Saltburn for the Weekend

The UK Pro Surf Tour gets under way this weekend, with the first event up at Saltburn. Forecast is looking just a tad flat but a well run event should be fun for all and there'll be a good buzz about town this weekend.

Getting there: A174 from the Boro to Saltburn seafront. Park down the hill at the surf shop & pier. Popular centre of surfing in N. Yorks. This is a fairly weak beach-break, with the better peaks focussed around the pier, which you can jump off to avoid a paddle out. They take swell from most directions, and like southwest winds. Pretty handy and there's a surf shop by the pier. As busy as you'd expect.

"Heading east down the beach to the Ship Inn, on the A174, you'll find Penny Hole; quality beach-break left and rights (with some hollow lined up lefts often the best pick). Across the channel from this, under the cliffs and receiving their protection from easterly wind, is a right-hand reef/point off the Saltburn Scar. Expect to see it work well on south to southeast breezes and solid northeast swells. 2-8ft plus. Advanced.

Try Coatham Sands up past Redcar for a low power beach-break option in south winds and any east swell. On the way up, seek out the Redcar Scars, location of some steep but rare reef break peaks for advanced surfers.

Down south, Skinningrove can host a fickle right-hand reef, and some beach-break peaks, all working best on a southerly wind."

Click here for more info on surf spots around the UK & Ireland.

Surf Spot Guide: Trestles

Talk about classic Southern California waves and Trestles is usually one of the first to get a mention. This week it'll be top of the list as the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro hits the beach. With the new ASP World Ranking system in play this season and the fact that the event is a 6 Star Prime, there's a good number of WCT guys showing up looking for a few extra ratings points. Surf report looks like small but clean and fun waves for the week, so reckon it could be good for Jordy, Dane and crew. Anyway, here's a little extra info for you on the surf spots at Trestles.

"Just north of the San Onofre State Beach, adjacent to the train trestle. One of the world's best surfing arenas. Running continuously from San Mateo Point to San Onofre State Beach.

Cotton's: Lined up left-hander good in big south to southwest swells. Breaks over cobblestone and sand bottom on any tide, but lower is hollower. Holds 2-12ft plus. All levels.

Uppers (Upper Trestles): Superb quality, long (mostly) right-hand cobblestone point wave. Works best on a wrapped northwest to west winter swell at higher tides, when there will be multi-second barrels firing down the beach towards San Mateo Creek. It'll work well on south swell too though. Any tide is OK. 2-10ft plus. All levels. Best in winter ... generally. Crowded with mini-tankers.

Lowers: Left and right cobblestone peak. Long rights in winter swells from NW, awesome fast peak left and rights in summer south swells. Generally both lefts and rights have 3 sections, with the first (outside) being more hollow. Rights often longer/lined up, and longer than Uppers. Lefts punchy and good channel to paddle back from. Any tide is OK, but low tide plus summer swell and morning off-shore = hollow green barrels at high speed. 2-15ft. Very crowded. Usually better than Uppers in summer, and vice versa.

Down from here is Middles: Mellow right-left summer peak needing northeast winds and any swell. All tides. Low is better as it can be a mush-burger at the best of times. If your surfing isn't working here, get a new board, or a coach"

Click here for more info on surf spots around the USA.