3 Good Options for Quality, Uncrowded Surf

Of course that is understandable, as the North Shore of Oahu is the pinnacle, the testing ground, the seven mile miracle. There’s just so much variety and consistency in such close proximity. However, if you aren’t up to being cleaned up by a rogue west peak at Sunset Beach, or battling every wannabe and actual pros for waves, or just aren’t at that level? Thankfully, the Pacific is a very large ocean, and swells spread far and wide.

 

 

Looking at the globe, its easy to see a decent swell may cross the equator and head south until it finally unloads with perfect form on a distant reef. Ideally, that reef faces NW and is offshore in the trade winds, or it’s in the tropical doldrums and rarely wind affected.

Paddler’s perspective of fun-sized P-Pass

Now that we have set the criteria, where can we find epic surf with few others around? There are 3 reliable options to consider:

 

 

1. North Coast of PNG (open to north swells, in doldrums = glassy perfection)

 

The north coast of Papua New Guinea has gained a reputation for fun, clean perfect surf with no crowds. To make the most of it, you need the widest possible swell window to send long-lined goodness your way.

The furthermost north and west you can get for mainland PNG surf is Vanimo. Drawing in all available swell from the North Pacific, but protected from crowding by the visionary PNG surf plan, Vanimo offers a wide selection of breaks from user-friendly, long-walled reef-point breaks through to fast and hollow performance waves. The lifestyle is simple here: quality waves and ancient local culture unaffected by tourism.

For a rundown on the full range of PNG surf experiences check out this overview when I visited them all in one trip

 

 

2. Micronesia (NW facing reef passes out of deep water + offshore in trade winds = P-Pass perfection)

The legendary P-Pass in Micronesia is actually easier and more accessible than expected. Most swells at P-Pass are user-friendly 3-6 foot. A roll-in takeoff, a couple of pumps, then a barrel that stays open or a rippable wall, then a deep channel – perfection.

 

3. Samoa (Hawaiian NW swell)

 

The rarely considered option is the north coast of the South Pacific islands. A NW swell that hits Hawaii will arrive in Samoa a couple of days later, longer period, smaller and absolutely perfect. One of the best weeks of surfing in my life was one of these swells: a week of 20-second north swell from 6 foot plus down to a super fun 3-foot perfection.

If you feel the need for a surf trip anytime between now and April, we have the plans to put you in the path of a perfectly formed, long period North Pacific swell train!