Kiribati – Going off the surf map

parisrights

Looking for tropical South Pacific perfection without the crowds? Look no further than the island nation of Kiribati. Pronounced Kiribas, the name is an indigenous pronunciation of Gilberts (say it quickly and you’ll hear the connection), from the British Captain Thomas Gilbert, who “discovered” the islands in 1788. Independent since July 1979, the Republic of Kiribati is comprised of just over 30 atolls. Kiribati is one of the few places in the world where the government regulates surfing, … [Read more...]

Iceland recap – the photologue

Walking out for an early with my Icelandic host, Georg.  Georg, ready to get wet.  Over 100 yards of seaweed covered lava rocks, just to get to the break  A very welcoming set.  A view down the beach rocks.     An other Icelandic local.  Waterfalls running down from one of Europe's largest glaciers.  This black sand beach wasn't quite working, but the potential is there.  Almost looks photoshopped. Bob Ross would be proud.  The … [Read more...]

De-BAJA-ucheury: Baja 40-Day Surf Travel Journal

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After two years of living the landlubbing lifestyle in Rossland, British Columbia and enjoying all the pursuits that living deep in the mountains could afford, I yearned for the salty taste of the ocean and cold Mexican Beer.  So we threw a camper on my biodiesel-fed F350, packed up all our dusty surfboards, and pointed the rig south.  We spent the next 40 days on the road and had some amazing times, some great waves, and about 300 frosty (or luke warm) Pacificos. So years ago, back … [Read more...]

Falkland Islands – going off the surf map

Are you interested in surfing with penguins, dolphins and sea lions, in empty, consistent waves? If you don’t mind a very long trip and the occasional mine field, take a trip to the Falklands, or the Malvinas, as the Argentine’s call them. This British Crown dependency sits in the South Atlantic, just a few hundred miles off the coast of Argentina. A source of diplomatic noise and even war between England and Argentina, the Falklands offer little more than oversized, windswept rocks, unless…. … [Read more...]

Cyprus – Going off the surf map

Luring us brave traveling surfers back to the aqua blue Mediterranean is the island of Cyprus. Like many of its Mediterranean neighbors, Cyprus is a hit or miss surf destination; amazing when it's on, but flat like a lake when storms and necessary pressure systems are not in play. As you can see in the above clip, the boys from O'Neill lucked into some solid surf in the inland sea. As they explain in the video, it's a waiting game, where one has to pay close attention to the storm and weather … [Read more...]

Santa Monica Surf Case review

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After having boards broken and/or dinged on every surf trip I took over a 15+ year period, I finally decided I needed to change the way I traveled.  I searched all around the internet for a sensible solution and came up with only two options: 1) continue to use a soft bag, with my boards cocooned in cardboard and bubble wrap, or 2) acquire a Santa Monica Surf Case.  All the years I suffered through option number one made me realize that the only thing that would save my boards on future trips was … [Read more...]

Iceland’s finest surfer, surfing the world’s coolest waves: Georg Hilmarsson

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Georg Hilmarsson is an ordinary surfer, living in an extraordinary place. Georg has the distinction of being one of Iceland’s very first year-round, native surfers. Regardless of the cold air, cold water, and generally harsh conditions, Georg is truly stoked. (And no, it never does get warm.) An Aussie Beginning Born and raised in Iceland, Hilmarsson moved to Perth, West Australia with his mother when he was 10 years old, where he picked up surfing and was hooked immediately. Living right on … [Read more...]

Île Amsterdam – Going off the surf map

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This week we take you way off the surf map to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. Keeping with the French theme that took us last week to the chilly North Atlantic island, St. Pierre and Miquelon, this week we’re heading to the slightly more livable south. Île Amsterdam, a French sub-arctic island, lays halfway between the southern tip of Africa to the west, and the bottom of Australia to the east. Far more temperate than most of its Antarctic neighbors, Île Amsterdam has a year-round … [Read more...]

Poland – Going off the surf map

wladyslawowo

Poland is the homeland of my love of the past 8 years, my beautiful fiancée (No… she is not a mail order bride). I know for many of my fellow deskriders, the thought of traveling to a non-surfing destination is nausea inducing and a poor choice of precious vacation time. Fortunately for me, I enjoy the cultural aspects of such travel, without the ever present nagging, addicty feeling that I would get while trying to entertain cultural activities in a surf blessed destination (Mexican pyramids? … [Read more...]

Saint Pierre and Miquelon – Going off the surf map

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16 miles from the southern shores of New Foundland, the tiny French island territorial collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a little bit of France in the North Atlantic. Unlike Quebec, Saint Pierre and Miquelon are French through and through, and are not bound by the dual language dilemma that plagues the Canadian province. With just over 6,000 year-round residents, Saint Pierre and Miquelon manage to retain their French culture in a unique sub-arctic island style.  The islands also have … [Read more...]