Saturday untill Monday will be big in the Algarve. This storm will be close to the main land:
So get your guns out.
Some advise; leave the west coast of the Algarve for what it is and go south. Where? Check this post with a surf spot map where you can the spots that are favourable to surf under these circumstances.
Enjoy the waves. We like to see your pictures.
Ripitup made this impressive footage of a great day in Southwest France: Hossegor. Watch and see for yourself. The waves look pretty doable. Don’t be fooled.
It’s one for your bucketlist: surfing in Europe in October. Europe made a transition from summer to Autumn. Days are getting shorter. The swells are getting longer. And the waves stronger.
The Basque Country and Les Landes are good to go. Check out the Hossegor Pro if you’re around. Also check places around like Guethary, Cenitz and Lafitenia.
Hossegor will show more of this in October:
The swell can be pretty strong (in that case, check Hendaye. Also better for beginners). Ride safe.
More about surfing in France.
The North of Spain is also an excellent choice for October. If you’r lucky Mundaka will show here best attitude. Looking for more mellow waves? Check spots like Oyambre and San Vicente.
More about surfing in Spain.
October is in our opinion one of the best months, probably the best month, for Portugal. Whether it’s round Lisbon or the Alentejo (between Lisbon and the Algarve). Swells are almost secured. And the weather is still super nice. Extend your summer!
When Ribeira d’Ilhas is on:
Check our Ericeira Surf Guide.
Looking for some good accommodation? Search here.
Check out Europe’s surf forecast, with the best spots visible on one page.
Check out the European surf seasons guide. And get monthly information where to go in Europe.
Also read:
Covershot by Ripitup
Original article by Surfgirlmag
In an interview with Surf Girl Magazine, Nienke Duinmeijer talked about the growing surf culture in the Netherlands. Nienke Duinmeijer is Patagonia amassador and longboarder (this dutch lady won several contests).
Nienke, how did you get into surfing?
I grew up in a small coastal town in Holland. Surfing was not really known in the area, except for windsurfing which was really popular at that time (some people in Holland still think I use a sail when I say I surf).
When I was 12 I joined the local lifeguarding community as a youth member together with my nieces. We always loved the beach and doing sports, so this was a great way to be active on the beach and at the same time learn about currents, life saving and waves. The senior lifeguard at that time was one of the few surfers of the area and he learned how to surf in Australia. He taught us how to surf in Holland and I loved it immediately. From that moment I spent all my money on surfboards, wetsuits and trips… and still do 17 years later!
Why did you choose longboarding?
I surfed both shortboards and longboards for a long time, but in the end I found out that I improved a lot more in longboarding and got better at it. I liked that. I also loved the fact that you can put your own style in it and make it very personal in that way. Plus the waves in Holland are usually a bit smaller so picking a longboard guarantees you much more waves.
I still use a longboard 95% of the time, but I also enjoying bodysurfing and surfing my fish just to have a different approach of surfing sometimes. Longboarding is also very technical. To learn how to turn a 9’4 foot board in a different direction takes some technique for sure.
Describe the surf culture there?
Oh I love the surf culture in Holland. During my travels I found out that nobody really can beat the Dutch in terms of determination and stoke for surfing. The Dutch are so keen to surf in any kind of conditions and temperature. They will paddle out in 2 foot mushy waves or onshore 7ft on a winter day. There’s so much stoke and joy for surfing.The surf culture is also still relatively small and young, so everybody has a connection with somebody which creates a nice community.
What are the names of the top surf spots?
Wijk aan Zee and Scheveningen are the main spots because of the jetties. But when there is swell and not much wind, you can basically go anywhere to score waves. The islands in the North are worth a visit as well.
The surf in Holland is not as consistent as in France for example, but we can get pretty good Northern swells now and then. Just don’t set your expectations too high, and you will be surprised by the surf. But I guess that’s how life works in general.
What board size and wetsuit thickness best suits a surf there?
The right wetsuit thickness depends a lot on the time of the year. August and September are usually very comfortable and you will only need a 3/2 mm or even a shorty when the weather is nice.
In February and March though, you will need a full 6 or 5 mm suit including booties, hat and gloves. And some balls.
