Coastalsurvey

North America — yes, that includes Canada — probably has more surfers than any other continent. Not surfers per capita, which would likely go to Australia, but just sheer volume. So some of the breaks can get crowded, especially in Southern California. But if you’ve got a car and the inclination, it’s easy enough to ditch the crowds and find a break to yourself.

The two primary waves zones for North America are the Atlantic and Pacific. The Gulf of Mexico generally has small waves and warm waters, except when hurricanes are spinning nearby.

The West Coast is best in the mornings, from dawn to about 10 am, while the offshore breezes are blowing. From midmorning on into the day the onshore breeze usually chops up the swell. Some days are windless and some days see an evening glass-off, but if you want to catch clean waves in California, get up early. Here are a few points to keep in mind when planning a trip to the West Coast:

• South of Cape Mendecino gets the summer surf with SW-S swell rolling in from May to October
• Northern California, Oregon, Washington and Vancouver get their biggest surf in the winter, from October to May
• The prevailing winds, blowing from west to east, assure the West Coast of some swell year round
• Water temperatures range from 7C/45F in the north to 20C/70F in the summer. A good 3/2 fullsuit will get you through most of the year. Northern surfers will need a 4/3, or a 5/4/3 combo with booties and a hood to keep them warm in the winter.

The East Coast is the wrong side of the pond for consistently big surf. Prevailing winds make Ireland a much better bet for swell. The advantage of steady west winds is that conditions may stay offshore all day. Typically, those winds will give beautiful shape to passing storm swell and keep blowing until all kinks are ironed out of the sea’s surface, a state locally known as Lake Atlantic. Here are a few points to keep in mind when surfing the East Coast:

• Big winter storm systems can push waves all the way south to Tobago. For New England surfers, winter nor’easters typically mean biting cold (around 2C/35F north of Cape Cod), snow squalls and solid surf in sheltered coves from November until March
• Hurricane season, July through October, are the glory days for East Coast surfers. The water is relatively warm and big ‘canes can push swell up to the double overhead range at spots from Florida to Nova Scotia
• East Coast surfers need a closetful of rubber. Winter in New England calls for a drysuit or hooded 6mm with thick booties, and gloves. Summer is comfy in a shortie, or trunks south of Long Island. For the seasons in between 4/3s and 3/2s are the call.

See More Articles About North America:

• Coast Survey Launches New Vessel
• Shrink
• NYC Surf FAQ
• FBI warns of kidnappings in Tijuana
• On the Right Coast: Surfing Rockaway
• Block Island: An Island Out of Time
• Coastlives: Kevin O'Driscoll
• Surfing the Outer Banks
• Surfing School, Santa Cruz
• The Wharf, Santa Cruz, California