Don’t want to take up too much space with a non-shaping question, but anyone surfed Kauai in November? I’ll be over there in Mid-November, and never surfed there before. I need a lead on a nice, non-hardcore, longboard spot. Any tame point breaks that aren’t too big in November?
I was there last winter and found the West side to have more space, more spread out, long drives to the surfbreaks, mostly beach breaks though (Barking Sands, Polihali). The north area had the better point/reef breaks but also the more localized scene, crowds, tighter locals in the water because they live right there. Polihali on the other hand, I was surfing with my three Alaskan friends and the next surfer was two hundred yards down the beach. The closest town (houses) are 25 minutes away so there is less ownership. Yes, the waves are not as good as up north but…
Thanks. I was planning to visit Polihale and know someone who said he’s surfed there, but he didn’t say much about the waves. I still can’t quite get an image of the waves there. I wish there was some link to view. I just keep imagining stormy, closed-out dumpers, but I’m sure it’s better than say, El Porto or other south bay L.A. beach pounders, right? I don’t need a perfect point, I was just hoping wherever I surf would have low-key, longboard-friendly waves that lasted longer than 3 seconds. So I guess Polihale is decent in the winter months?
Don’t want to take up too much space with a non-shaping question, but > anyone surfed Kauai in November? I’ll be over there in Mid-November, and > never surfed there before. I need a lead on a nice, non-hardcore, > longboard spot. Any tame point breaks that aren’t too big in November? Do you have a place to stay yet?If not contact Greg Liddle via his web site, liddle surfboards or has a couple of inexpensive rentals.Furthermore, he can probably tell you the places to surf during your stay.
Do you have a place to stay yet? Cool, thanks man! My wife and I have just been trying to firm up our accommodations, and we are still looking for a nice, low-key, LOW COST place near the water. I’ll check Liddle out. Thanks again…deeb…
As far as whats it like. Polihale is hot, dry, desolate and at the end of the road, hard to get any releif, there is a shower though. The water moves in some funky rips, you have to pay attention on where and how to get outside. If you dont use a rip to suck you out then you just get pounded and go nowhere. Watch some locals if there are any and follow them. The waves can be confusing in that its hard to stay on a peak due to the currents ripping you down the beach. Be in good paddleing shape. The other areas on the west side are a lot more forgiving as far as the currents go. Most of the towns out in west Kauai are very local, not a whole lot of tourism. The Waimea brewery puts out some great beer. We stayed in Poipu (sp?) on the south side and it was a haul to points west and north, up to an hour each way. All in all we got great vibes from the locals out west, they were friendly and helped us out a lot, mahalo.
Don’t want to take up too much space with a non-shaping question, but > anyone surfed Kauai in November? I’ll be over there in Mid-November, and > never surfed there before. I need a lead on a nice, non-hardcore, > longboard spot. Any tame point breaks that aren’t too big in November? Been to Hanalai Bay but in the summer – when it’s small (like it is in the summer) it’s not very crowded and the locals that were out were on Longboards and pretty cool – just be sure to observe the usual rules regarding right of waves, respect, etc. I rented a lomgboard for a few days and had some hassle free fun. Locals consider it flat during the summer months and I think they head South. You could call a few shops as well. They’ll give you the tip. Most people have the Aloha vibe. In the winter, I hear it get’s pretty big, hollow, big, hairy, big, crowded with local and pro crowd so I really dunno about November – could be an inbetween kind of time. Hanalai is also a a really cool little town to hang out in, some good food spots, and poissibly find a rental on the North Shore. Dick Brewer’s shop is right there too if you want to bring home a new board. The only big hotel is the Princville but it’s really pricey and not really catering to surfers (although, an easy paddle from the hotel’s beachfront to a good (yet shallow) reef break. Seems to be lots of small rentals and condos if you ask around or surf the net for some agencies. If it’s flat I would recomend a hike up the Napali trail and some ocean kayaking along the Napali Coast. Have fun. Hope this helps. God, I love Kauai
Been to Hanalai Bay but in the summer – when it’s small (like it is in > the summer) it’s not very crowded and the locals that were out were on > Longboards and pretty cool – just be sure to observe the usual rules > regarding right of waves, respect, etc. I rented a lomgboard for a few > days and had some hassle free fun. Locals consider it flat during the > summer months and I think they head South. You could call a few shops as > well. They’ll give you the tip. Most people have the Aloha vibe.>>> In the winter, I hear it get’s pretty big, hollow, big, hairy, big, > crowded with local and pro crowd so I really dunno about November – could > be an inbetween kind of time. Hanalai is also a a really cool little town > to hang out in, some good food spots, and poissibly find a rental on the > North Shore. Dick Brewer’s shop is right there too if you want to bring > home a new board. The only big hotel is the Princville but it’s really > pricey and not really catering to surfers (although, an easy paddle from > the hotel’s beachfront to a good (yet shallow) reef break. Seems to be > lots of small rentals and condos if you ask around or surf the net for > some agencies.>>> If it’s flat I would recomend a hike up the Napali trail and some ocean > kayaking along the Napali Coast.>>> Have fun. Hope this helps. God, I love Kauai Yes Kauai is beautiful…Like an earlier post said, the Polihale area has some strong currents running (it looks so beautiful from the beach) so be careful. There are some spots at Major’s Bay, on the Barking Sands military base a few miles before Polihale that are quite good…U need to register at the gate for a pass. Hanalei can get and is usually just as crowded as any world class surf spot and is quite longboard friendly. There are a few other breaks located within the bay itself…Pinetrees, a fun beach break, Middle of the Bay, a far out left that basically breaks “in the middle of the Bay” and Waikoko’s, a left on the far side of the Bay that is quite fun. If u happen to run into variable or no wind conditions, the east side of Kauai can really turn it on…During this condition what were funky, sloppy unorganized beach and reef breaks turn into juicy, tasty peelers. My favorite spot on that coast is Horner’s, a left at the north end of Wailua beach. There are countless other breaks on the east side that fire when the wind is down. Poipu on the south side, would be worth checking out if a south swell is running, and of course a peeling left on the southwest side that most people know about that starts with a “P” (I won’t divluge the name of this spot in respect to the locals ), it’s on the way out to Polihale. The east side (Kapaa and Wailua area) is a strategic place to stay as it is not too far from the north shore, and not as far a drive to the west side. There are more places to eat and shop in this area too…