Sweden

Where to surf in Sweden

Sweden is very inconsistent with probably only 75 small, windy but rideable days a year between both coasts. SW swells roll into the Skagerrak, but the maze of rocky islands keep this coast’s secrets for the locals. Check Nord-Koster, Öckerö and also the island of Rörö just off Göteborg in strong SW-NW winds. The shallow Kattegat, relies on very short fetch windswell from the SW to NW. Strong onshores are a necessary evil and if the wind swings offshore, the swell will drop rapidly. The scene is concentrated around Asa but it’s the wind and kite surfers who will get the most water time. Malmö surfers can choose the Kattegat or the Skåne area of the Baltic around Vik in E swells. The islands of Gotland and Öland host many beaches and reefs that catch windswell from all directions. Toro attracts big crowds from Stockholm in SE-SW. North into the Gulf of Bothnia both Sweden (Sikhjalma, Smitingen, Härnösand, Salusand, Skeleftehamn) and Finland (Mäntyluoto, Yyteri, Tulliniementie) benefit from the 600km north-south fetch, during summer and autumn only as ice forms during winter/spring.

Sweden has an extensive coastline bordering four distinct bodies of water – the Skagerrak, the Kattegat, the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. However it is very inconsistent with probably only 75 small, windy but rideable days a year between both coasts. Windswell arrives with the low pressure systems that generally move in from the southwest and winds will turn N as they pass, giving a short window of cleaner conditions. Strong N winds will bring surf to both coasts and Baltic systems will produce some E swells for southern Sweden and the islands.

Skagerrak and Kattegat

SW swells roll into the Skagerrak, but the maze of rocky islands keep this coast’s secrets for the locals. Check Nord-Koster, Öckerö and also the island of Rörö just off Göteborg in strong SW-NW winds.

The shallow Kattegat, relies on very short fetch windswell from the SW to NW. Strong onshores are a necessary evil and if the wind swings offshore, the swell will drop rapidly. The scene is concentrated around Asa but it’s the wind and kite surfers who will get the most water time. Malmö surfers can choose the Kattegat or the Skåne area of the Baltic around Vik in E swells.

Baltic Sea

The islands of Gotland and Öland host many beaches and reefs that catch windswell from all directions. Toro attracts big crowds from Stockholm in SE-SW.

North into the Gulf of Bothnia both Sweden (Sikhjalma, Smitingen, Härnösand, Salusand, Skeleftehamn) and Finland benefit from the 600km north-south fetch, during summer and autumn only as ice forms during winter/spring.