Surfing in Russia: from St. Petersburg to Kamchatka

Many probably thought to themselves now: “What kind of surfing can we talk about in Russia, we are not some kind of Hawaii, and we don’t have an ocean ...” Our country really bears little resemblance to the Californian coast, but it turns out that surfing has its place in Russia. According to statistics, Russians prefer to go in for windsurfing or kitesurfing - the presence of waves is not a prerequisite for practicing these types of surfing, there would be a fair wind in the expanses of our homeland - but there are good places for fans of classic surfing in Russia. Tested by American surfers.

Can't believe? And in vain - for many Russians, Sochi, Kamchatka, Vladivostok, St. Petersburg, the resorts of the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, even Kaliningrad have become places for practicing this overseas sport. Some of them even say that “surfing” in their hometown is an indescribable feeling, especially knowing how surfers around the world feel about their home spots.

Not convinced? Then here's the direct evidence.

(Total 12 photos)

1. The first person who showed the world surf community 10 years ago that there is surfing in Russia was Tom Curran, who went to study our waves in Kamchatka. Among the pros, Tom is considered a living legend, thanks in large part to his powerful yet smooth board-driving style. Having visited Russia, a surfer professional came to the conclusion that it is possible to surf here.

2. “I rode in two almost extreme points of Russia - in St. Petersburg and Vladivostok, the waves there are different, but they are,” Tom shares his impressions.

3. The best season for classic surfing in Vladivostok is August, it is in the last month of summer that the typhoon season begins there. And with them come the right waves. At this time, you can enter the water even without a wetsuit. You can also catch a wave in winter, if, of course, you are not afraid of a temperature of -30 degrees.

4. Another interesting feature of surfing in Vladivostok is that you can ride both in the city itself and at a distance from it. It looks a little strange, but will it stop a Russian person?

5. It may surprise you, but it is in the farthest point of Russia that the Russian surfing championship is held, which annually attracts dozens of surfers from all over the country.

6. It turns out that surfing in St. Petersburg is more than accessible and real. True, unlike the Far Eastern waves, here the season is limited to the summer months - in winter the bay and Lake Ladoga are covered with ice. However, in windy weather, waves can reach heights of over 2 meters.

7. There is Cape Flotsky in the northern capital, and there are two bays on it. So one of them is ideal for training, the second - for skiing.

8. “I, like most surfers who prefer surfing in Bali, was skeptical about surfing in St. Petersburg. I thought that at best you can drive on the foam. But it turned out that you can really surf here. Surfing in your hometown is an indescribable feeling. Especially after so many years of traveling, knowing how surfers around the world treat their home spots,” Dima Zabula shares his impressions of participating in the St. Petersburg Open Championship.

9. But in the German Russian city itself, conditions are better than in St. Petersburg, but worse than in Vladivostok. This is due to the fact that the Baltic has no direct connection with the ocean, and hence with suitable winds. However, surfers are still found here.

10. “In Kaliningrad, surfing is still at the development stage. Although about five people watch the weather forecast almost every day, being afraid to miss good waves. In the summer, Zhenya Isakov came to us and arranged a surf jam. Later he said that we have really good conditions for skating,” says Kaliningrad surfer Vitaly Shvedkov.

11. Sochi has everything you need for surfing: unpredictable and not always smooth, but high waves and, of course, surfers waiting for the right weather conditions.

12. So, there is surfing in Russia. In theory, you can try to “catch a wave” in any sea or large body of water. In addition, there is always the opportunity to try yourself in the subspecies of this overseas entertainment. For windsurfing, for example, you only need a steady wind. The most successful areas are St. Petersburg, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, Zelenogorsk, Solnechnoye, the Dunes, Baikal ... There are also landscapes pleasing to the eye nearby. And kitesurfing does not require “supernatural” conditions at all.