Posts tagged surfing sydney
Sydney's new surf break

URBNSURF

Last week Sydney Nimble visited the premises of URBNSURF’S wavegarden at Sydney Olympic Park.

The same company has been running a wavegarden in Melbourne for several years (2020).

The visit was timed to observe one of the more advanced sessions (Advanced turns). May as well see the place at a more challenging level.

Just check the bookings page to select a session you like. It can be as easy or hard as you wish - Cruiser, Progressive Turns, Intermediate, Advanced Turns, Advanced and Expert.

And the verdict – looks pretty cool. Next step is to dig into the pocket, dust off the board and head out there myself!

An option to book either lefts or rights is available as two distinct waves are generated in different areas at the same time. There is a barrier separating the area where you catch either wave (see third photo - set up).

It’s not a long wave but what you get is quality and the quantity of waves is spectacular, around 15 per surfer in one hour. Tell me of a beach where you will get that many waves in 60 minutes.

And we observed surfers queuing in a relaxed harmonious order!

No snaking or disappointment in missing out on waves due crowded breaks, or having to paddle through pounding beach breaks.

The surfers we watched were catching the waves with ease, just one miss – should have paddled a little harder. One or two came off but most were having no trouble with riding the waves.

The water temperature was around 18 celsius. It can get cold in winter (as low as 12 celsius) whilst in summer my guide, Luke, advised me that the water temperature can get to a very pleasant 25 celsius.

All the necessary gear can be hired, board, wetsuit, etc, or bring your own.

The hire option is handy for learners, someone wanting to try a different size or type of board and surfers visiting from other regions or countries who don’t have their equipment with them.

At the end of the session you can hang out and have a burrito and or beer, and video footage from your session is screened for one hour.

Go forth and check out a unique place in Sydney’s west, with surf!

Update (27/9)

Sydney Nimble has just added URBNSURF as a place that can be visited on our bespoke tour.

It could also be added to the itinerary of any of our other tours, such as an inclusion on the way to the Blue Mountains.

skilled young surfer - see the change in the next photo

working the body to maximise cut back

set up

space to chill

boards, boards and more boards

take off zone

off to the races

nice one

radical manouvre in the background!

Cape Solander surfing Sydney

It is late May 2020 in Sydney and the seas have been up due to a low pressure system off the coast of New South Wales.

There are a few places in Sydney that surfers seek out when large swells arrive.

One of these places is Cape Solander, which is located just south of the entrance to Botany Bay in the Kamay Botany Bay National Park.

Cape Solander was named after the Swedish naturalist, Daniel Solander, who visited Australia on the Endeavour in 1770.

Cape Solander is a hair raising break that is suited to surfers who are highly skilled, courageous and fit.

A give away for a large wave is the spray you can see at the top of the wave (first photo).

The waves at Cape Solander only start to perform when a reasonable swell is around, otherwise there is nothing to catch.

The boogie board rider in the photos was not being toed in whilst the stand up surfer at a nearby cliff break to the south (see last photo) was assisted by a jet ski.

If the seas are up and you want to experience the raw power of the sea Cape Solander is hard to beat.

You may also be treated to some spectacular surfing.

Sydney Nimble Tours can include a visit to Cape Solander in one of our days out.

take off

solid wave size

end of the line

grassy knoll views, city in background

another powerful break

Time to dust off the board

Dust storms do not generally occur in coastal areas of NSW but yesterday was the exception. Sydney was hit by gale force winds. The city was enveloped in a cloud of dust. The dust storm was brought by a cold front which moved through the western parts of NSW.

On a positive side surf conditions were excellent. Offshore winds and 3-4 feet plus of southern swell made for some very nice lines and quality waves. Curl Curl in particular had one of its best days in quite some time. Whilst Manly was also shapely it was smaller as it missed some of the Southern swell.

Sydney Nimble Tours visits Curl Curl, Freshwater, Manly, Bilgola and Palm Beaches on the Harbour, Northern Beaches and National Park Tour https://www.sydneynimbletours.com.au/sydney-harbour-and-northern-beaches-tour/

Please enjoy the photos of surfing glory at Curl Curl and Manly Beaches.

Manly Beach tube

Curl Curl surf on the day of dust

Boogie boarder carving it up

Going right late in day

Manly hanging ten

Palm Beach tour - Long Reef kite surfing

Whilst on a northern beaches tour we observed half a dozen kiteboarders speeding through the water and doing some amazing aerial manouvres. If you are fortunate enough to be driving by a beach and spot this activity it is worthwhile pulling over and having a look, even if only for ten or fifteen minutes. Kite surfing requires a reasonably strong wind so the conditions will not always be right. The photographs below, taken at Long Reef Beach, show the acrobatic feats being achieved in the course of what can only be described as a thrilling sport.

no fear of heights

cruising back to beach

hard landing?

controlling the kite can be challenging