Surfing the beautiful Indian Ocean may seem like a dream to some, however some of the best surfing in the world is located between India and Sri Lanka, just south of the Lakshadweep Islands of India and southwest of Sri Lanka. Here you'll find an island nation called Maldives that is comprised of a large group of atolls, which are basically coral formations that form a circular shape with an enclosed lagoon. These unique formations add to the undisturbed beauty of the region in addition to crystal clear waters, and incredible weather, which is ideal for an avid lover of surfing.

Nailing down one's favorite spot can be difficult. Maldives, Asia is definitely one of the many spots that equates to surfing paradise with an average water temperature of around 82 degrees. Should one choose to venture out to an exotic location such as Maldives for a surfing trip, keep in mind that getting to surfing spots will require a boat.

Popular surf spots in Maldives range the gamut between the South Male Atoll and the North Male Atoll. Some of the most popular spots include Cokes, Honkeys, Five Islands, Jails, Sultans, Tombstone, Gurus, Kates, Foxys, Riptides, and Natives to name a few.

In terms of level of difficulty, Chickens, Cokes, Gurus and Jails are recommended for experienced surfers only. For those pros and kamikaze-style surfers, the best surf spot is Meeru Reef, though other great challenging locations include Pasta Point, Sultans, and Last Stop.

There are a few surf packages available, but surfers might want to bring basic gear including shoes, board shorts, wet dry bags and boards. Surfers interested in resort packages should consider resources such as The Perfect Wave, Awesome Holidays Maldives, Surf Travel or World Surfaris.

As with all international travel, it is highly recommended that surfers planning to travel to Maldives to experience some of the best surfing in the world check with the American Consulate prior to planning a trip abroad.

Surfers are known for getting along with one another a whole lot better than the athletes in those "major" sports. For the women surfers it's like a sorority, and for the fellows it's like a fraternity. So, it's only fitting that professional surfers gather once to a year to commune and honor the best among themselves.

This year's 16th annual Surfing Life Peer Polls Awards were celebrated in Australia, near the renowned Bells Beach, and the surfers may have been showing some sentiment in picking a pair of Aussies. Still, Stephanie Gilmore and Mick Fanning are both world champions who are as deserving as anyone, although Gilmore's world crown came during 2007, while Fanning's was this year.

Gilmore, in fact, made her Surfing Life Peer Polls Award a back-to-back shindig. Fanning, meanwhile, is the first Aussie to claim the Surfing Life top award since Luke Egan in 2000.

"I am so stoked," proclaimed Mick Fanning in classic Down Under jargon.

Stephanie Gilmore, 20, started surfing a decade ago. She wasn't even old enough to legally sip a brew of Foster's -- a top surfing sponsor Down Under -- when she captured the Roxy Pro Gold Coast title as a 17-year-old. Seems inevitable, but yes, her nickname is "Happy." She indeed flashes a megawatt smile, and her exciting lifestyle includes skydiving, along with playing guitar. (Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton are among her faves.)

Mick Fanning, 27, was only 5 years old when he tried his first wave, but he did not get really serious until he was 12. His family moved to Tweed Heads, site of some of Australia's most dynamite surfing, and he became buddies with Joel Parkinson, another future surfing pro. He was a mere 16 when he finished among the top three at the Australian National Titles, and his big breakthrough came at age 19 when he won the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.

With the nickname of "White Lightning," Fanning overcame a complete hamstring tear in 2004 to recover his crowd-pleasing style. He is married to Karissa Dalton, a model.

Sources:

www.surfinglife.com.au

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_Gilmore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Fanning

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bells_Beach

Considered the ultimate Indian Ocean surf paradise, Mauritius located Southern Africa in is the home to some of the best surfing in the world. With a great abundance of surf spots available primarily on the southern side of the island, surfing is Mauritius offers not only paradise to the experienced surfer but also to other levels.

Many of the surfers in Mauritius trek to the beach in their surf gear daily though the best months for surfing in that region generally falls between April and September with July and August, and September and October being the peak months. July through August surfers can expect a swell of anywhere from 5 feet to 6 feet and in September and October between 6 feet and 7 feet.

The climate in Mauritius is tropical with an average air temperature of 73 degrees during peak season and the average water temperature ranging between 72 and 73 degrees. There are a wide variety of surf spots from which to select in Mauritius with two of the most popular being Black Rocks, which is recommended for experienced surfers only and Madame Barry, which is recommended for professionals or kamikaze only (www.wannasurf.com). Tamarin is one of the best breaks in Mauritius also known as an expert level reef break spot and is heavily frequented by local island surfers (www.globalsurf.com).

