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Surfing the Gold Coast
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As locals will tell you, the Gold Coast has some of the best surfing beaches in the world. And in terms of consistency this might be true - on any given day there will be rideable surf somewhere along the coast - with 200-metre-long sand-bottom point breaks and rideable waves peaking at about four metres in prime conditions. The area is known for its
barrels
, particularly during the summer cyclone season when the winds shift around to the north; in winter the swell is smaller but more reliable, making it easier to learn to surf. A rule of thumb for finding the best surf is to follow the wind: north when the wind blows from the north, south when it comes from the south. Generally, you'll find the best swell along the southern beaches, and on South Stradbroke Island. While sharks might worry you, more commonplace hostility is likely to come from the local surfies who form tight-knit cliques with very protective attitudes towards their patches.
For expert
tuition
, tours, or advice anywhere on the Gold Coast, contact locally based Walking on Water (tel 07/5534 1886 or 0418 780 311,
www.walkingonwater.com
) or Surfaris (free call tel 1800 634 951,
www.surfaris.com
). On the subject of
sharks
and
general safety
, all beaches as far north as Surfers are patrolled; look for the signs. Sea temperatures range between 26A°C in summer and 17A°C in winter, so a 2-3mm wetsuit is adequate. Hard-core surfies come for Christmas and the cyclone season, though spring is really the busiest time.
Competitions
or events are held somewhere along the coast on most weekends, advertised through local surf shops. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Australia,
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