Surfing: The best waves in EuropeApril 10th, 2012 by Karl Mathiesen
OK, SO it’s all well and good listing the best breaks in the world but unless your name is Taj or Parko, the standard Aussie surfer will probably struggle to save enough pennies to do just one of those epic breaks in a lifetime. So here’s a few sick surf spots that are not too far from your London base and will still give you a ride of your life.
Aileens, County Clare, Ireland: Top o’ the barrel
Aileens is long, fast, heavy and only breaks when it is huge. The equation is simple. Take-off on the helpful foamy wash that comes from a rock out to sea, scoop into Aileen’s green belly, get spat out 150 metres down the line, cackle like a leprechaun, go to the pub, drink Guinness.
This wave was discovered by a group of geologists who were in Lahinch for a conference. After a night of dark pints at Kenny’s Bar, the group followed a rainbow to the Cliffs of Moher. Atop the wild crag they met a local cow. She told them that there was gold at the bottom of the cliffs. Tragically, in a lustful frenzy, they threw themselves over the precipice – not realising the type of gold the mischievous bovine was referring to.
Where: Aileens is a ten-minute drive from the west-coast town of Lahinch. The nearest airport is Shannon. The wave itself sits beneath the towering Cliffs of Moher, which are spectacular and famous in their own right. For what it is worth, Lahinch is a mecca for surfers, golfers and hen’s parties.
El Fronton, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands: Boogie. Board. Fiesta.
El Fronton is crazy. A pure slab that unloads waves of frightening power – it is a bodyboarder’s paradise. Lefts and rights drain along the wedge-shaped reef and it can hold waves of 10ft and over.
The Canaries are gaining a reputation as the Atlantic’s answer to Hawaii. These little Spanish-speaking islands house dozens of world-class waves. The food is good and the people are friendly – until you get into the surf. Expect to find the place overrun with high quality bodyboarders who defend their turf with classic Latino temperament.
Where: The Canary Islands, while being home to the Atlantic Canary, are actually not named after the bird at all. It is, in fact the other way around; the bird gets its name from the islands. The name Gran Canaria comes from the Roman name for the islands Insula Canaria,which means island of dogs. Literally named because it was home to “vast multitudes of dogs of very large size”.
El Fronton, like a rabid dog, is not to be messed with. However, if you think you’ve got the minimals to keep her on the leash, you will find her underneath the cliffs at Gáldar.
Anchor Point, Taghazout, Morocco: Sheesh, what a ride!
The surf at Anchor Point draws reluctant, red-eyed surfers from the iniquity of their Marrakesh hash-dens like a snake-charmer. Anchor is a less-crowded version of Australia’s Lennox Point. Long, Atlantic Ocean walls wind their way down the point. When their balance returns, surfers can do more turns on a wave than they have ever done before.
Morocco offers visitors the opportunity to sample the culture of the Arab world. It is seriously beautiful and totally foreign to most Westerners. The locals generally speak five or more languages and they use their linguistic prowess to hassle travellers into buying.
Where: Taghazout is a pretty little Berber fishing village north of the town of Agadir. You’ll find plenty of accommodating houses and hostels. Expect to haggle over the price.
Got some other pumping joints in Europe we have missed? Tell us about them below:
And don’t miss our 10 Best Surf Spots in the World
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