Beaches for Professional Surfers

For beaches to attract professional surfers, they must offer consistent waves. Pro surfers know which beaches produce competition-style waves based on the season and weather. For instance, in December and January surfers flock to the Hawaiian Islands. The winds come out of the Arctic Circle pushing the Pacific waters, and they pile up on the northern coasts of the islands. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winds come out of Antarctica, and waves form on the beaches facing south. Follow professional surf organizations competition schedule to find the best surfing beaches.

  1. Bonzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii

    • A pipe or tube is formed when the wave collapses as it nears shore.

      The Bonzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, draws professional and amateur surfers from November through February. At this notorious surf spot, the surf is extremely hazardous. Even the professionals find this surf challenging. A few have died riding these waves, and injuries occur on a regular basis.

    Pe'ahi, aka Jaws, Maui, Hawaii

    • The waves at Jaws can reach heights of 60 feet or more.

      The north shore of Maui offers Pe'ahi. This is not a beach but a cliff, and about a half mile off shore waits Pe'ahi or "Jaws." This spot is extreme, and on occasion, the waves hit 60 to 80 feet. These monstrous waves move too fast for traditional surfing methods, so jet skis are used to tow surfers into position, and to rescue them from wipeouts.

    Bells Beach, Australia

    • Waves at Bells Beach run 3 to 12 feet.

      Along Australia's surf coast, Bells Beach lies southwest of Torquay, Victoria. Waves range from 3 to 12 feet, and sometimes larger. The biggest weekend for Bells is Easter. Surfers have been competing at Bells on that weekend since 1961. Tom Curren, Kelly Slater, Andy Irons and Sunny Garcia have won tournaments here.

    Teahupoo, Tahiti

    • Tropical paradise Tahiti gets big waves off its southern shore.

      On a regular day, Teahupoo is known for good wave action. With a storm coming out of Antarctica, it can have monster 80-foot waves. Teahupoo means Broken Skulls, and many surfers have been injured or died under the assault of these waves. When the surf is roaring, jet skis are called into action again for some tow-in surfing. It is located about 40 miles south of the capital, Papeete.

    Reunion Island

    • The best surfing locations on Reunion Island are on the west coast.

      Reunion Island lies in the southwestern Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. The language and culture are French, and topless sunbathing is an option. Surf spots dot the western side of the island, and waves crank consistently April through July. Four surf spots to check out are Le Port, Boucan, L'Hermitage and Saint-Leu. While sharks are a normal hazard with surfing, according to Trans World Surf Magazine, the Reunion Islands ranks among the top 10 in shark activity.

    Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California

    • The Lower Trestles are located close to San Clemente, California.

      The Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour holds a competition at the Lower Trestles each year. It is part of San Onofre State Beach. The competition is held around September. In 2010, Kelly Slater won the competition. The waves don't get huge here, but they have nice shape.