The Dominican Republic can be a great surfing destination if you know how it works. Let me fill you in. — When Portugal was entering a lockdown, we thought we would rather not. So we decided to head to the Dominican Republic. A friend of mine, also a surfer, was spending some time in Cabarete, a town in the north of the country. According to him, the waves are reliably good…

Espinho should be on your list if you want to surf in Portugal — A great spot with favourable logistics — I still remember when I first came to Espinho: I was spending some time in the city centre of Porto when the swell forecast turned. Imagine a dog howling passionately at the moon to capture what I felt when I saw what was coming our way. It was September, the…

Monte Verde was my favourite surf spot on Sao Miguel, Azores. I loved the combination of good waves, empty line-ups and proximity to the city — Until I ran into the wrong crowd. — The Surf Spot Monte Verde is one of the two spots close to Ribeira Grande, the other one being Santa Barbara. Both spots share the same exposure to swells and winds. You can walk from one to the other within 15 minutes easily.

Santa Barbara is one of the main surf spots on Sao Miguel, the main island of the Azores. With its dark volcanic beach, warm water and perfect swell, you may just fall for it, too. — Santa Barbara is actually a bit confusing: There is a town of that name on Sao Miguel, but the surf spot is not next to or related to the town. Santa Barbara, the surf spot, is a beach west of Ribeira Grande. In Ribeira Grande, Santa Barbara is one of…

The Azores were firmly on my list of places I needed to see. Here is a short guide to the main island, some of its surf spots and Ribeira Grande, the town where most surfers stay. — Why go to the Azores? The Azores are sometimes called the Hawaii of Europe, as they are located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and get exposure to swells from all directions. I was on mainland Portugal when I met some surfers in Ericeira. It was early August.

Just comment on this article saying that you would like to be added as a writer. — What is Surfers’ Hangout? This publication is for people who: Love the ocean and nature Want to share their surf adventures Want to connect with like-minded people Want to explore the planet and its surf spots and waves Like to share their experiences on different waves We think of it as a diary for…

Dakar is an amazing place to surf. The north coast provides more powerful swell but is also prone to messy conditions due to the wind. Enter NGor right, the wind-protected spot with a northern swell exposure. — My first few sessions during my time in Dakar (here is a more general account and access to Senegal surfing posts) were in NGor right. It is a beautiful wave, even though it can be a bit tricky to navigate.

The wind blew from an easterly direction, and we decided to go where this meant offshore wind and big swell — Kayar, a fishing town north of Dakar. — Getting to Kayar Kayar is roughly 2.5 hours drive from Dakar, so I was super excited to explore this part of the country where I had not been before. As we approached, things began to get noticeably less Western and developed. I have never again seen as many horse-drawn carriages in Senegal as…

I surfed in Senegal for two months now, and I am about to return to my dearly beloved Portugal. It has been a great experience. If you are wondering what it is like to surf here, this article is for you. — Senegal is a country on the Atlantic coast. Its capital, Dakar, is set on a peninsula reaching into the ocean. It lies in the trade-wind zone, which blows mainly offshore-ish here. It all looks pretty dang promising. So towards the end of 2021, I decided to see this for myself.