Would you surf on Bouvet Island?

Boneroni

Tom Curren status
Mar 5, 2012
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Lol, I actually found that island on google earth and used the history tool to check out the surf there. Seems like there’s some good setups and good surf sometime.
but, the following text makes me want to never surf there….
”. It experiences a mean temperature of −1 °C (30 °F),[7]:  59  with January average of 1 °C (34 °F) and September average of −3 °C (27 °F).[47] The monthly high mean temperatures fluctuate little through the year.[63] The peak temperature of 14 °C (57 °F) was recorded in March 1980, caused by intense sun radiation.”
 
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mundus

Duke status
Feb 26, 2018
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Uncrowded, and not much worse than Alaska, Norway, Iceland, etc. weather wise.
 
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sponge

Tom Curren status
Feb 10, 2002
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I remember back in the day Surfer mag had a story of top five hardest places to surf. Think Diego Garcia was on it (more due to British rule and shark infestation). Literally just saw that same YouTube clip @sustard posted on Bouvet Island last night. Think this one takes the cake as far as hardest place to surf, since it is so hard just to get there.
 

One-Off

Tom Curren status
Jul 28, 2005
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33.8N - 118.4W
Is there a bar with a raging fire to go to afterwards? Hotel with sauna and spa? What are the local women like?
 

gbg

Miki Dora status
Jan 22, 2006
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I remember back in the day Surfer mag had a story of top five hardest places to surf. Think Diego Garcia was on it (more due to British rule and shark infestation). Literally just saw that same YouTube clip @sustard posted on Bouvet Island last night. Think this one takes the cake as far as hardest place to surf, since it is so hard just to get there.
I went to DG in 2003. No surfing allowed. Box jellies. Tigers. Lionfish. Turkeyfish. Stonefish. Step on one you are fooked. Need to boat in.
 
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r32

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 1, 2005
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One of my buddies has done a couple of surf trips to Iceland. He raves about the place.
I have been there 3x. But I only went back twice to find my missing bootie. I'm not raving about the place though. In fact, I'd say it's awful. Surf Iceland and you could lose a bootie and die!
 

Boneroni

Tom Curren status
Mar 5, 2012
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Potential.
K, maybe it shows my persuasion, but the first place I went on google earth pro was to the east side of the island, hoping to find a left point break. Here's what I found.
For perspective, the yellow line is 300 yds long.
Screen Shot 2021-11-01 at 11.53.24 AM.png

Here's the south-east corner of the island. Check out the almost 90 degree cross swell!!
No way to tell how big the waves are, but the fact that we can see the constructive interference in the breaking waves seem to indicate to me that it's fvcking huge.
Again, the yellow line is 300 yds.
Screen Shot 2021-11-01 at 11.51.07 AM.png

Screen Shot 2021-11-01 at 11.50.25 AM.png

Here's the NW coast in the same conditions. My guess is the the wind basically never stops on this side of the island.
Look closer for the yellow line. 300 yds is a lot smaller in this pic :oops:
Screen Shot 2021-11-01 at 11.56.57 AM.png
 
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GromsDad

Duke status
Jan 21, 2014
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West of the Atlantic. East of the ICW.
The coldest I've ever surfed is 18* air with water at 34* and a wind chill around 0*. That's probably part of why my hips bother me these days. The key to surfing when its below freezing is to have a hot shower or a hot tub really close by. Drive home still in wetsuit and get directly into shower or hot tub still in suit. As long as you've got that waiting for me I'm game.