Chasing waves through Miyazaki, Japan in a surf van is one of the better short-term surf adventures I’ve had. I consistently had fun waves with low crowds and saw a side of Japan most tourists don’t access. If you’re interested in taking a surf trip to Japan, my experience will help give you a better […]
Author: TheStevens
How To Forecast for Japanese Typhoon Surf
Recommended Tools: High Level – Tracking Typhoon Action Use the JMA website to track when typhoons are developing and what their direction is forecasted. You can see typhoons potentially forming earlier on some other weather apps, but I wouldn’t consider it officially a typhoon. That’s going to generate swell until you see it on the […]
Surf Guide: Hainan, China
I had heard from a few sources that there were actually good waves in China, many of which were uncrowded. I took the first few accounts with a big grain of salt, as any cautious surfer who knows anything about the validity of surf reports from other surfers should. But a few credible sources peaked […]
Surf Guide: Southwest Sri Lanka
I spent a few weeks in Sri Lanka this year to see what the hype was all about. Here’s what I learned, and just about everything you need to know before you go. An Introduction to Southwest Sri Lanka Surfing Southwest Sri Lanka beckons surfers with the promise of a vibrant, tropical escape. This stretch […]
Why are the waves in Sri Lanka so much weaker than in Indonesia?
TLDR: Why are the waves in Sri Lanka so much weaker than in Indonesia? It’s a combination of a longer travel distance for swells, the steep drop-off of Sri Lanka’s continental shelf, and less direct exposure to the swells. Weaker Waves in Sri Lanka As surfers, we are students of the ocean. We have to […]
The Perfect Wave Fallacy
A fallacy is a mistaken belief or error in reasoning; something that might sound logical on the surface, but doesn’t hold up when you look deeper. One of the most common fallacies is the Appeal to Popularity, “Everyone believes X, therefore X must be true.” It’s a fallacy because popularity doesn’t equal truth: Just because […]
4 Tips To Improve Your Surf Vacation in Japan
I spent a month in Japan and managed to get some good (not amazing) waves. I could have easily been skunked if it wasn’t for a few good local contacts and the flexibility to chase down swells. Here’s what I wish I had known before I went and my quick advice on how to make […]
Forecasting for Japan’s Shoulder Season: The Winter
Thinking about a winter surf trip to Japan? While fall boasts the most consistent waves, winter offers lower crowds and still the potential for fun waves if you know where to go. Here’s what you need to know: Japan Surf Seasons Overview Winter Surf Conditions Expect to rely heavily on short-period wind swells, which can […]
Surf Guide: Da Nang, Central Vietnam
Da Nang surfing in a nutshell: you can have the lineup to yourself, but there’s a good reason surfers aren’t flocking to central Vietnam. If you’re looking for a livable city that allows you to paddle out, it’s not a bad place. Despite the long coastline, there aren’t many workable reefs or point breaks, particularly […]
Surf Exploration: Florida’s East Coast
A lot of great surfers come from Florida and I meet them all around the world. But Florida has never struck me as a surf mecca. I’ve always known that the conditions are mostly small except when hurricanes light up the coast. So I went to Florida to see what the waves were like and […]