A while back, we had a young Jono Boysen as part of our team, and as a top Canadian wakeboarder we made him our in-house extreme watersport dude and let him loose. When it came around for us to feature surfing, he gave us his top surfing destinations in the USA, picking a variety of locales from all five corners of the USA (Hawaii being the fifth). As expected, they all look awesome and we’re inspired to visit them all eventually, and if you’re into surfing, no matter your level, you should too!
GAS CHAMBERS
WHERE: USA, Oregon (north).
Located in Pacific City at Cape Kiwanda.
EXPERIENCE: Experienced surfers
FREQUENCY: Regular
TYPE: Sandbar, and moves to the left
NORMAL LENGTH: Long (150–300 m)
SWELL SIZE: Starts working at 3–5 ft.
and holds up to 12 plus ft.
CROWDS: During the week there are few people,
but during the weekend it gets crowded.
Watch out for sharks.
RENTALS: Cruise the streets and you might
find a small surf shop.
OTHER INFO: This is a regional classic. Don’t miss it!
HONOLUA BAY
WHERE: USA, Hawaii, Maui
EXPERIENCE: Experienced surfers
FREQUENCY: Very consistent (150 days a year)
TYPE: Point-break, moving to the right with a reef bottom
NORMAL LENGTH: Normal (50–150 m), on long days (150–300 m)
SWELL SIZE: Starts working at 3–5 ft. and holds up to 12 plus ft.
CROWDS: Few people during the week and a small crowd on weekends.
RENTALS: It’s Hawaii; you’re bound to find something on every corner
OTHER INFO: The place is beautiful, but watch out for the whales that sometimes beach themselves. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear them talking underwater. This is a great break when it’s firing. Truly world class.
MALIBU
WHERE: USA, California, L.A. County.
EXPERIENCE: All surfers
FREQUENCY: World class. Very consistent (150 days a year)
TYPE: Point-break, moving to the right
NORMAL LENGTH: Long (150–300 m)
SWELL SIZE: Starts working at less than 3 ft., getting bigger and bigger
CROWDS: As it is a public accessed beach, you can expect it to always be crowded, no matter what day of the week it is.
RENTALS: Cali is also known for its surfing worldwide, with tons of surf shops and board
rentals. Take a stroll on the boardwalk and see what you can find.
OTHER INFO: Right near L.A., this is a tourist destination, so expect lots of people on the beach.
WEST END
WHERE: USA, Northeast, Long Island, N.Y.
EXPERIENCE: Experienced surfers
FREQUENCY: Very consistent (150 days a year)
TYPE: Breakwater/ jetty, moving to the right
NORMAL LENGTH: Short (less then 50 m)
SWELL SIZE: Starts working at 3–5 ft. and holds up to 12 plus ft.
CROWDS: During the week, it’s empty. If you’re a weekend warrior, accept small crowds.
OTHER INFO: Lots of hazards to look out for: rips, rocks, man-made danger (buoys, etc.), locals, and sharks.
COCOA BEACH PIER
WHERE: USA, Southeast, North Florida, about an hour outside Orlando
EXPERIENCE: All surfers
FREQUENCY: Regular
TYPE: Beach-break that moves to the
left and right, sand bottom
NORMAL LENGTH: Short (less than 50 m),
on a good day (50–150 m)
SWELL SIZE: Starts working at less than 3 ft. and holds up to 6 plus ft.
CROWDS: Weekend crowds, but during the week it’s less crowded. Don’t be afraid to check it out even though you’re looking to lounge on the beach and meet lots of people.
RENTALS: Cocoa Beach is known for Ron Jon Surf Shop, which is the biggest in the world. A board will run you about $30 US. However, if you look around the area, there are other surf shops with cheaper rates and some offer lessons.
OTHER INFO: Since it’s close to Orlando, you can check out Disneyworld and Universal Studios
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