The Groundswell blog is a collection of guides to reading a surf forecast, the best time of year to surf around the world, and the world's best waves.
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Morocco has quietly become one of the most popular surf destinations in the world — reliable Atlantic swell, warm sunshine, low cost, and a concentration of world-class point breaks around Taghazout. Here's when to go and what to expect.
Fiji's outer reefs are some of the most perfect waves on earth — and since 2010 they have been open to every surfer, not just resort guests. Here's where the breaks are, when the swell arrives, and how to plan a trip around them.
The best place to learn to surf is not the most famous surf destination — it's the right kind of wave. These eleven breaks combine forgiving conditions, sandy bottoms, warm water, and a culture that welcomes first-timers.
The shortboard unlocked surfing's athletic potential — the aerial, the deep tube, the full-rail carve. These eleven waves are where that potential is most fully realised.
Longboarding is not just surfing on a longer board — it is a different philosophy of wave-riding entirely. These eleven waves offer the length, shape, and soul that the style demands.
Beach breaks are the world's most democratic surf experience — and the best of them rival any reef or point for raw quality. These eleven sand-bottom waves span five continents and every kind of beach break, from terrifying Mexican slabs to mellow European longboard machines.
The left-hander is goofy-footers' domain and regular-footers' backhand challenge. These eleven waves — from the heaviest slab in the world to the longest point break on the planet — represent the full range of what a left-hand wave can be.
The right-hand barrel is one of surfing's most coveted experiences. These eleven waves — spanning six continents and every kind of right-hander from long points to heavy slabs — represent the highest expression of what a right-hand wave can be.
Indonesia is the most concentrated collection of world-class surf breaks on the planet — spread across thousands of islands, powered by the Indian Ocean swell machine, and framed by one of the richest cultures in the world. Here's how to plan the trip right.
Baja California's Pacific coast is one of the last great surf road trips on earth — remote points, empty lineups, and world-class waves hidden behind long stretches of dirt road. Here's how to do it right, spot by spot, season by season.
The Landes coast of southwest France — anchored by Hossegor and Biarritz — produces some of the most powerful beach break surf in the world. September through November is the window. Here's exactly when to go, what to expect, and which spots will be firing.
Southern California surfs year-round, but knowing which season brings which swells — and which breaks come alive at different times of year — is the difference between a good trip and a great one. Here's the month-by-month breakdown.
The North Shore of Oahu transforms from a calm summer swimming beach into the most consequential stretch of ocean on earth between November and February. Here's exactly when to go, what to expect month by month, and which spots will be firing.
Swell period is the most misunderstood — and most important — number in a surf forecast. A 1.5 m swell at 7 seconds produces mush. The same 1.5 m at 16 seconds produces bombs. Here's the physics behind why, and how to use it to score better surf.
Surf forecasts are packed with numbers — wave height, swell period, direction, wind speed, tides. Here's exactly what each one means and how to combine them to know whether tomorrow is worth calling in sick for.