An important part of the Polynesian culture, Hawaii surfing used to be a privileged activity of the royalty in the old times. Living with the best waves all year round was a common fact in these islands, and the sport came to be made popular in the 1920s when it was brought to the public attention by the Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku. And it has definitely come a long way ever since. Hawaii surfing waves are specific to the two seasons, the biggest are registered on the North shores in winter between November and March, when the ocean storms from Alaska hit the coasts of Hawaii.

Hawaii surfing is not possible on the North shores during the summer months since the waves are as flat as glass. The South shores are now the most rewarding, with tropical storms bringing some very good waves too, though not as incredible as those on the North part of the islands. Hawaii surfing definitely attracts thousands of tourists all year round,  being a favorite location for other water sports fans. Oahu is for instance the destination for anyone eager to take part to some highly spectacular Hawaii surfing championships. Then, the Banzai Pipeline is another touristic surfing attraction, since here you will find the most famous surfing break with beautiful crests and some marvelous tubes.

Beginners who want to try Hawaii surfing should go to Waikiki Beach, this is the main location to try in summer time, whereas during winter less professional surfers should take Kauai or Kalapaki Beach as their first destination. Challenging experiences are also available with the monster waves of Kealia Beach where you are very likely to encounter some of the most famous surfers in the world. The best term to describe the kind of Hawaii surfing specific to the winter months is “rough”.

Last but not least, Hawaii surfing isn't exactly the cheapest type of recreational activity you could get involved in. On the contrary, the luxurious resorts and the equipment renting facilities could seem a bit more or less expensive for the regular tourists depending on what you need. Even so, you can bring your surfboard and stuff with you and thus cut on the expenses. The rules of the sport apply to Hawaii surfing like to any other international location of the same kind. Make sure you know all you need about the surfing rules, before embarking on the adventure. Have fun!

Barbados Surfing conditions are ideal for any level of surfer. Barbados is almost guaranteed to have surf somewhere on any given day of the year. Coral reefs practically encircle Barbados' coastline giving the island the Caribbean's most consistent surf conditions with swells all year round. You can find point breaks and reef breaks on the island, rights and lefts. To cap it all off you can travel to anywhere on the island in 45 minutes or less.

Check our list of hotels that are popular for the surfers who visit the island

Whether you are a beginner or advanced surfer there is something here for you, also available are surf lessons and surf tours. Even the most advanced surfer know that there is nothing like local knowledge of a break. Zed is the man to talk considered by many to be one of the top and most knowledgeable surfers on the island he can organize a surf tour for you to suit your skill level.

The premier Surf Spot in the island is the Soup Bowl, which is like a magnet, if there is swell out there the Soup Bowl will catch it. The east coast boasts the most powerful and biggest waves. Sitting on the eastern coast of the island this is where the Atlantic unloads it’s power. With an offshore wind this is the spot every surfer dreams of riding. Careful this is an advanced spot and should not be taken lightly.

The north and west coasts of Barbados have some great spots as well, like Mullins, Sandy Lane, Batts Rock and Tropicana to name a few, but these only go off with a north swell.

On the South there are breaks like South Point, Freights, Brandons and Surfers Point. Check our listings of Surf Breaks for more information on these and other beaks on the island.

The warm waters of the Caribbean and laid back lifestyle of the people coupled with the stunning tropical scenery make this a surf destination well worth your time. Beware many who make the trip return again and again and again.

While Barbados has swell all year the best time for solid ground swell is from October to March when waves can range anywhere from 2 to 12 ft in the north and east of the island and 2 to 8 ft for other breaks. This is also the time for the West to cash in on north swells. From April to September the surf is between 2 to 6ft, coupled with lighter winds, especially in the summer this can make for near perfect glassy conditions - ideal for a great surfing vacation.

Want to learn to surf but don't know where to start? Surfing lessons are all about taking your surfing to the next level regardless of how much experience -- or lack thereof -- you may have. It's all about conquering fear, learning water safety, expanding your ocean and wave knowledge, and returning to the true essence of surfing -- fun and relaxation!

You're never too old to learn to surf. People of all ages are drawn to the majesty of our beautiful oceans. If you feel the call of the sun and surf pumping through your veins, it's time to find an instructor!

Learning to Surf -- Finding an Instructor

The internet is a great place to find instructors and research their backgrounds and
qualifications. Regardless of your reason for seeking out a surfing instructor there are a few things that you should consider mandatory: A long history of surfing (preferably professionally to some extent), up-to-date first aid certification, proven (preferably certified) surf rescue experience, and a thorough knowledge of wave, weather and wind conditions (which should be commensurate with the instructor's experience, i.e. The more time that they have spent in the water, the greater their understanding of the ocean and weather conditions).