Known for some of the best surfing in the world Mauritius has many other surf spots such as; Calamar, Darne, Cimetary, Grand Sancho, Martello, Le Mome, Martin Spot, One Eye, Petit Sancho, Tagore and Tailors Point to name a few. Like Madame Barry Cimetary is recommended for professionals or kamikaze surfers only (www.wannasurf.com). Le Piton and Behind the Island are both great surf spots for intermediate surfers.

Accommodations in Mauritius range from hotels to guest houses and bungalows. The most common way to get to Mauritius Island is take a flight from France though other options exist. Where Mauritius is a surfer's paradise offering the best surfing in the world with quality waves, always check with your embassy before traveling to a foreign country for current travel advisories.

Surfer and lifeguard Eddie Aikau lived in Hawaii for 31 years. He died 30 years ago, but his fame and legacy live on.

The Eddie Aikau Foundation honors his life with fundraisers bearing the slogan "Eddie Would Go," which also is the title of a movie and a book about him.

This is because in 1968, Aikau became the first lifeguard hired by Honoluluauthorities to work on the North Shore. With his swimming skills and powerful body, he "would go" into any conditions, even 30-foot waves, to perform rescues along the beaches. Not one life was lost during his 10 years on patrol.

But he couldn't save his own. In 1978, he volunteered for a 2,500-mile journey to follow the ancient route of Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian island chains. The voyage's canoe soon developed a leak and capsized. Aikau took to his surfboard and paddled off in search of help. The crew later was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, but Aikau was never seen again despite the largest air-sea search in Hawaii's history.

Eddie Aikau was born in 1946, long before surfing became a professional sport. He learned on a borrowed board in Kahului Harbor off of Maui. He purchased his own board only after working as a teenager at a Dole pineapple
cannery.

During his era, surfers paddled their way into big waves. Many veterans still look down on today's practice of a jet-ski towing a surfer into position. Several tournaments throughout the years have taken place in Aikau's name, with towing forbidden.

"Eddie was a really warm-hearted person. He'd do anything for you," says Barry Kanaiaupini, another star surfer of the era. "He saved so many people. I mean he didn't have to. Shoulders and arms. That guy was like a
tugboat. Like you can tie four people to him and he'd swim them in. That's the kind of strength he had."

Aikau's sister, Myra Aikau, is the foundation's president. She says she and Eddie loved surfing so much as children, they would perform lawn and household chores in the middle of the night so that they could go to the ocean during the day.

The foundation promotes Hawaiian history and culture. Its e-mail address is info@eddieaikaufoundation.org and the mailing address is 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 124, PMB364, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Sources:
www.eddieaukaufoundation.org
en.wikipedia.org/wikie/eddie_aikau

Talk about a youth movement in women's surfing! How about the Honda U.S. Open champion who will turn 15 in August? She's surfer Malia Manuel of Wailua, Kauai, who defeated another Hawaiian, Coco Ho, who is all of 17. The teen revolution took place July 26 at Huntington Beach, south of Los Angeles, known to the world as Surf City USA.

Malia was a wild card because she had not entered enough events to be seeded, and she modestly said she was fortunate to catch a few good waves on a slow overall day. The surf averaged only 2 to 3 feet.

What will she do with the $4,500 prize?

"I think I'm going to buy some tires and rims for my Honda Civic, so when I'm 16, I can drive it." A youth movement indeed. She also said she felt "stoked."

She added, "I was just happy to be here. To get to surf against some of my heroes and to be in the final with my friend Coco is just something I would have never dreamed of."

Coco also has a wavy future and said she felt "over the moon" just to make the finals. She's the daughter of the legendary Michael Ho and the niece of former world champ Derek Ho. She took in $2,300 as women's runner up and copped another $3,000 earlier in the day as the women's junior winner. These days in surfing, it's tough to tell the women from the girls.

The full, somewhat bulky competition title is "GO211 LIVE featuring the Women's Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O'Neill." Whew! That's a wave in itself, but sponsorship is a needed avenue to take the sport to a higher level.

Sources:
www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-surfing27-2008jul27,0,1283027/la-sp-su7.story
www.surfline.com/surfnews/surfwire/cfm?id=13420
www.freesurfmagazine.com/Volume-5-Number-3/Garden-Isle-Girl-Malia-Manuel.html

There are very definite perks to surfing Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. Famous for some of the best surfing in the world, Waikiki Beach is an ideal place for beginning surfers, as well as the experienced surfer. Beginning surfers will find the waves are gentle and ideal for someone who has not yet built confidence in the sport. On the other hand, surfers will have the challenge of sharing the waves with many surfers that inundate the beaches of Waikiki daily.

