the weirdest, most remote, and dangerous surf destinations in the world
You’re funnelling through a crystal clear tunnel of blue, surrounded on all sides by water. You’re hurtling away from a jagged cliff face, or maybe being pushed along on your board by a suddenly roaring river. The surf spots below present a blend of epic and frightening, weird and wonderful - combining amazing destinations with some of the craziest waves on the planet.
nazare - portugal,
In October of 2020 the coast outside a quiet, Portuguese fishing village gave rise to a 101 foot wave. It was tackled by a lone surfer, António Laureano, who’d surfed a 80 feet wave off the same coast of Nazare only three years ago. While the pretty, terracotta town has always brought holidays goers to its beaches, today, the waves outside of Nazare continue to draw thrill seeking surfers from around the world. What makes the waves so big? It’s due to a large underwater canyon over 200km long, that splits waves in two before joining them together further on for even bigger heights. To see these wave in person is awe inspiring. Residents and surfers head to the top of the local lighthouse to glimpse the waves as they unfold up close, providing some truly terrifying photos as proof.
faroe islands - denmark
A collection of 18 islands off the coast of Denmark is, somewhat surprisingly, home to some of the biggest and most frightening waves in the world. The modest island towns, with less than 50 000 people, houses only two local surfers, but recently there’s been an increase in international wave seekers heading to Faroe. What makes the waves so dangerous? Well to start, you have to take into account the rugged coastline that stretches across the island’s perimeter. A trip around the island’s beaches will show foaming waves lashing against dark rocks, pebbled shores and jagged cliff faces. The coast also receives strong currents from the Atlantic swell, generating sizeable waves with a tremendous amount of energy. The Faroe Islands offer a dramatic change of scene for visiting surfers, pulling in plenty of locals who love to admire the show.
myanmar
For those looking for a quiet surfing destination, or a unique cultural experience, Myanmar - recently known as burma- certainly fits the bill. Many of its beaches are largely unexplored, which means there’s plenty of surfing potential yet to be discovered on this small, isolated coastline in southeast Asia. It is only just starting to make a name for itself in the surfing world. With the recent creation of the Myanmar surf association, and its participation in multiple surf competitions in south east Asia. theres a lot here to explore for those in the surfing world, as there was even a significant river bore recently discovered. Both locals and travellers alike will continue to be drawn to the countries mysterious surfing possibilities in the years to come.
Shipstern bluff - tasmania
Sharks, dangerous cliff breaks, metre high waves, shipstern bluff is one of the most dangerous surfing spots in the world. The waves generated here are also notoriously difficult to surf due to their bizarre formation. Reaching up to 10 metres tall, the tunnelling waves that form here give a strange step like appearance, so unique that locals once thought they were a myth. Because of the unusual shape of the reef below, the waves seem to double over themselves, creating a chaotic, swirling tunnel of water that only the best surfers in the world can tackle.
Severn river - England
England is probably the last location you’d expect to see on a list of epic surfing spots, but a river as well? The river severn is actually the longest river in England, and though it meanders through stretches of quiet country, its known for some very unique waves. This is due to the severn bore, which you can only catch once or twice a year. Tides are funnelled into a very narrow estuary, which causes ripple upon ripple of small but long stretching waves all the way along the river. It’s the bizarre seen of handfuls of surfers making their way into the river for the event, with surfboards and paddle boards, that makes this natural phenomenon all the more special.
Reykjanes peninsula - Iceland
Surfboards and snow don’t tend to go together, but this unexpected addition proves otherwise. Iceland offers some spectacular waves during stormy seasons, rising up beneath snowy glaciers, jagged cliffs, and basalt volcanos. According to experts, the best time of year to surf in Iceland is around October to March, which means you’ll need a tolerance for cold. Besides from the freezing water temperatures, the biggest challenge for surfers is reading the weather and understanding breaks off of the Icelandic coast. Some of the best waves are found near rocky cliffs and beaches, making it crucial know when and where the safest and best waves are to be found. For the expert surfers who are willing to brave the Icelandic coastline, usually around the Reykjanes Peninsula, this small island offers a surfing experience unlike anything else.