St Ives

Best Surf Season (October - March)

St Ives is a north-northwest facing beach on the wild Cornish coast, so its finest surf comes when the North Atlantic storm track cranks into gear between October and March. Average wave heights during this window sit between 2.1m and 2.5m (7-8ft) with periods of 10.5-11.7s, meaning plenty of powerful, long-period groundswell. The same low pressure systems that light up the Atlantic also throw wind at the coast, and the magic happens when a pre-frontal southerly to west-southwesterly flow sets up over the beach, turning the whole bay into a windswept but perfectly groomed playground. When the NAO is positive, low pressure systems barrel toward the British Isles and St Ives gets the full force of the ocean. South to west-southwest winds are offshore here, making the winter months the most reliable for both size and shape.