After reading a post on Surfermag.com in which pro surfer Dillon Perillo shared his five favorite spots to surf in the summer (which is when south swells dominate), we couldn’t help but notice the lack of left handers in Dillon’s selections. Something had to be done to represent those who prefer going left! Here are five world-class lefts from various points on the globe that will be sure to please even the most discerning surfer …
Hawaiian surfer Randall Paulson at Ala Moana on the south shore of Oahu; photo Zak Noyle/Surfer magazine
Ala Moana
The jewel of the South Shore of Oahu, Ala Moana, or “Bowls” as the locals call it, is a man-made left that offers up a perfect tube section and long, rippable walls. Its popularity and proximity to Honolulu make for a crowded lineup, but hit it early and you can score one of Hawaii’s best lefts with just a few bruddas.
Uluwatu
The Indonesian island of Bali is home to some of the world’s greatest lefts, but none outshine the big, barreling freight train called Uluwatu. Located on the beautiful Bukit peninsula, Uluwatu is accessed via a steep staircase that leads to a giant cave that fills with water at high tide, and turns into a stunning white-sand beach at low tide. And that’s just the scenery before you paddle out. Situated under huge cliffs, Uluwatu can cause sensory overload with its stunning views.
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Pavones
Located in the southern end of Costa Rica, Pavones is hands down the best left pointbreak in Central America. An hour-and-a-half drive from the town of Golfito, there’s not a lot to do in Pavones except surf the wave that basically runs the entire length of the village. But that’s fine by most surf travelers; after a few hundred-yard-plus rides all you’ll want is a cold beverage and a siesta.
Just a snippet of Chicama, an amazing left that loves a south swell; photo courtesy billabongcamps.com
Chicama
Widely considered the longest wave in the world, Chicama, located in Puerto Malabrigo, Peru, once saw surfer Cristobal de Col do 34 maneuvers out there—on one wave! Rides of two kilometers aren’t unheard of, and on the right combination of tide and swell direction, surfers can connect and ride through all seven sections of the wave. Don’t worry about paddling all the way back, either—locals have figured out a great enterprise and ferry surfers up the expansive point via dinghies and land-based vehicles.
Glenn Hall at Cloudbreak in Fiji; photo Jimmicane/Surfing magazine
Cloudbreak
The left by which all others are measured, Cloudbreak can be fun and playful until a roaring south swell generates wave heights of up to 20 feet. Named by Kelly Slater as one of his favorite waves in the world (and he’s surfed just about everywhere), Cloudbreak can serve up the barrel of your life and allow for the best high-performance surfing of your life on just one wave. Access isn’t easy, as the wave is located at on offshore reef that breaks miles from the nearest dry land, but boat charters are available from nearby resorts. Anyone who loves lefts owes it to himself to take on Cloudbreak at least once in his life.
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