There are several things a surfer considers before hitting the waves. As well as the height and direction of the waves, it is also essential to think about the tide, which is best for surfing.
The medium tide is better for surfing, as it is best to surf between the time the tide changes from low to high, a period otherwise known as the incoming tide. This tide offers large waves with big swells. High tide surfing will offer more challenges for experienced surfers.
This article explores everything you need to know about the best tide for surfing and other factors that can create ideal surfing conditions.
The Best Tide for Surfing
When you’re learning to surf, or have been surfing for a while, you’ll want to surf on the best tides. The medium tide, which is during the shifting tides, is excellent for surfing. The reason for this is that when the tide swells, you get on the better wave. But it’s not so high that it becomes dangerous.
Let’s take a look at the characteristics of the tide and when you should surf.
How Do Tides Impact Surfing?
To understand how tides impact surfing, it is helpful to understand how tides work.
The moon exerts a gravitational pull on Earth, which creates a tidal force. When the moon is in a particular position, it triggers gravity to pull water towards the shore, which is known as high tide.
When it is in other positions, gravity pulls the water away from the shore.
The tide impacts the way that waves break and fall. For instance, a low tide will make waves fall flat, while a high tide will make waves high and aggressive. As a surfer, you should think about the kind of waves you are looking for and choose the tide that will be best.
What Is the Best Tide for Surfing?
To decide which tide is best for you, consider what kind of surfer you are and what waves you’re looking for.
Here’s a breakdown that will help:
- Low tides: When the tide is low, the water and waves recede, which causes shallow water breaks. As a surfer, you may have to navigate bigger and deeper barrels. This is typically an endeavor for more experienced surfers. If you are not an experienced surfer, low tide surfing can be tricky and dangerous.
- Medium tide: Widely recognized as the best tide for surfing, medium tides have medium-sized waves. As the tide rises, waves will get bigger and give you a swell to surf on.
- High tide: High tide is best for experienced surfers as the waves are large and unpredictable. One advantage of surfing on the high tide is that you will not be competing for space with many other surfers.
How Can You Check What Time Tides Will Fall?
It is essential to know how to check the tides as they vary through the year. There are several ways you can check what time low, medium, and high tides will fall, so let’s take a look at them.
Check a Local Tide Timetable
Most local governments and ocean services maintain a tide table. These are created by scientists who study the moon’s movements and predict the time that the tide will come in and go out. You can find tide tables online as well as at marinas and ports.
Observe the Waves and the Beach
If you are already at the beach and don’t have access to the tide table, some visual cues will help you decide what the tide is.
When the tide is coming in, you will see more seaweed, shells, and other sea matter being pushed onto the beach. When it is changing to low tide, you’ll see all the sea matter being pulled back into the sea.
You can also tell what tide it is by looking at the direction of the ripples in the waves. If the ripples are pointed toward shore, the tide is shifting to high tide. If they are pointed away from shore, the tide is likely becoming low tide.
Join Surf Clubs
Surf clubs maintain websites or share information about when different tides are coming in and going out. They will also have information about other factors that may impact your surfing performance. You can find them online on many surfing community websites.
Other Factors That Impact Surfing
Along with the tide, two other factors that majorly impact surfing conditions are the wind direction and strength and the swell of the water. These factors are explored in greater detail below.
Wind
The wind can impact your stance on the board, along with the strength and direction of the waves.
There are three main types of wind:
- Onshore: Waves are impacted by the onshore wind when blowing from the sea to the land. When the wind is onshore, it makes the waves choppy, and unpredictable and may make your surfboard slap against waves. This causes instability.
- Offshore: When the wind is blowing from the shore to the ocean, it is called offshore wind. This creates large waves and barrels, making for excellent surfing conditions.
- Cross shore: Cross shore winds blow parallel along the shore. They create choppy, unpredictable waves.
When judging whether surfing conditions are ideal, try to look for times that have offshore wind. You may also want to consider the wind speed when planning your surfing.
Here’s a breakdown of wind speed:
- 0-5 knots: The best wind speed for surfing is between 0-5 knots, especially for beginners, as it creates smooth, easy-to-navigate waves.
- 5-10 knots: This relatively strong wind creates strong waves that can be exciting for more experienced surfers.
- Over 10 knots: If you try surfing when the wind is over 10 knots, you may find it difficult to paddle and catch the waves.
You can find information about wind direction and speed from local sea and surfing clubs or your local government authority’s website.
Water Swell
Swells are a collection of waves formed due to a combination of factors from wind to water currents. The ocean carries swells until they reach a break. For surfers, following a swell can be an enjoyable experience as you can use the wave collection to propel yourself forward.
Here are some of the features of a swell that surfers should be aware of:
- Swell height: The swell height is the average height of the collection of waves in the swell. When the swell is larger, the wave height is larger for a sustained period. Look for swells that are between 1’-3’ (0.30-0.91 m) tall.
- Swell period: The swell period is the time it takes for each wave in a swell to pass the same point. Ten to 12 minutes is considered a good swell period for surfing as you’ll get pronounced waves with a longer ride.
- Swell direction: The swell direction is the direction in which the swell is traveling, and it is best for surging when traveling in the same direction that the beach faces. For instance, swell traveling south will be great for surfing if the corresponding beach faces south. This promises more safe, stable waves.
A surfing chart will help you see the amount and type of swells in the surfing spots around you, and will help you decide the best time to go surfing. You can find surfing charts at local surf shops or online.
Conclusion
Several factors impact surfing conditions and the type of waves you’re likely to face. A significant factor is the tide, as most surfers agree that medium tides are best for surfing as they offer large but stable waves. As well as checking the tide, you should also check the swell and wind conditions to ensure that the conditions are optimum for surfing.
