Surfing Guide - Surf Breaks

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Different Types of Surf Breaks and Other Effects
The challenge of surfing is that every wave is different. The main types of wave are as follows:

• Beach Break. A Beach Break is where the waves break on a sandy seabed. This type of wave is the best to start surfing on. Hossegor in Southern France is a classic beach break, which can hold perfect barrels up to 20'.
  
• Point Break. A Point Break is a wave that breaks onto a rocky point. An example of a Point break is Bells Beach in Australia.
  
  
  
  
• Reef Break. A Reef Break is a wave that breaks over a coral reef or a rock seabed. These waves are the classic ones you see in surfing videos. These waves can be unforgiving if you happen to wipe out badly, but can be the most rewarding in their perfection. Cloudbreak is a superb example of a Reef Break.
• River mouth. Waves can break over rocky ledges or sandy bottoms. A fine example is the all time classic Mundaka in northern Spain.

 

A wave is either a Left or a Right depending on the direction the wave breaks from the point of view of a surfer riding the wave. Paddling to catch a wave, if it is breaking from right to left (the surfer will have to turn left to get on the wave) then this wave is a left.

A peak is a wave that breaks forming a rideable wave both left and right, two surfers can surf it at the same time in different directions.

Wind; Onshore, Offshore & Cross Shore.

• An Onshore Wind is the worst wind for surfing. It blows from out to sea and ensures all the waves crumble and have no shape, making the waves un-surfable.
• A Cross Shore is not desirable either, not giving shape to the waves.
• An Offshore Wind is the best wind for surfing. It ensures that the waves rolling in are well formed and break cleanly. Quality waves come with an offshore wind.

Pages: Introduction | Safety Advice | How to Surf | Surf Breaks | Surf Boards