Surfing: the pros' favorite destinations to know this summer

In their quest for the ultimate wave, female surfers have always had a knack for uncovering rare spots in total connection with the ocean. Particularly this summer, when surfing (along with climbing, skateboarding and breaking) is included in the Olympic Games program for the first time. So, from July 27 to 30, 26 athletes will climb onto their boards to face the swell at Teahupo’o, Tahiti. Just where Vahine Fierro, who wears the colors of France, is accustomed to. A native of Huahine, she has been training for years on this archipelago, whose unique position between lagoon and open sea ensures waves as curved as they are powerful. She confides: “It didn’t surprise me that they chose Teahupo’o. For the locals, this means a “sacred force”, like an inner fire that permeates Maohi culture and is fully experienced on the peninsula. “It’s mythical, dangerous, but when you manage to take it, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Another island, another Frenchwoman: it’s in Saint-Leu, on La Réunion, that Johanne Defay trains. A small fishing port on the west coast, it’s here that the pros descend on what’s nicknamed La Gauche, breaking continuous waves on a beautiful white sand beach. Although she also enjoys surfing in Les Landes or Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. In fact, that’s where some of her filming took place, The Endless Summer, a cult film from the 60’s in which Bruce Brown captured the first Californian pros in their frantic quest for the perfect wave. Another HQ, Uluwatu in Bali, is Shino Matsuda’s favorite destination. At 1.57 m, she is one of the favourites for the Olympics. “It’s home to my favorite waves in the world, but when I’m in Japan, I also like the ones in Shōnan.”The cradle of Japanese surfing, Shōnan is also home to a social phenomenon known as “taiyozoku” (or “sun tribes”). This idle youth of the 1950s, wandering the beaches in Hawaiian shirts, recounted by Shintarō Ishihara in his book The Season of the Sun, continues to touch new generations. On the other side of the Pacific, Sol Aguirre trains in Organos, Peru, her native country. Between two sliding sessions, she admires the whales passing in the distance. A stone’s throw away, Costa Rican Brisa Hennessy has learned to master her art on the Osa peninsula. “I grew up in Matapalo, in a jungle house with no doors or windows. My parents ran a surf school in Pan Dulce. That’s where I learned to stand up. But I also love Pavones, one of the longest waves in the world. In my country, life is pure and gentle, and that gives me a different relationship with things and people”.

Summer surfing destinations

Organos, Peru

The hotel: Arennas Mancora

A 20-minute drive from downtown Organos, this beachfront hotel has it all: a beautiful palm-fringed beach, bright rooms in light colors and a swimming pool that flirts with the waves.

The beach club: The Garden

Part restaurant, part yoga studio, part beach club, the place changes with the day. From the morning, when you order breakfast overlooking the Pacific, to the evening, when you party with your feet in the sand

Do: swim with the turtles at Punta Veleros.

Uluwatu, Bali

The hotel: Bulgari

Clinging to a cliff, this little Balinese Eden contains 59 villas built from local materials and topped with bamboo roofs. The spa is the most renowned on the island, and the pool is the perfect spot to watch the sun set.

The beach club: Sundays Beach Club

Set on one of the most beautiful beaches in the area, surfers and travellers alike can sunbathe, order chirashis, paddle… and even watch films projected onto a giant screen after dark.

Don’t forget to visit the Hindu temple of Pura Luhur, with its breathtaking views (and watch out for the monkeys).

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

The hotel: Shaloha

Built of wood and perched above the beach, this small ghesthouse contains just 5 suites. An ideal vantage point from which to admire dolphins and whales, it also offers access to a private cove.

The beach club: Die Walskipper

Since the late 1990s, this small seaside restaurant has brought together locals and visiting travellers. Lulled by the sound of the surf, you can order grilled meats and seafood platters.

What to do: gallop along the sands of Papiesfontein or enjoy the paradise of Dolphin Beach.

Shonan, Japan

Sagami Bay

The hotel: Prince Hotel Oiso

A Japanese-style resort, where the rooms shine with their refined decor and sea views. While on the first floor, travelers enjoy a giant pool flirting with the waves and a Zen spa.

The beach club: Oriental Resort

On the Koshigoe coast, this beach restaurant offers local specialties (soba, kakigori, sashimi, etc.) as well as the best-sellers that surfers love (açai bowl, fruity milkshakes and avocado toast).

Don’t forget: try the “shirasu” whitebaits, a local specialty, or read Shintarō Ishihara’s The Season of the Sun, facing the waves and Mount Fuji.

Matapalo, Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Lodge

The hotel: Lapa Rios Lodge

An absolute hot spot on this Costa Rican coast, Lapa Rios Lodge is nestled in the tropical jungle overlooking the beach. Surrounded by fascinating flora and fauna, guests settle into rooms that resemble Robinson’s cabins, with all the comforts of home (swimming pool, giant beds and spa with a view).

The beach club: Del Mar Taco Club

After battling the waves of the Pacific, many a surfer meets up at the Del Mar Taco Club. A small beach hut where you can order guacamole, tacos filled with fresh fish and local beers.

To do: rent a catamaran and admire the seabed while snorkeling, or admire the beautiful nature of Manuel Antonio National Park.

Saint-Leu, Reunion Island

Saint-Leu

The hotel: Blue Margouillat

Set within the walls of a Creole building with a turquoise roof, this welcoming hotel is run by the Relais et Châteaux group. Facing the waves of the Indian Ocean, it boasts 14 colonial-style rooms, most of which open onto balconies and the lagoon-colored pool.

The beach club: Le Zat

To blend in with the local wildlife, head for Le Zat. From sunrise to sunset, visitors can enjoy freshly squeezed fruit juices and pastries, as well as grilled calamari, tuna tataki and whatever the day’s catch holds. All of this with your feet in the water.

Don’t miss the Mascarin botanical garden.

Teahupo’o, Tahiti

Teahupoo

The hotel: Vanira Lodge

Simple and efficient, Vanira Lodge is Teahupo’o’s favorite spot for seasoned surfers. Just 2 kilometers from the mythical wave, visitors can pack their bags in 9 Tahitian-style bungalows, perched overlooking the bay and in perfect harmony with the island’s tropical nature.

The beach club: La Plage de Maui

In Taiarapu, a little further along the coast, this little beach hut offers ceviche with coconut milk and other grilled fish cooked in banana leaves.

Don’t miss: a hike in the hills guided by local Hitinui Levy, recommended by National Geographic.