A
respected surfing friend posed the question, "What might be considered
the 'Top 5' East Coast and 'Top 5' West Coast surf spots and why?"
My humble assessment follows, "I can give you my two cents, and why, but
must caveat it by saying many of these spots I have never surfed myself.
Nonetheless, we are both very familiar with them after 30+ years having
read about them or talked to others that have ridden these spots. I can
honestly say that on any given day you or another could easily persuade
me that spot "x" is better than one of the listed Top 5." This list
could easily be expanded to include other geographical areas.
East Coast USA
(no particular order)
| Reef Road |
Central Fla spot that holds
size, shape and speed |
| Sebastian Inlet |
Nice hot jetty wave |
| Cape Hatteras |
Take your pick - it's a
"spot" when you make the journey |
| Indian River
Inlet Southside |
Home of the suicide bodyboarders |
| Manasquan Inlet |
Awesome huge jetty break
in NJ - mouth watering since the '60s |
| Bonus |
The reefs and points in
Rhode Island and NE. |
West Coast USA
(no particular order)
| Mavericks |
The best big wave spot. |
| Rincón |
The best point break. |
| Malibu |
The best hot dogging, longboard
summer break. |
| Blacks |
The best for channeling
swell from any direction,
lefts & rights, all
size waves, exceptional "beach" break. |
| B** R*** |
Killer left on a sucking
shallow reef. |
| Bonus |
Northern Calif., Oregon
and Washington - mysto spots. |
Puerto Rico
(no particular order)
| Tres Palmas |
Western Atlantic destination
for large waves. |
| Maria's - Rincón |
Classic reef/point break
- my old "home" break. |
| Gas Chambers |
Inverted hollow, sucking
pits. |
| Wilderness |
Breaks from 2 to 20'. |
| Chatarra |
Sizzling left. |
| Bonus |
Outer reefs. |
Oahu
(no particular order)
| Sunset |
Reef/point break with an
infamous bowl. |
| Pipeline |
The left that sets the standard
for all others. |
| Waimea |
The legendary big wave challenge. |
| Ala
Moana |
South shore left with a
wide open face. |
| Sandy Beach |
Bodyboarder's pit haven. |
| Bonus |
Aloha. The rest of
the North Shore. |
The
"downsides" of all these waves: they are very well known and can become
extremely crowded, except for Hatteras' long stretch of ever moving sandbars.
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Top 5 Surfable Waves in the US
Bruce ?Snake? Gabrielson
May 8, 2003
There are many great surfing
breaks throughout the East Coast, West Coast, and Hawaii. This list presents
my pick of the top 8 surfing spots based on overall quality of the wave
as well as breaks that provide waves that many surfers can handle in any
size swell. I?ve also emphasized more those areas that offer less crowded
conditions and that are good for both longboard and shortboard surfing.
The list excludes spots like Mavericks that are primarily surfed by serious
big wave surfers, but includes Pipeline, primarily because of wave quality.
Several surfers provided their inputs in compiling this list.
Top 8 Overall
1. Sunset Beach, North Shore,
Oahu, Hawaii
2. Blacks Beach, LaJolla,
California
3. Cape Hatteras Region,
North Carolina
4. Trestles Region, San
Clemente, California
5. Malibu Beach, Malibu,
California
6. Pipeline, North Shore,
Hawaii
7. Sebastian Inlet Area,
Central Florida
8. Huntington Beach Region,
Huntington Beach, California
| East
Coast USA |
|
| 1.
Cape Hatteras Region (North Carolina) |
There are many quality spots
in this area. The breaks can handle swells from any direction, both
large and small, plus you can usually find a less-crowded rideable break
regardless of wind direction most of the time. |
| 2.
Sebastian Inlet Area (Including Spanish House and Monster Bowl) (Central
Florida) |
The inlet jetty is a fast
right breaking jetty wave that often gets crowded. The other beach
breaks in the area are challenging and offer plenty of great places to
surf. |
| 3.
Manasquan Inlet (Manasquan, New Jersey) |
A long breakwater/jetty
break that handles larger long, hollow waves. Experienced surfers
only. Good on east, south, and southeast swells. |
| 4.
Reef Road (Central Florida) |
A hollow fun spot that holds
size, shape and speed. Handles a northwest and north swell best. |
| 5.
Assateaque Island (Near Ocean City, Maryland) |
Several quality beach break
surfing areas that can handle large numbers and any ability. Best
on south swells and may close out when the surf gets big. |
| West Coast USA |
| 1.
Blacks (LaJolla, CA) |
This high quality, hollow,
powerful, beach break handles a swell from any direction and virtually
any size. There are numerous takeoff spots for lefts and rights that
don?t suffer from wind action until later in the day most of the time.
More experienced surfers only. Breaks on a northwest, west,
or southwest swell. |
| 2. Trestles Region
(San Clemente, CA) |
A series of point-like
breaks that offer high quality shaped long rights and also fast lefts regardless
of season and in almost every swell direction. The waves are consistent
regardless of tide (at low tide wear boots) plus the wind holds off from
trashing the surf most mornings. Crowds are in the water all day
long every day. |
| 3. Malibu Beach
(Malibu, CA) |
A summer right
point break with long high quality shaped waves. Subject to tremendous
crowds but many takeoff spots. Can be surfed on both short and longboard
with ease. |
| 4. Huntington
Beach Pier and Beach Region (Huntington Beach, CA) |
A long stretch
coast that provides a quality beach break wave regardless of tide and swell
direction. Surfable most every day. The Pier itself often
breaks like a point but is usually very crowded. |
| 5. Lanada Bay
(Palos Verdes, CA) |
A tremendous
quality powerful right reef and rock break with long lines. Can handle
large swells and breaks on northwest, north and west swell. Subject to
localism. |
| 6. Steamer Lane
Region (Including the Hook) (Santa Cruz, CA) |
A series of long
reef and rocky point breaks that offer fast quality waves, primarily for
more experienced surfers. The Lane breaks on low to mid tide
in northwest, north, southwest, and south swells. The surf can get
large and dangerous. |
| Oahu,
Hawaii |
| 1. Sunset (North
Shore) |
A high quality
right point break over a reef with an inside bowl. Capable of handling
any size swell. |
| 2. Pipeline (North
Shore) |
One of the world?s
best breaks. A steep hollow left and a backdoor right that get bigger
as the swell increases. Usually crowded and not a good place for
the less experienced. |
| 3. Haleiwa (North
Shore) |
A good quality
right point-like (jetty) and beach break that can handle strong swells
and be surfed by both experts and the less experienced alike. |
| 4. Ala Moana
Region (South Shore) |
Plenty of quality
lefts with a wide open faces. |
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