The World’s Fastest Growing Surf Destinations Have Been Revealed
Research conducted by The University of Sydney has determined the world’s fastest growing surf destinations, and boy do they make you itch to grab a board and get in the water.
The study looked at 5000 breaks in 146 countries around the world to determine which beaches have grown in popularity between 1992 and 2013. Three West Australian beaches scored spots 10 through to 8, while Costa Rica also got three mentions at 7, 6 and 1. Other popular swells can be found in New Zealand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Peru.
The research also looks at how these popular surfing coves impact the local economy with the finding being that a decent swell is beneficial to the local community. The research also discovered that after natural disasters had occurred at popular surf breaks in Portugal and Spain, the economy suffered soon afterwards. Dr Sam Willis said: “We conducted four sets of experiments, and they all confirm that good waves significantly increase growth, particularly after recent discoveries and during El Niño years.” See? Surfing is doing good.
We know that serious surfers have some of the best bucket lists out there, from the warm waters of Nicaragua and Hawaii, to the icy challenge of an Irish wave. This list is just giving us a few more reasons to pack up our surf bag and get paddling. Here’s some more surf breaks to add to the (forever growing) list:
10. Rabbits, Australia
A powerful beach break in the area on Yallingup beach, south of Perth. All three of Australia’s most popular new breaks are on the Yallingup stretch of beach in the Margaret River region.
9. Isolators, Australia
Another impressive break on Yallingup beach to the south of Rabbits.
8. Yallingup, Australia
Queen break of the beach, if you will. This is the most popular and well known of the Yallingup area.
7. Playa Guiones, Costa Rica
Located in Nosara, where other popular surf breaks are gaining in popularity. Guiones is seven kilometre stretch of white sand, the breaks are perfect for expert and beginner surfers.
6. Playa Lagosta, Costa Rica
Playa Lagosta is a lot less crowded than many of the surrounding beaches, and with a decidedly better swell.
5. Omaha, New Zealand
Translated into Maori, Omaha means ‘place of pleasure’ which is very fitting for the tranquil, white spit of sand located in New Zealand’s North Island.
4. Dark Reef, Vietnam
Located in the country’s most popular surf town of Nha Trang, you can only reach the Dark Reef break via boat and it’s certainly not safe during low tide.
3. Shabander, Malaysia
Famed for its reliable swell, you can find the open surf break of Shabander in Borneo.
2. Yacila, Peru
Also great for fishing if that was your jam, Yacila’s break has been described as “fast but soft and you can find insane barrels with an end not so far away”.
1. Nosara, Costa Rica
The most up and coming surf destination in the world boasts a sweet small town and three popular surfing breaks to choose from: Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada, as well as Bocas del Nosara which is the most challenging of the three.
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