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Frequently asked questions
How is the 0-10 surf rating calculated?
The rating combines three factors: swell height (optimal between 0.8 and 2.5 m), wave period (over 9 seconds adds a lot and over 12 is excellent) and wind (offshore adds points, strong onshore subtracts). It is an open-sea model estimate: the bottom, the tide and the exact orientation of each peak can change the real result.
What do offshore and onshore wind mean?
Offshore wind blows from land out to sea: it grooms the wave, delays its breaking and leaves clean, well-ordered faces. Onshore wind blows from the sea towards land and messes up the swell, creating choppy wind sea. A light offshore (5-20 km/h) is usually ideal; a strong onshore ruins almost any swell.
Why does the wave period matter so much?
The period is the time in seconds between two consecutive crests. Long periods (over 10-12 s) indicate groundswell generated far away: more ordered waves, with more energy, that break with more power and quality. Short periods (under 8 s) indicate local wind sea, disorganised and with less wall.
Which wetsuit do I need depending on the water temperature?
General guidance: over 23 °C, boardshorts or a rash vest; 20-23 °C, a shorty or 2 mm; 17-20 °C, a 3/2 wetsuit; 14-17 °C, a 4/3 wetsuit; 11-14 °C, a 5/4 with booties; below 11 °C, a 5/4 or 6/5 with hood, gloves and booties. On the Cantabrian coast in winter a 4/3 or 5/4 is the norm; in the Canary Islands, a shorty or 3/2 all year round.