Want to surf smart? The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the world's waves and beaches through conservation, activism, research and education. Their site offers everything from current surf reports to news and events.
Some people think surfing in California is cold. If you're one of those people, take a look at the Swedish SurfNet and be shamed! A caution from their Webmaster, however: "Some of the material on this server is only availible in Swedish so if you can't understand 'Hej alla surfare kul att ni hittar hit,' you might get some problems with the links marked with (SWE), but you can always look at the pictures." I guess he knows his audience!
Okay, start the journey from home. Well, it's not a technically stunning site, but I do live here, so when it's time to check the local waves, I take a look at the photos at Surf Check in Newport Beach. With several camera shots, updated daily, I can always tell what's going on outside my door while I'm spending an entire weekend doing things like writing this article! I work in my home across the street from the beach in Newport, and my neighbors all complain they never see me. You know what they say...the next best thing to being there! Surf Check also has links to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) project, Interactive Marine Observations where you can get wave, wind and temperature data from specific offshore buoys in Southern California.
The Complete Surfing Guide for Coaches was originally published in 1974 by Bruce Gabrielson, Ph.D.—The Original Huntington Beach "Snake" (Hey, it's from the site! Okay?). This site is a great resource for information about learning how to surf, shape boards, coach, and judge competitions—a reference guide for every surfer. The "Snake" has also published an interesting History of Huntington Beach Surf Clubs with some insights on surfing in the '60s.
As long as you're in Huntington Beach, stop by the U.S. Open of Surfing. I think this is one of the best sites so far in this Adventures on the Web series. The site is built in frames for Netscape 2.0, and has some cool Java effects, so although it takes a little while to download, it's worth the wait. Not just an attractive site—there's lots happenin' here, dude! The U.S. Open of Surfing details their upcoming events and includes profiles of all the ranked men and women surfers.
Moving up the coast, La Jolla Surfing Web operates a great links page. Lots of links here to surf reports around the world, photo galleries, newsgroups and manufacturers. While not a pretty page, it's a great starting point. If you like great surfing photos, they have some of Rick Doyle's who shoots for Surfer Magazine. Rick has applied some creative filters to the images making them truly unique.
Incidentally, for more of Rick Doyle's photography, you can visit the Screen Team's Web site to purchase screen savers made with Rick's images. A great place for Adrenaline Junkies, the Screen Team offers hundreds of screen savers for all kinds of sports and adventure activities, not just surfing. Be sure to check out the Adventure Section. For underwater, beach and sailing screen savers, check out the Screen Saver Galleries of Adventures Anywhere.
Surfing the Ventura Coast has lots of great stuff about the breaks in Ventura County, as well as lots of links. Other features include MPEG and QuickTime movies, and several Southern California surf cameras. Among the interesting links is another NOAA tide table, where you can check the tides for several points in the U.S., including Honolulu.
Now that you're in Hawaii, take a historical look at Surfing, Sport of Kings. This site offers some fascinating insights on the missionaries' discovery of surfing in the 1800s. Surfing, Sport of Kings, steeped in the legends and lore of Hawaii, begins: "The Hawaiian sport of surfing was first practiced by the ali'i (chiefs) at a time when the rest of the world had a real fear of the ocean. The amakua (guardian) shark god Kamohoali'i taught the Hawaiian Fire Goddess Pele how to surf; Pele taught her sister Hi'iaka and soon the men got involved."
For a look at a more modern Hawaii, check out Planet Hawaii with loads of stuff, including a Shockwave planet and menu which is pretty cool. While the site does not have much surfing information, their Activities Guide has lots of diversions...as long as you're making the trip!
But, we're here to surf, so, let's paddle our logs on over to check the Hawaiian Surf Report and then on to the Hawaii Surf Advisory's Pipeline photos. Operated by Neal Miyake, the best advice from the Surf Advisory is, "Stop surfing the Net and get in the water!" —Neal (a.k.a. Da Sponge)." You got it, Neal!