Pining for something a little more? Don’t blame you. Photo: waikikibeachservices.com
Cruising on a little Waikiki sloper sounds more like a relaxing Sunday afternoon than a heart-pounding adventure. However, switch up your location and you’re in for a treat. Travel is what makes surfing so great, and surfing exotic locales around the world offers the perfect blend of excitement, danger, and fun that makes for the ultimate challenge. To help push yourself to the limit, as well as lay the foundation for a story that will turn your surfing friends green with envy, here’s a guide for women looking to catch waves at the most extreme locations in the world beyond the usual suspects like Teahupoo and Praia do Norte. After all, pushing the limits is what Blu Girls is all about.
Dungeons
Down Dungeons’ daunting steps. Photo: Jared Aufrichtig
First on the list is Dungeons, located at the mouth of Hout Bay in Cape Town, South Africa. As the name implies, Dungeons offers a unique blend of powerful waves and taxing terrains that push even the most accomplished surfers out of their comfort zones. In his look at the particulars of this region, Tetsuhiko Endo of National Geographic points out that massive swells crashing into jagged reefs and outcroppings from coastal cliffs is just a normal day at the office for Dungeons. Adding in a healthy dose of cold surf nearly year-round and a location that’s a well-known home to the Great White Shark cements the fact that only the bravest adventurers enter this dungeon.
New Smyrna Beach
The danger of NSB is found below surface level. Photo: Surf There Now
Speaking of sharks, Ryan Brower of Transworld Surf Magazine listed New Smyrna Beach in Florida as another must-visit location for female surfers looking to add a little danger to their normal routine. Known as the “Shark Attack Capital of the World,” New Smyrna might not have the largest waves or quickest current, but the moderately-sized offerings, coupled with what lurks below the surface, are enough to keep any surfer on edge and help this location earn a much-deserved spot on the list.
The Right
Just…nuts. Photo: Chris Gurney
Of course, neither of these destinations even come close to the raw fury and danger offered by Western Australia’s The Right. What sets this location apart from the rest? For starters, these photos should make that clear. Additionally, it had never been paddled until August 1 of this year. In fact, before professional surfers Mark Matthews and Taj Burrow set out to conquer this wave, the only people brave enough (maybe stupid enough, in the eyes of some) to tackle The Right were bodyboarders relegated to the wave’s end bowl.
The main reason The Right stood so long as a seemingly impossible obstacle comes directly from the volume and size of the wave. With a tube large enough to hold two people comfortably, the question of wiping out as the ceiling of the barrel descends doesn’t focus on whether or not it will happen, but rather how bad the injuries will be once you’re back on shore. In fact, Matthews was the lucky recipient of a lacerated face and a ruptured eardrum – one of the most dangerous injuries in the surfing world – after a wipeout at The Right.
Even with the potential danger of these locales looming, if you’re truly obsessed with chasing new thrills and catching waves, chances are you’re chomping at the bit to give these spots a try. Whether your travels take you to Dungeons, The Right, or the Shark Attack Capital of the World, there’s no doubt you’ll have a story worth telling by the time you make it back to your home beach. However, caution is an absolute must and safety is truly paramount at all of these spots. If you aren’t a true expert, don’t kid yourself. Stay in the boat or on the beach as, specifically, Dungeons and The Right aren’t beginner (or intermediate) friendly.
Learn more about Blu Girls at blugirls.org.
