Best Surf Towns

Taghazout, Morocco, is a surfing oasis in the middle of a long, rugged coastline that is inundated with waves. This ancient Berber encampment became an outpost for European adventurers trekking into southern Morocco in the 1960s. And throughout that same period, surfers “discovered” the region and set up shop in Taghazout. Today, there are a lot of French and Spanish surfers mingling with the native Moroccans and Berbers in what still feels like a frontier town on the edge of the desert. The waves are almost always long-period ground swells—which means great shape and plenty of power—and the winds consistently blow offshore.

Beginners should start at beaches like Panoramas or Crocodiles and work their way up to the point breaks, which are considered among the best in the world. To sample the crème de la crème, go for a surf at Anchor Point or Killer Point and learn why surfers often describe the waves there as “freight trains.”

Best Surf Brands - Mollusk

Mollusk

Roots: Founded in San Francisco by John McCambridge in 2005.

The San Francisco based Mollusk surf shop played a big part in sparking the enthusiasm and appreciation for all things retro in surf culture. The store opened in 2005, and their in-house brand immediately reflected the soulfulness that was missing in contemporary surf culture, which was dominated by big corporate names at the time. 

By creating the shift away from in-your-face, garish surf apparel, Mollusk cultured and expanded the niche for simplicity and quality that allowed other brands to join in. Without Mollusk, we would never have heard of Saturdays, Battenwear, and other small brands pursuing the finer things in life and surf.

BEST SURF CARS EVER

It’s a proven fact that you surf better when you show up to the beach in a dialed-in surf rig. It’s also a fact that you will heinously ruin the interior of a normal sedan with wax, sand, and foul smells if you’re wedging boards and wetsuits in the back. You need a good surf car, so if you’re on the market for dedicated surf transport, here are the models you want. All can be had for less than $7,500.

Volkwagen Vanagon (early 1980s – 1990)

You Want This Because: Big as a studio apartment inside; the right one will outlive you.

Forget about the VW Bus. Too old, way too slow, and terrible to drive. The Vanagon has all kinds of “modern” amenities (power steering!) and enough oomph to coax it out onto the freeway. But the best part is that roomy interior. You can have a stove, a bed, a sink, a TV, a stereo, a ding repair shop, a tacqueria, or hold ballroom dance classes in there. You can also fit about 75 boards up to 9 feet long in the thing.

LOUNGE AROUND

With autumn already upon us and winter just around the corner, it’s time to take your last sun salutation and farewell the warm weather. Yes, it’s time to pack away your bikinis and boardies and welcome in the cooler part of the year.

ways to wear the surf trend ...

Surf Trend styles are becoming increasingly popular on the fashion scene. With spring and summer edging closer, the focus has turned to beach-friendly fashion. There are a number of ways that you can work the new surf trend into your everyday look. From choosing certain materials or colours, you can easily create a surf-inspired outfit. Take a#look at a few surf trends below.

Nothing says surfing more than neoprene material. The simplest way to incorporate this surf trend into your outfit is with a neoprene clutch or #bag. If dressing in neoprene clothes, start off with something simple like a black skirt. Otherwise, go all out and wear a brightly coloured neoprene bodysuit underneath a full skirt.