Where To Surf in January: 4 Epic Spots To Hit Now

Happy New Year! January is one of those months when everything in the Northern Hemisphere is just dazzling. We are well into winter now, and gigantic, powerful storms are rife across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, creating what could be the best surf of the year for spots all across the top half of the globe.

You may see some repeats in here from the previous months—and that is for good reason. Hawaii during the winter is steeped in surfing folklore. Six weeks on the North Shore, a slogan that pays homage to how good Hawaii gets from late November right through to February, rings true in January. Yeah, we're aware that's longer than six weeks, but plus or minus a week, given how the season's been looking, and we're there or thereabouts.

It's also the month people are less likely to travel, meaning it's the slowest amount of traffic through your local airport—with that in mind, here are a few places to travel in January where you can score during one of those winter storms—starting with the obvious.

Hawaii – North Shore

The North Shore of Oahu is the best place to be in January and perhaps the whole of winter. Powerful Pacific Ocean storms generate gigantic swells during this time of year—and these swells make a beeline to Hawaii and its exposed North Shore of Oahu. If you look at the shape of the coastline, it opens up to the Pacific, funnelling swell into the likes of the world's most famous wave, Pipeline.

There is a reason why most major competitions take place in January, and that's because you're more likely to score pumping surf this month, more so than any other month of the year. January is also the month with the most favorable wind above all other months. It's one of the cooler months in Hawaii, but still in the 70s, with the water temperature not far behind it. Away from the likes of Pipeline and the seven-mile miracle of coastline, there are plenty of other options to surf if gigantic, dangerous waves are not your thing, or simply for the experience of seeing the world's best surfers in the world's best waves.

Morocco – Taghazout

Even though it's the best month for surfing in Morocco, January is actually one of the cheapest months to fly to the Northern African country. That's because this month is well outside of the tourism busy season, with airlines attempting to get people on seats for the trans-Atlantic route across the ocean. Once you get to Agadir, it's relatively straightforward to get you anywhere you need to go. But you're going to want to drive 30 minutes north to the quaint surf town of Taghazout for some of the best surf this side of the globe.

Some Moroccan retreats, like Dfrost, will also offer you airport transfers, which are included when you book with them. Once you arrive in Taghazout, there are multiple places to check for waves. But you absolutely must sit on the headland at Anchor Point and breathe it all in. Locals will be selling mint tea, the surf will (likely) be good through the day or until the tide quashes it, and then it's the short walk back to Taghazout for tagine, a North African slow-cooked stew in a unique earthenware funnel-like pot—filled with anything you like. Rinse and repeat day after day after day. The water temperature is around 64°F, so bring a 3mm if you feel the cold.

Ireland – West Coast

The Emerald Isle can be a brutal place in January. Daytime high temperatures sit at the 46°F mark, with nighttime lows plummeting to 39°F and below. The water temperature is not much better, hovering around the 45°F to 48°F mark, so if you're planning a trip, you're going to want a 5mm hooded wetsuit or a 6mm if you really feel the cold. Booties are a must; gloves are optional. But what you find when you're on the ground in Ireland is a whole range of crazy set-ups, from big, brutal XL waves, to slabs, reefbreaks and pointbreaks that can stand up to some of the best in the world.

The North Atlantic is alive in January too, meaning those strong storms will spin up near Iceland and then send swell rifling into every part of Ireland's western flank. Fly into Dublin or Cork—the former is a three-hour drive through the arterial roads of Ireland, and the latter pops you about a 30-minute journey from the west coast. From there, head to the Wild Atlantic Way, the world's longest defined coastal road stretching 2,600 kilometers across the west coast of the country. There are hundreds of spots for you to pull into, especially in January.

Australia – East Coast

Perhaps the out-layer on this list, but the east coast of Australia is a great place to be in January. Tropical cyclones in the Coral Sea can help generate powerful swells, which will help create a few epic days of surfing, especially around Northern New South Wales and Queensland. January is still technically the shoulder season, before the likes of NSW pick up in February, but it's summertime in the country, meaning you don't have to just rely on tropical cyclone swell; there will be plenty of small surf for all types of watercraft.

The downside is that during summertime, crowds are rife and could make that 15-to-20-hour flight feel jarring. Still, if you choose to go mid-to-end of January, you might luck out on a decent chart and can enjoy warmer water in the other hemisphere, as opposed to a winter at home.