Regarding board size; I always like an in between board in Holland. A minimal or fish for example. A shortboard which is too small and narrow (we call these boards tooth pickers in Holland) won’t really work in most conditions and a too classic longboard won’t work as well.
You will need a bit of rocker and flex in your board in order to absorb irregularities in the waves but also some volume as the waves are not that powerful most of the time.
What’s a cool Dutch saying (in Dutch and it’s meaning)?
For surfers in Holland that would be ‘Dikke klotsbak’. It describes the sea when there is a lot of onshore winds and very mushy wave conditions.
Morocco is the land of the righthanders. New Zealand is the land of the lefthanders (amongst others). Watch Oli Adams and Billy Stairmand surfing these magical waves.
A new movie by John John Florence. Take a look at this epic cinematography. And take a close look at 2:21. If that doesn’t give you shivers…
Warning: you’ll get fired up.
Often impossible to surf long waves. Because it’s really fast on a reef. But in August, when big swells hit Indonesia Impossibles became possible to ride long walls.
As you can see below. Wish we were there.
September might be the best month to visit France. Summer is still present and swells are frequent (on an average).
The Vendee is great to go. Super quiet, awesome reefbreaks (go search!).
Les Conches (Bud Bud) – Vendee, France
But also the Basque Country in the southwest of France and the beach breaks of Les Landes are worth to take a look and paddle out. Of course Bretagne is good to go too, but weatherwise it can be a bad month. But as the Breton people say: it only rains on fools.
Lafitinea – Basque Country, France
Spain (Basque County) is perfect in this month. But plan your trip more towards the end of the month.
Check surfpots around San Sebastian, like Zarautz, and Bilbao, like Sopalena. More into longboarding? Check places as Salinas and San Vicente de la Barquera.
San Vicente – Asturias, Spain
Check out Europe’s surf forecast, with the best spots visible on one page.
Check out the European surf seasons guide. And get monthly information where to go in Europe.
Also read:
Be aware.
August is the busiest surf holiday month of the year in Europe. That means crowded beaches and line ups in for example France.
So, where to go?
But there are also some really good and more quiet places to surf and still enjoying the European surf summer.
But the French beaches are packed you said? Yep. But when the beaches like Lacanau get packed, head for Britanny.
Britanny (Finistere) will see waves every day. For every level. The water is cold though and it can get rainy. But as the Bretons say: it only rains on fools. Surfing in empty line ups is out there. Point breaks, beachs breaks. All you could wish for. Check out surf spots as Baie de Trepasses, St Tugen, Plovan.
As mentioned for july Galicia is good place to go. But also check out Portugal a bit more south from Galicia. Northern Portugal is still a remote area. Meaning pretty empty line ups.
Check out the European surf seasons guide. And get monthly information where to go in Europe.
Also read:
One-and-a-half years after receiving an ecoboard ‘Level One’ qualification, Jabali Surfboards has moved up to join a select group of surfboard builders with a ‘Gold Level’ accreditation.
“This means we are building the most eco-friendly boards that are currently out there, worldwide” explains Job Verpoorte, builder and shaper at Jabali Surfboards. “With a basis of sustainably grown wood and using epoxy with a high plantbased content we are on the right path to build eco-friendlier boards. To qualify we did not only have to present material specifications, but also dig into farming and production methods with our suppliers.”
With popularity of surfing on the rise, and a higher demand for surfboards, the environment is increasingly under pressure. In response, the surf industry is working towards a completely eco-friendly surfboard for both beginners and professionals.
“It is quite a challenge. That is why we started making wooden surfboards with a foam core in addition to our hollow boards”, continues Job. “Such boards allow us to make lighter boards with the same strength, which is an advantage when building shortboards and kiteboards. We use either ecofriendly or recycled foam to make sure we stay on the eco-friendly path.”
Jabali Surfboards is a shaper that designs and crafts handmade wooden surf and kiteboards in their workshop in Brugge, Belgium.
Ecoboard is a project by sustainablesurf.org, an independent global organisation that aims to make surfboard production more eco-friendly.
For more information, visit www.jabalisurfboards.com.