There are several places to surf along the coastline of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii; however, some of the more popular places include Canoes and Queens. Though there are other more challenging places to surf in Honolulu, Hawaii besides Waikiki Beach, expect to see decked out locals in board shorts, as well as experienced and pro surfers in the latest gear, with tricked out boards, preparing to take on the waves at Waikiki Beach.

Many people come to Honolulu, Hawaii with visions of movies and undertake the challenge of taking surfing lessons. Waikiki, Beach is definitely one of the best places to take surf lessons as they are readily offered to beginners and surfers of all levels, and the waves are perfect for beginning surfers. Surf lessons generally cost approximately $35 per hour, with board rental starting at about $10 per hour.

To surf Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, fly from a major airport into Honolulu, Hawaii. There are many large oceanfront properties where surfers can select hotel accommodations and have easy access to the beach. Most hotel properties have information on surfing lessons, board rental, surf camps and other surf-related activities. Expect prices to be high in Honolulu for hotels. Other less costly options are offered particularly for surfers willing to share condominium space and rental of cottages, which is an ideal choice for a group trip.

If you are going to visit Waikiki Beach to surf, visit the Surf Museum, which has the history of the sport of surfing and the evolution of surf boards from redwood to current day foam and fiberglass boards.

A Review of surfing in Uruguay and some of the hottest surf spots.

Nestled between Brazil and Argentina, along the Atlantic Ocean is a beautiful coastline which offers the best surfing in the world. In the country of Uruguay, located in the southern most regions of South America, surfers can enjoy the natural beauty of pristine beaches, incredibly clear sea water and ocean breaks ideal for surfers of all levels.

As one of the most unspoiled locations offering the best surfing in the world, there are a number of choice spots for surfers to check out simply depending on what one is looking for. Great point breaks can be found in spots such as Santa Lucia del Este, Jose Ignacio, and La Moza. For great intermediate reef breaks, surfers should check out the spots around Zanja Honda in Rocha, Uruguay. The popular beach breaks that are ideal for surfers of all levels can be found at Cabo Polonia, El Mir, El Barco, La Aguada, El Rivero and Montoya. There are two awesome locations for river mouth breaks including Arroyo in Canelones and La Barra in Maldonado.

Offering some of the most unspoiled beaches and unchartered surf territory, Uruguay has dynamic waves and great swells without the usual competition of the crowds at most other popular locations, though Punta is definitely a hot spot. This factor of course is somewhat dependent on the time of year one visits Uruguay. The high season for surfing in Uruguay is in January and February. Another great perk that makes this location ideal for the best surfing in the world is the climate, which is fairly temperate year round. The climate in Uruguay is opposite of the United States, with the warmer season being in January and the colder weather in June, though the winters are very mild.

The costs for accommodations in Uruguay for the most part are very affordable. Surfers can rent modest rooms, private bungalows or book high-end resorts such as Punta del Este, or Posado y Parador La Canada, again dependent upon taste and budget.

To reach Uruguay, take a major air carrier into Montevideo, Uruguay or fly into Buenos Aires, Argentina and take a boat ride over to Uruguay. The airfare has traditionally been lower arriving in Buenos Aires than it was flying to Montevideo, barring any recent fare increases. Contact the tourist bureau for more information.

Several of the best surfing spots in the world.

The best surfing in the world spans from one end of the world to the other, however Fiji is definitely one of the top spots to hit. Located on the beautiful island of Fiji is Matanivusi Surf Resort in Viti Levu, one of the world's best.

A visit to Matanivusi Surf Resort provides the opportunity to enjoy a vacation specifically designed around the sport of surfing. The resort not only provides some of the best surfing in the world, but also privacy; as the location of the surf resort is strategically built between the beach and a creek. Guests can comfortably surf the Frigate pass and local breaks in an environment specifically geared for surfing.

If one of your life quests is to enjoy the best surfing in the world, put Fiji at the top of your bucket list. For more information on Matanivusi Surf Resort located in the Fiji Island visit http://www.surfingfiji.com. Inquiries can also be made by emailing info@surfingfiji.com.

Those familiar with this area know that some of the best surfing in the world is also located at Cloudbreak in Mamanucas, Fiji. This particular location requires surfers reside at Tavarua in order to surf. Getting to Cloudbreak is a small feat in and of itself, as surfers must take a boat or helicopter to Tavarua Resort. Upon arrival at the Tavarua Resort, surfers have the option to either paddle out to Cloudbreak or take a boat to enjoy the momentous experience of the best breaks in the world.

