If you want to book the ultimate surf holiday in France, our surf camp in Hossegor will help make it happen. If you want to surf some of the weirdest breaks around the world though, check out the following article that our team at Southwest Surf House have put together.
Tidal bores in the Indonesian jungle, urban waves in the south of Germany and surprisingly perfect brown water barrels in Northern New South Wales. These are just a few of the strange and wonderful waves featured in our latest article. Which lists novelty waves from different corners of the world that offer a surf experience with a point of difference.
Granted, they’re not all that consistent and in some cases they come with a fair amount of risk. Think bacteria, concrete blocks under the surface and currents that’ll rip you out into the shipping lane if you’re not careful. But for those of you with a curious mind and very little regard for your personal wellbeing, surfing these waves may just be the adventure of a lifetime.
1. The Bono, Sumatra, Indonesia
The team at our surf camp in Hossegor love Indonesia for the same reason everyone else does…. the variety of waves on offer is mind-blowing and the quality of said waves won’t leave you disappointed. As if Indonesia didn’t already have enough premium surf breaks though, along comes The Bono.
Located in the Kampar River on the island if Sumatra, The Bono is a tidal bore that offers numerous peaks, carveable faces and the odd muddy barrel. Tom Curren has surfed The Bono and there are even guides that offer surf packages for keen and assumedly wave-starved tourists.
So if you ever get bored of perfect reef breaks in the Mentawai Islands, it’s always nice to know you have options. Even if they can be a bit risky when it comes to water quality.
2. Eisbach, Munich, Germany
The OG river wave, Eisbach in Munich is the most well documented man-made break in Europe due to its location. The fact it draws a healthy crowd of local shredders and international pros alike also gives it some serious street cred as a stationary wave of the highest calibre.
Once illegal to surf, you can now find scores of people lining its banks for a chance to drop in. Some of whom have been surfing it for close to 40 years. Given the fact the Eisbach is a challenging ride even for experienced surfers, the team here at our surf camp in Hossegor recommend you consider wearing a helmet and a mouthguard.
We also suggest grabbing a cold stein of Munich’s finest export, Augustiner Helles, after every successful session.
3. Tweed River, New South Wales, Australia
Australians are spoiled for choice when it comes to surf spots. From mutant death slabs in Western Australia to pretty pointbreaks in Queensland and everything in between. If there’s one thing Australians aren’t short of besides flies and shitty politicians, it’s waves.
So you may not be surprised to learn that residents of Northern New South Wales are also able to surf within the Tweed River. Of course, a lot of different elements need to come together for it to work. Sand against the river’s banks, a massive east swell and an outgoing tide are just some of the criterion that need to be met.
When it all comes together though, the rivermouth offers chocolatey kegs and some really fun rides. Oh… and it’s nearly never crowded unlike the zoo that is the Superbank 10 minutes to the north. The only downside being that there’s a chance you’ll be swept out by the current if you’re not careful. Worth it though for a quality freshwater barrel, right?
Check out our next article for more weird waves, including a tubing river break in Africa, ice-cold waves in the States and a legendary tidal bore in the Land of the Red Dragon.
For a guaranteed good time and some of the best ocean waves in the world, book a stay at our surf camp in Hossegor today.