Russian Baltic Sea

Russian Baltic Sea surf travel guide

Russia's Baltic coastline is a shadow of its former Soviet Union self as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania regained their independence of Moscow in 1991. Nevertheless, in the narrow Gulf of Finland, westerlies bring rideable windslop to Mis Flotskiy and the wide, gently shelving sands of Sestroretsk, St Petersburg. Lake Ladoga can also be whipped up to a rideable wave height in N to E winds and near the Osinovezckiy lighthouse is the best spot for some poor waves. Kiteboarding makes far better sense around here, since without howling onshores, it will be flat. Summer water temps in both waters are warmer than surrounding Baltic spots.

Far better Russian surf can be found in the small Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. With a short 159km coastline that bends from facing west to due north, it is well-placed in the SE corner of the Baltic to pick up both W and N swells. Decent, year-round waves can be ridden at many beaches along this heavily armoured coastline, with autumn usually seeing the best combination of swell size, manageable wind and bearable water temperatures.

The Russian Surf Federation national competition is often held at the tourist town of Zelenogradsk, where surf schools and crowds are materialising. The best spot is at the N end of the promenade, heading towards the windswept sand spit of the Kurskaya Kosa National Park. Can get some size between the short breakwalls and picks up all available swell. Malinovka has wider-spaced jetties, making it safer for beginners and popular with kiters. Pionersk, or Pio for short, can break a fair way out and is suited to more experienced surfers. Donskoe is rarely any good, but is a picturesque wide beach below cliffs, with shorebreak peaks around a sunken ship filled with sand. Half decent waves break beside the long jetty and monument to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna that protects the entrance to the naval base at Baltiysk. It can get quite good a few times a year, attracting the best surfers and kiters to more powerful, hollow waves in spring and autumn.