Cloudbreak offers a left-breaking reef and is known to offer the most powerful and hollow waves in the world. This location is recommended for extremely experienced surfers only. Because Cloudbreak is located in a sheltered area it is very much in demand because of the lack of crowds.

One might ask: so, what is the downside to the glory of surfing at Cloudbreak? To start with, the Tavraua Resort is very expensive. In terms of nature, surfers basically have to be environmentally aware of their surroundings as always and looking out for the usual rips, rocks and sea urchins.

For more information on surfing at Cloudbreak, call 805-686-4551. Quotes are available upon request.

Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and to avid surfers of all levels it offers some of the most memorable surf encounters.

Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and to avid surfers of all levels it offers some of the most memorable surf encounters. Known as one of the top surf destinations for many reasons, one of the most appealing characteristics (other than the incredible breaks) is the warm, inviting waters. Where this beautifully rich and lush country offers a wide array of the most incredible nature experiences to be had, one of the most appealing things about surfing in Costa Rica, in addition to the warm water, is the beautiful and expansive coastline, which offers approximately 700 miles of pristine beaches with an awesome opportunity to catch breaks year round.

Unlike many surf resorts, Costa Rica is relatively inexpensive and offers a wide array of surf packages from which to select in some of the most popular regions. Among the top locations to surf in Costa Rica for surfers of all levels of expertise is the region of Hermosa Beach and Jaco which is famous for breaks such as Terrazo, Backyard, Almendro, Tulin, Corners, Bejuco, Esterillos, Playa Escadilla, Playa Tivives, Playa Valor, Caldera, Boca Barranca and more.

Make it a surf vacation and take advantage of the many packages that are offered to surfers. Choose from anywhere from a seven day package up to a 15-day surf package, which includes accommodations, limited meals, car rental or 4 X 4 rentals, side trips (depending on the package) and more. Package prices range anywhere from $1,087 up to approximately $2,000 per person based on double occupancy and including locations such as Puerto Viejo East, Matapalo, Domical, Nosara, Avellanes/ Negra, Pavones, Manuel Antonio, Playa Hermosa/Jaco, Mal Pais, Tamarindo, Arenal, San Jose, Monteverde and more .

Surfers planning a surf vacation to Costa Rica can expect to take a major air carrier for travel directly into the major city of San Jose, which is where the one and only international airport is located in the country. For more information on experiencing the best surfing in the world available in Costa Rica visit the Website for Surf Costa Rica today.

A 14-year-old female phenom is making waves on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Like gymnasts, tennis players and golfers, teenage girls can make a quick start into professional surfing. A case in point is Leila Hurst of the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

"I look at surfing as a job," says Leila, a blue-eyed blonde who will turn 15 this summer on August 17.

She was all of 11 when she earned one of her first checks, $800, for a second place finish in regional competition against older girls. Coaches, observers and veteran surfers say Leila has potential to join the best surfers in the world one day. One moment she will show her youthful adolescence, and the next she has the focus of a competitor with seven years experience.

"Leila has all the ingredients of a world class surfer: power, style and dedication," says her coach, Rainos Hayes, on her website, www.leilahurst.com. She represents her home state of Hawaii during international competition, and she also has been a member of the Billabong Youth Squad since she was 9 years old.

"She seems to be constantly exuding a happy, lovable and optimistic vibe, and is the girl you wish you'd been friends with when you were 14," writes Alee Thompson in FreeSurf Magazine. "She's your stereotypical teenager: bubbly, chatty, and addicted to MySpace. She loves Beyonce and Rhianna, and is rumored to have quite the collection of home movies of her singing along to her favorite songs."

But don't be fooled, Billabong Team Manager Megan Brainard tells Thompson "(Leila) takes it very seriously," Brainard says. "She wants to have a surfing career." On her website, Leila reports that she lives with her parents on Kauai's north shore and has two older sisters. She started surfing at age 4, too young to remember her first wave. She says her father began taking her to the water at a toddler, but has never pushed her career in an overbearing way. To help accommodate her twice-a-day practice schedule, she has homeschooled with a small group of her peers.

"I love surfing new waves and getting to surf at spots around the world," Leila reports. "There is nothing I like more than traveling and experiencing great waves and different contests."

"I live a great, calm but radical life at the same time. I couldn't ask for anything more," says Hurst.

SOURCES: www.leilahurst.com

www.freesurfmagazine.com/volume-5-Number-2/She-Rips-Everybody-Loves-Leila.html

www.surfline.com/womens/story_bamp.cfm?id=9883