Despite the upcoming ski season I’d like to post a few surfing pictures from a recent surf (/family beach holiday) trip to Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

I think every skier/snowboarder should try surfing at least once in their life. The old saying “snow is only frozen water” just holds so well. Even though the elements differ (ocean&water vs. mountains&snow) the feeling of riding the wave reminds so much powder that it makes you laugh! And the good thing in surfing is once you score perfect conditions there is “powder” to be had in a very continuous manner. The waves just keep coming in perfect sets! Ok, in reality it is not often that easy: there are huge crowds in the line-up, currents, tides, waves closing out, scary reefs, sea urchins and millions of other details that might get you worried. But those things kind of make the whole experience even more appealing – surfing is probably one of the hardest sports to master?

I am a total newbie (“kook” in surf lingo) but here are few pictures from our trip, and couple of words/tips about the spots we surfed. Most of the riders in the pics are local, unknown rippers. For more info check also the linked spot descriptions from Wannasurf.com.

Fuerteventura is a good place to surf if you know what you are doing. Canary Islands in general have the reputation of being the “Hawaii of the Atlantic”. In Fuerteventura this holds especially well. In wintertime powerful north-western swells break into shallow reefs quite near to the shore, often in beautiful crystal clear waters.

For a beginner surfer the above mentioned fact is not necessarily that comforting. Swell size can be large and reefs and rocky points are not that easily approached if you have only surfed couple of mellow beach breaks in your life. The east cost of Island offers better options for less experienced wave riders but are certainly more inconsistent. (It requires couple of days of right NE winds for waves to start breaking or really huge N-NW swell wrapping around the Island’s northernmost tip)

El Cotillo

When we arrived to the Island (Corralejo, in the northernmost part of the Island) the nearby east coast beaches appeared almost flat. We spent one day just swimming and sunbathing there though. I tried some Stand-Up paddle boarding in the mini waves too. Fun experience and what a killer work out!

Anyway we wanted to surf “for real” and got some advice to go check “El Cotillo” beach break on the western shore. So, we rented a car (recommended while on the Island if you want to find the waves) and hit the road…

Wow. I have to say that on the first day on the spot, I didn’t even consider going to the water. Almost a “shore break”, overhead, fast barreling wave, lots of power.The wave breaks so fast that I guess on some days you can describe it the so called “close-out” (meaning the whole wave break at once all the way through the whole beach, making it impossible to surf properly).

Well, it was still very enjoyable to watch this amazing scenery and the “show” of local, talented and experienced surfers. Guys, and a few girls too, were pulling short tubing rides, super fast turns & cut-backs, “lipslides” and even a couple of small airs. Below you find a couple of pictures I managed to shoot.

The East Coast of Fuerteventura

From the village of Corralejo there is a short drive (or long walk) to the beautiful dune beaches. Flag Beach is the first one on the way south. You recognize this beach from the surf school building and the flag poles next to it. Flag beach is only said to be good for SUP and kite/windsurfing. I guess if there is really big winter NW swell wrapping around the northern part of the Island, you might score decent waves even here?

From Flag Beach, just a kilometer or so to the south is the spot called Los Hoteles, which should be ideal for longboards and/or beginners (still some rocks on the bottom though). This spot didn’t break properly during our trip.

After beating ourselves pretty good in El Cotillo for a few days we scored nice, mushy wind swell waves in a beach called “Playa del Morro” (or “Moro“, you saw both spellings). Probably nothing special for an experienced surfer but for us this was a really fun experience. After the tubing or almost closing out waves in Cotillo, I was really stoked to get some clean drop-ins and much longer rides, even some turns,  and generally feeling much more relaxed in the water. The wave breaks in a rock reef but it is just so deep (about 180cm or around six feet) that it should worry no-one. After the reef the ride itself is  above some sand bottom all the way to the beach. Nice and relatively safe. If you look for more challenge, I guess the point break “El Burro” just to the north of Morro Beach is better option.

Below is a few pictures from Play del Morro. You notice the huge difference in wave shape compared to the above ones!

The North Shore reef breaks

Traveling with family (and friends’ family), it was quite impossible to go exploring the reef breaks. You know, kids like beaches. Barren rocky shores, not that much. The north shore of the Island also lives up to its name – it is definitely not the optimal place for a newbie anyway. However I got few good tips from the locals for the easier reefs/points.

Rocky Point just outside of Corralejo might be ok in some conditions even for relatively inexperienced riders. Boots are recommended though! “Hierro” might be another option but we heard mixed opinions about that. Again, bring boots and respect the locals and local conditions. I guess if you want to really learn, one day you  have to check your first real reef or point break anyway? In this trip this didn’t happen to me but I hope maybe some day in the near future…