Want a break? Go surfing

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Until a few years ago, the word ‘surf’ would probably have triggered images of toon adventure or detergent in the minds of most Indians. The scene has changed and the adventure sport, called surfing, figures prominently in the ‘to-do’ list of Indian beach enthusiasts.

From posing proudly on the beach for a snap, holding the surfboard, to braving the strong currents that challenge you to manoeuvre over or around them, our young men and women are getting increasingly smitten by the surfing bug.
Cricketer Jonty Rhodes, the ambassador of the Surfing Federation of India, who recently took part in the first official national surfing competition in Kovalam, called the Spice Coast Open, said, “Surfing has the ‘cool’ that cricket has not!”
Deepti Jha, an avid surfer who works in the advertising industry, says, “I started surfing back in 2007 when I was in Mauritius. Though I have mostly surfed abroad, I love riding the waves in India too and had a great time surfing during the Spice Coast open.” Considering the sport is still gaining its foothold, did she invite any ugly stares as she surfed? “Not at all. People were quite amazed to learn about such a sporting possibility and its fun factor. I also remember having a great time at Rameshwaram, where I met international surfers with whom I could talk at length about the different locales and other stuff,” Deepti adds.
Good surfing locations are those with ideal surf breaks, which, for the uninitiated, means permanent obstructions, such as rocks, coral reef or similar structures that cause a wave to break, forming a barreling wave that can be surfed before it collapses. According to Kishore Kumar, president of the Surfing Federation of India, the following are the five best places to surf in the country:

1 Swami’s and Baba’s Left at Mulki, Mangalore, Karnataka:
These are two surfing spots in the coastal village of Mulki that also offer yoga and meditation courses and surfing opportunities for beginners. “The place is not known to many people, it’s not been popularised to avoid overcrowding, just the way surfers would like it,” says Kishore.

2 Kovalam Beach, Kerala
Kovalam is probably the best known surfing spot in India. Not because it has the best surf, but because it has cheap hotels and places to hang out if you are on vacation, and the surf is decent most of the time. There are two local surfers there, and it is sometimes possible to rent a board. But it’s better to play it safe and bring your own. The spot is a ‘beach break’ (waves break on a sandy seabed) but when it gets around seven feet it breaks out towards the lighthouse and begins to work like a ‘point break’ (waves hit a point of land or rocks jutting out from the coastline).

3 Alwar’s at Manapad Point, Tamil Nadu
This is potentially the best surfing spot in India’s South East coast, at Manapad Point.
The point is beautifully formed due to ancient lava flow that extends into the water.
At times you can expect up to a 200-metre ride, so be prepared for some long walks back to the point. This spot gets a lot of south wind but when the wind is offshore it produces waves that will make you howl!

4 Shore Temple Break, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu:
The World Heritage Foundation has piled granite boulders around an ancient Vishnu temple at the beach to keep it from tumbling into the sea and this has also developed into an awesome break. The break is over sand, but during low tide, you can easily break a board — or your neck — if you are not careful. Surf until you can’t paddle for another wave, then rent a cosy beach cottage, rest up and do the same thing the next day!

5 Vizag, Andhra Pradesh
If you are on the East coast then you should definitely check out Vizag, a place with big beaches, good hotels, a commercial harbour and some nice point breaks with good surf.