When the weather turns cold, Northern surfers have a choice to make: brave the tundra, or hop on a plane to warmer waters. For those who’d rather go with the latter (hard to blame you), this list spans destinations from the Caribbean to Central and South America, all the way to the Maldives. Flights from the US ranging from under three hours to over twenty. Spots suitable for beginners to experts. Reef breaks and beach breaks. There’s something for everyone here.  What should

The only West Coast action sports and outdoor lifestyle trade show returns to the San Diego Convention Center May 14–15, 2026

Regardless of where we surf, the type of board we ride, and our skill level, all of us surfers have the same fear in the lineup: sharks lurking beneath our toes. If you're surfing on the East Coast, you may be worried about small but powerful bites from bull sharks; if you're surfing in the murky and chilly waters of California, you may be worried about great white sharks; and if you're visiting Hawaii on a trip you've always dreamed of, you may be worried about tiger sharks.

If you’re looking for your next pair of boardshorts, we’ve got you covered!  There are endless factors to consider when shopping for boardshorts, but the main goal should be to interfere with your surfing as little as possible.  The last thing you want is a rough pair of boardshorts chafing you in the lineup. On the other hand, you don’t want to fork over all your money for a brand new pair of boardshorts.  In this article, we’ll break down the best boardshorts for you today,

There's no doubt about it: surfing requires toughness. After all, some of the best sessions come with the most risk: difficult paddle outs, fighting currents, paddling for waves of consequence, riding walls of water the size of buildings and enduring long hold-downs. With that in mind, we partnered with Xtratuf — an apparel company who's products ( especially their boots ) are the definition of tough — and compiled a list of the toughest surfers today. Surfers who charge the

12 Reasons El Salvador Should Be Your Next Surf Destination

Photo courtesy ZONiE For surfers and outdoor enthusiasts today, energy is at a premium. And that extra energy we need, whether it's pre or post surf or getting through the day, usually comes from energy drinks. But here’s the problem. With so many energy drinks out there today, which one is actually good for you?  The truth is that many of today's energy drinks are choc full of high sugar content, high caffeine, artificial colors, artificial flavoring and other ingredients th

Step on to the grounds at Atlantic Park Surf , and you’ll see dreamy waves peeling endlessly and barrels spitting, all with a backdrop of beautiful blue water. But that's not all. You'll also easily spot the staff, all wearing Dryrobe changing robes.  The embroidered robes are more than just a way to spot the staff on hand for any questions or help you need. Because the surf park is open year 'round in Virginia Beach, an environment with rainstorms and cold temperatures, the

An often overlooked piece of gear for anyone spending time outdoors, whether that’s on the beach or camping, is a knife. Because if you want to crack open a coconut, cut fishing line, filet some fish, cut some wood for a campfire, or open a metal can for food, there’s no substitute for a quality knife.  So, with so many knife options on the market today, where do you start? How can you find one that’s durable yet affordable? With a beach camping trip around the corner, I had

The temperatures are warmer, and it's officially summer. If you're going to spend the summer months like us — at or near the beach — you’ll need some gear to enhance and protect your experience, from suits to sunscreen, sunglasses, chairs and more. Those of us here at American Surf Magazine have tested summer products, and below you'll find our surf-related gift recommendations for the ladies, for the men, and accessories for all. Marlowe- No. 128 Facial Lotion, SPF 50 The Ma

How do you earn the nickname " Surf City ?" First, the location must have good, consistent waves. Second, the area must also be the epicenter of the surf industry, with surf shops, surf businesses, and home to iconic surf contests. And third, the community must be tight-knit, care and respect for each other, all the while exhibiting surfing's greatest quality: aloha. There’s only one location around the world that embodies all of this: Huntington Beach, otherwise known as Sur

All photos courtesy Kailey Aiken Great waves? Check. Delicious food? Check. A hotel on the beach? Big check. Barefoot surfers walking around town in bikinis and board shorts? Check.  Nosara, Costa Rica checks every box for a fun, stress-free surf trip, so here’s how you should spend your week in Playa Guiones, Nosara.  Getting to Nosara  The closest major airport is Liberia (LIR), about two and a half hours from Nosara. Book transportation in advance — last minute rides will

Signage paying homage to Surf Expo's incredible 50 years was on full display throughout the January 7-9th event. Photo courtesy Stephanie Brown Throughout January 7-9, 2026, the surf collective, from legacy brands to startups, pros and more, gathered for the bi-annual Surf Expo. This time, it had more significance than ever: it was the 50th year of the tradeshow. Surf Expo's 50 years is a historic amount of time, because when the show first took place in 1976, pro surfing was

There's no sport more beatiful than surfing, and capturing it demands more than just skill. It requires the right gear. I'll be the first to tell you: as a seasoned surf photographer, I've learned through countless sessions the critical importance of selecting the perfect camera. Understanding key features like fast autofocus and durability is crucial, because I've experienced firsthand the consequences of overlooking these factors. Reliable gear can mean the difference betwe

With Dawn Patrol, all of these stats — and more — are all at your fingertips. Photo courtesy Dawn Patrol There's one thing that all of us surfers have in common, regardless of where we surf, the type of boards we ride and our skill level: we all want to improve our surfing. But unlike other sports where you can easily track your performances, doing so with surfing has been ambiguous. Improving your surfing meant catching more waves, and feel stronger while doing so. In today'

In mid November, El Sunzal, La Liberta, El Salvador played host to the worlds’ greatest collection of SUP and Paddleboard talent with over 169 athletes, representing 27 national teams. The waves were pumping, the air was warm (no wetsuits necessary), and the crowd — given the several team components of the event — was absolutely electric.  You could feel the excitement and passion on the beach. Video courtesy Surf City El Salvador Oh, and if you missed the 2025 World Longboar

There's nothing worse than a cold child on the beach.

It's the holiday season, which means two things: there's going to be waves fueled by cold fronts, and you're going to be looking for new gear for yourself and your loved ones. But with so much surf and beach gear out there, where do you start? In the old days, catalogs used to arrive in your mail to inspire you with the year's latest and greatest gifts, and today, these catalogs take the form of digital gift guides. From shoes to clothes, sunglasses, towels, protein bars (we'

There's no better place to hold a championship longboard contest than the venue of El Sunzal in El Salvador. From the long and unraveling wave itself to the surrounding jungle and beach community, it's a true surfer's paradise. That's why, when there is a contest at El Sunzal, it's going to be historic, and that one word describes the 2025 Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships held in November. Your 2025 champs: Rachael Tilly and Kai Ellice-Flint. The event, a single

Let’s face it, for a lot of us surfers looking into college a main criteria involves the question: are we able to surf there? Personally, I wasn't able to ponder possibilities not bordering a coast as I knew there would be no surfing for quite some time. So I ended up in the surf mecca of California at arguably San Diego’s best college for surfers. Let’s look into why SDSU has it all for the surfer looking for quality education and waves.  To begin, let’s talk about school. T