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Surfing in Liguria

Seen once as a joke, surfing is definitely possible in Liguria and in the whole italian coast. Sure, you'll have to wait in order to surf, because swells are not too consistent, especially during summer, but with patience and a bit of knowledge you'll catch some classic days that will make worth the wait. Surfing started in Liguria thanks to the well known Fracas brothers during the late seventies and it spreads fast: now you can find spots all along both Ponente and Levante coasts. Some of the best known are:

• LEVANTO - One of the best spot in Italy for big (at least for italian standards) waves. Located in a lovely small town, the place breaks on fair sized S swells (it's also quite protected from onshore winds), giving powerful tubey lefts, whit shorter rights; the bottom is sand, unless you surf in the right part of the bay, near "La Gritta", where the bottom is made of sharp rocks that once broke the nose of my board (it was a 6 feet day). When it's good it can be crowded, but there's plenty of waves for everyone. Bring two leashes for those days! Stormrider says: Situated in the bay breaks one of Italy's biggest lefts. A SW swell will give the best waves

• CHIAVARI - At the rivermouth of Entella lies a good spot for small days, with peaks breaking on the sandbanks in the mouth and on the right when it's bigger (it can have its good days). Friendly locals and usually not too crowded, it's one of the most polluted spot I've ever seen: someone claims you can see rats swimming in the river, so don't be surprised if you feel sick after surfing here.
• BOGLIASCO - The cradle of surfing in Liguria, is a small spot situated near the city of Genova. Offers a decent left and a shorter right over sand bottom that close out with bigger swells: it will give the best with small clean day, but it works also with onshore wind. Anyway it's a place that's impressed in the mind of all the Genova's surfers for all the time they spent there. After last year massive winter swell, the place stopped working, but now the banks are as good as it gets. Good for the evening session after a day of hard work or study!
• VARAZZE - Undoubtely one of the best waves in the whole Mediterraneo: catch it in a good swell with offshore breeze and you'll see why. It's an artificial reef at the right of a little jetty that with a SW or a SE swell (but also with big NW) produces short but very powerful waves that break over an uneven, shallow and dangerous rocky bottom: definitely not for beginners! It's always crowded and there's a strong local attitude which is, if not justified, at least understandable. Anyway when it's really big (3mts. and more) only the diehards remain: during these days you'll see people like Ettore Burdese and few others traveling at mach speed inside blue caverns. Stormrider says: Another jewel in the Med breaks over artificial reef. Heavvy, hollow and crowded. Wipe outs can lead to a confrontation with the jagged rock. Works on small swells and has good water quality.

• ALASSIO - In the whole bay break several peaks over a sand bottom: like a typical Mediterranean beach break, it lacks of power unless it reach a decent size, but at least it gives some chops for the desperates even when it's really small. It works whit SE swell, and it can get surprisigly good if the wind turns offshore. Best sandbanks near the pier, that can be the easiest way to rejoin the line up.
• SANREMO - There are several spots in the zone, but the best known is the "Tre Ponti" beach. It's another beachbreak that can get very crowded with French and mainland surfers but there are a lot of peaks. The best thing about Sanremo is that's pretty consistent, a strong point in a wave poor country like Liguria. If you want more info about the other spots asks Simon, the owner of Australis surf-shop: he's an Australian transplanted in Italy and a damn good surfer whit a really smooth style.
• FINALE LIGURE - This is the place I usually surf when the swell is big enough. It needs a fair sized SO or SE and it breaks over a rocky bottom which gives waves a power that other Liguria's spot lack: even if they aren't as sharp as Varazze's reef some caution is due going in and out, and it's always better do not indulge too much over the final section. There are basically two peaks: the main one has a long right that is good for cutbacks and tricks, and a shorter, faster, left. Pretty everyone surf this peak, so you have to patiently wait, but usually there are waves for everyone. The other peak, in front of the rivermouth, offers shorter rides but besides a sucky, walling right there's a dredgier left: with a light offshore, you'll find the wave going square, just remeber the rocks on the shorebreak. When there's a big SE and onshore howling wind, we usually try the harbour, which sometimes gives small protected waves over sand bottom. And if you think about surfing the beautiful right near the cape, I'll tell you it's shallower than it looks (believe me!). Locals are cool guys that live there and surf hard without posing as stars: act cool (like everywhere else) and you'll find they' re very kind and easygoing.