Phuket surf season - By Anniina

The surf season in Phuket is like a Finnish summer - short but sweet. This year it started while the beaches were still banned and I can only imagine how long the wait has felt. Literally, I can only imagine, for I myself hardly even wet my toes. For me it’s a question of the atmosphere created by the appearance of surfers on the beach. Easy going, positive, passionate and of course super cool.

You can enjoy that atmosphere and the happiness of the other in the waves, even if you don't do the sport yourself.

The swell comes from the Indian Ocean and the best time for surfing is between May and October. For the rest of the year, the sea remains mainly calm and the only waves to be found are at Surf House venues in Kata and Patong.

Real Surf waves can be found on the west coast of the Island and it is easy to start the hobby as there are surf shops on each beach where you can rent a board daily. The local teachers are experienced and cheerful, real characters. Kata Beach is a diverse beach where enthusiasts can find three different levels in one place. That is why the beach is the most famous and practical surf destination in Phuket. Now that parents have to really think meaningful things to do for their children, surfing is a great option. Surfing develops both the mind and the body and nature is its playground, so a better hobby for a child can hardly be found.

I have now praised Kata Beach, certainly already too much, just like after these twelve years I had found a completely new place on the Island. While the lack of tourists causes a lot of financial problems, I can’t help but rejoice at how natural our beaches are at the moment. Before I would never spend my free time at Kata, now I only head there. I am going to take full advantage of this unique situation. It will certainly take a long time before the tourists return again, but it is certain that this will happen before long. This too will pass. On the first day of July, we take another step towards a new, freer normal.

Photo credit Woody Treesak Somanawat