Surfing Florida vs Virginia Beach

By Coeltryn Kirkland

There is always a different feeling to each surf spot. Not to downplay your home break, but its always good to surf somewhere new. Surfing can sometimes become stale and there is no better way to shake that off than to surf somewhere new; I think that’s why I have enjoyed surfing Florida so much. Going to school in St. Augustine has been great. The weather there isn’t “tropical” all year, you still get a slight mix of winter, but its not enough to make getting in the water an inconvenience. You can throw on a 3/2 or short full in February and get a quick session in-between classes unlike battling the freezing conditions and the whole thicker wetsuit session, which typically isn’t as easy. I think what really appeals about Florida is the variety of waves. The type of swell and tide can really shut down a spot as well as turn others on.

Surf & Adventure’s Hunter Thomas captures a photo of the rare wave at Porpoise Point. The inlet at St. Augustine can be a multiple section left running down the inlet on big north swells at the right tide and swell angle.

Florida has some strange way of making smaller swell more appealing and surf-able. There are many times I have checked the waves and it was smaller, but its still easy to catch a few that make the session well worth it. While back in Virginia, although it can have its fun small days, I often find myself wishing I had brought a longer board, because a short board just can’t get the job done.

It’s just easier to surf well down here.

Spots like Vilano Jetty can turn a small, dull, wave into a fun wedge that drains right on the beach. It can be a tricky spot at times, and that’s if you can hang with the crowd, which is no joke either. Then there are spots like St. Augustine Beach, tide depending, can produce a drainy inside sections or a rippable, long, outside line.

Fall pier days seem to always provide outside lines, allowing big openings turns and speed before pumping through to this inside section where you can easily unleash.

Winter Break right behind the house…I’m not complaining.

Another perk to being in St Augustine is your less than an hour from New Smyrna, the spot seems to always be surf-able. New Smyrna is one of the most rippable spots I have ever been to, and not because of the size, but because of the lines. New Smyrna is never short on good surfers, that is if there’s any swell at all. The lineup there is spread out enough that you can always find a wave. Having been here for two years now and only really explored the northern breaks of Florida I know there are droves more along its vast Atlantic coast.

Surf & Adventure Team Rider Rhett Kirkland taking full advantage of New Smyrna’s enormous reputation for sharks, which means an almost empty line up around dark.