid mix of beach breaks, reefs and points and at least one novelty wave involving a cave mouth. You may have heard of Capo Mannu? The legendary west coast right-hand point break that faces directly into the rest of the Med. The southwest coast offers a whole range of spots for beginners too. Worth a look if you’re heading through the Old Continent any time soon – and want to keep off the beaten path.
Related: Surfers of North East England Reveal the Hidden Heart of the Cold Water Coastline