Active & Adventure
CHILL, DUDES. By DIANNE BORTOLETTO. Images by DRIFTWOOD.
SURFING IN WINTER TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF PASSION AND IF YOU’VE BEEN BITTEN BY THE BUG, YOU COULDN’T BE IN A BETTER PLACE TO PRACTICE ON SOME GNARLY WAVES. THERE ARE AN incredible amount of surfers living in the Margaret River region, and for good reason. The 135-km coastline from Busselton to Augusta has no fewer than 75 surf breaks that produce extraordinary waves. Waves so good that the world’s best come to surf them every year as the region hosts the third stop on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro at Surfers Point. It is the only event on the CT that has three competition locations: Main Break (also Southside), The Box and North Point which was introduced but not used in 2016. During the cooler months, long after the WSL travelling surfing fraternity has gone,
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there are still plenty of places to check out great surf action. Researching where the best places to surf are in winter is like trying to crack a secret code. Surfers like to keep their favourite spots all to themselves. After all, it’s not much fun surfing a crowded wave. After tireless hours stalking professionals, schmoozing event organisers, chatting with surfing chefs, making friends with locals, sharing secret stories with surfing journalists and even asking blonde-haired wide-eyed groms, I’ve put together a list of the top winter surf spots in the Margaret River region. Simply sit and watch in awe or paddle out and get amongst it, after zipping up your 3mm steamer.