Trips to Lands Unknown

There are so many locations that you can go for on surf trip, but choose wisely before you actually decide to schedule the trip. I personally have taken several trips to places that are often traveled by surfers from all over the world. One such location is Costa Rica, which is a great place with very consistent surf but is sometimes very crowded because of it being so well known. Recently I decided, along with some friends of mine, to take a trip the Eleuthera Bahamas. One person that went with us knew someone over there so they got us a place to stay, and the best part we had found our local. On any trip you take you want to find someone with lots of local knowledge about the area and its surf locations for a number of reasons. First, you always want to know where the best waves are on the given swell that you get while on your trip. Second, you want to know where to get food, water, or anything else you may need while on your stay. Third, which is very important, is how are the locals and how protective they are about their surf spots. You want to go to those local only spots because usually those are the best spots with the best waves, but if you don’t know someone that can get you there and into the line up with out getting hassled chances are you won’t ever surf that wave. Local knowledge is key to any surf trip when searching for waves.

Eleuthera is a small island located 225 miles from Fort Lauderdale Florida. It has lots of history behind it considering it is the first Bahamian island to be settled in 1648. There are many caves and lots of cliff sides, which look out into the Atlantic Ocean. The flight there is usually on a smaller commercial plane so be prepared to only take a couple boards. Your best boards will depend on the time of year you go, which most likely will be during the winter to spring months. Take your normal short board and depending on predictions for swell either a small wave board or a sleight step up nothing to crazy. I took a 6’2 and 6’3, which worked well. The waves break mostly over shallow reef or rock, there are some beach breaks so be prepared for all types of surf. Plane flights aren’t cheap but for the most part everything there is somewhat cheap. Be sure to take anything and everything you think you may need while your there. Fin key, wax, extra fins, repair kit, possibly a topper or something to where if it gets a little chilly, because there are no surf shops of any kind, so be prepared.

For any questions you may have about Eleuthera please leave a comment and I will do my best to help you out. Almost forgot, take a friend because you will most likely surf by yourself if you don’t.

Reference: http://www.eleuthera-map.com/eleuthera-island.htm

Be Adventuress

Making a trip to a far off land has many delights that many people never get to enjoy. Whether it’s a place full of fun and excitement or somewhere cold and adventuress. As surfers we tend to plan trips with friends or family to far off places that have waves, and most always something else to enjoy. There are a number of places that we may consider, but may never go to because of cost, weather or that there are not many people that even surf in the area. I have spent most of my time in Bahamas and Costa Rica, very popular trips for many Florida surfers because they have warm water and decent waves. Well, I say lets break out of this trend and go somewhere far off and different in every way. Somewhere that may be so out there that it scares you to even think of the things that could happen while on your trip. This does not scare me, it intrigues me to know that I could possibly be one of the few that surf the waves in my destination, or even the first to surf them ever. Yes your heart will be beating out of your chest as you enter the unknown of your new secret spot in the middle of no where. But who knows you could score the best waves of your life with a few of your closet friends or just a few locals. Just knowing that you are out there seeing something and surfing somewhere that very few people ever get to enjoy is what the 'surf trip' is all about. Just like driving down the beach to find your own spot that is better than the rest, and have go surf with just your friends. Those are the sessions that you remember and that truly stick in our memories forever. So, when deciding where to go next on your surf trip think outside the box, throw a dart at a map and see if that place has waves, go ahead be adventuress I know I will.

-surferabell