Iceland

Where to surf in Iceland

Most Icelandic surfers only ride around the Reykjanes Peninsula, close to Reykjavik in the southwest. Low pressure systems spawned in Baffin Bay, wind up south of Greenland, before sending groundswells slamming into the Reykjanes peninsula, the first stop on the transatlantic swell highway. These swells can be giant and very powerful, building suddenly and they are often accompanied by raw winds and stormy conditions. The Reykjanes peninsula is covered in old lava flows, so most of the waves break over volcanic reef or basalt rocks, sharp substances that take their toll on booties (and bodies). One exception is the black sand beach at Sandvik, providing a rare beginners’ spot, but it can often equal the ferocity of the reefbreaks when it’s overhead. Thorli is another popular choice with a defined paddling channel and attracts the Reykjavik regulars to the south coast in N winds.

The rest of Iceland

With 4970kms of coastline to explore, Iceland presents a rare opportunity to surf virgin territory. The Snaefellsness peninsula to the NW of Reykjavik also picks up plenty of swell from the S-W with more beachbreak than the Reykjanes but mainly 4WD access trails and few documented, bona fide surf spots. Westfjords has extensive beachbreaks facing S,W and N on its southern arm around Breiðav’k. Straying off the Route 1 ring road is fraught in bad weather so checking towns like Blšndu—s in the north or the east coast from Breiðdalsv’k where Route 1 hits the coast will be easiest. Invariably though it will be the tortuously twisting circuitous smaller roads that lead to an endless array of ash grey beachbreaks facing every conceivable direction that hold anything from fun longboard peelers to thumping peaks on empty lonely beaches in cold biting conditions. Vik is the southernmost point on the island and attracts any hint of swell down a submarine canyon onto quality black sandbanks. Challenging, hollow and powerful with strong rips and massive up to 5m tides, this is not a spot, or an island for the faint-hearted.