There are many excellent surfing instructors throughout the world. Many have been involved in competitive surfing of some description or have at least spent enough time in the water to have a sound knowledge of the demands of the sport.

If you are on holidays at the seaside and just want to experience surfing as a holiday activity then you should not have too much trouble finding a local surfer or local surf school that can give you a quick rundown of the basics and give you a quick ride or two on a board. In some of the more renowned surfing spots you'll likely even be able to find a pro surfer to guide you to your first wave.

If you're a little more serious about your surfing, or want the complete surfing experience in the hands of a true professional, there are many professional/ex-professional surfers who can guide your development as a surfer and help you to get the most out of your surfing experience.

Surfing greats such as Nancy Emerson, Corky Carroll and Frieda Zamba offer surfing lessons at some of the world's most beautiful beaches. Whether you're a beginner and very wet behind the ears, or a professional surfer in your own right, these experienced professionals can help you hone your skills and develop your style, giving you more confidence in the water and in your ability to navigate waves and the surf zone.

Depending on how serious you are about the sport, you'll be able to choose from surfing lessons of a couple of hours at a time to surfing clinics and camps for more intensive training. You can learn to stand on a board and catch a small wave in a day, or work on form, style and ocean awareness with surfing legends over the space of several days to a week or more.

Going It Alone?

You may be fired up and ready to surf, but don't jump the gun. It might be tempting -- especially in a beachside location or if you have friends that surf -- to just grab a surfboard and go for it.

This is a bad idea for two reasons: One, it’ is much easier to learn the right way to do things initially than to rectify bad habits and, two, you don't want to spend your hard earned money on surfing gear (and, in particular, on a surfboard) before you’ have had some training and experience, because you won't know what board best suits your style of surfing.

Many surf schools will provide equipment for you to learn with. If you come across one that does not then it's usually possible to hire the necessary equipment from a surf shop. Have a couple of lessons first, maybe try a few different surfboards of various shapes and sizes (on hire from the surf shops), and then think a little more about what board is best for you. Your instructor should also be happy to give you some advice about where to start.

Another good reason to not go it alone initially is because surfing, like any sport, can be dangerous for the uninitiated. The awesome power of the ocean does not discriminate according to experience and even small breaks can have dangerous rips and currents. It's far safer at all times to only swim and surf in the company of fellow beach goers. That warning stands for both new and experienced surfers -- an unknown break is always potentially dangerous.

Any surf instructor worth their salt will make sure that you only surf in conditions that are safe for your level of experience. Aside from the possibility that a serious spill might put you off surfing for good, big water surfing without the necessary experience is irresponsible at best, suicidal at worst -- never surf in conditions you are not ready for, and only experiment under the watchful eye of a professional surfer or an experienced buddy!

Most surfers will tell you that surfing is more than just a sport; it's an existential experience, the ultimate rush, and it can be addictive. So get yourself an instructor, suit up, grab a board and  hit the beach!

Waves are for surfing what notes are for a piece of music. What many people come to discover from experience is that there are several types of surfing waves, which makes the very practice of this sport a permanent challenge. Though categorizing is possible, it is nevertheless far from being exhaustive: this means that every time you go on the open sea, the surfing waves may bring you a great surprise. Here are a few basic notions on surfing waves together with the things that any amateur surfer would like to know before finding out the tricks of the sport.

The best surfing waves for beginners are beach breaks; the great advantage of this type of waves is the fact that they can hold you up to more than twenty feet for quite a long period of time. Beach break surfing waves actually define the point at which the waves break against the seabed. Then, the more advanced and difficult to surf type of wave is the point break that is characterized by a more dangerous breakage point. Point break surfing waves end on rocky points of the shore. Last but not least, reef breaks deserve all of our attention. They are specific to the tropical areas with coral reefs and they are considered both deadly and perfect at the same time.

Another piece of information you may need in order to familiarize with the world of surfing is the nature of the surfing waves as right or left. It is the surfer's point of view that counts here, meaning that depending on the direction the wave breaks, the surfer paddling to catch and ride the wave will have to turn left or right in order to get on it. Those surfing waves that allow two or more surfers to ride them both left and right are known as peak waves and they are absolutely formidable.

Surfing waves are considered only those that come from the direction of the sea, they are created by offshore winds and they make the waves roll in great shapes and then break cleanly. Never go surfing if the wind is blowing from the direction of the shore or from both directions: onshore and offshore. Such waves are surely not surfable. Consequently, the weather could be a surfer's best friend or worst enemy; keep an eye on the weather forecast to really know whether to take your board out or not.