Richard Kidd on the Dolphin Coast’s top surf spots

The Dolphin Coast is not only known for its beautiful beaches, but the coastline also gets blessed by Neptune with some really great waves!

Ballito surfer Richard Kidd knows the North Coast surf spots like the back of his hand and shared with us the inside scoop on the different breaks.

Kidd represented the South African Junior Team at the 2015 World ISA Junior Championship in California in October.

“On the North Coast we mainly have right hand beach breaks that run of the rocks that separate all the different spots. These breaks include Surfers, Bathers and Sunrise in Ballito, Salt Rock, Tinley Manor, and Umdloti.”

Kidd’s favourite waves are at Bogg and Granny’s.

“These two spots are incredible during winter. They have probably produced the best waves I have ever surfed!”

“Bogg, which is just to the right of Ballito main beach, has an outer reef that you can surf if the swell is big enough and it can run from the outer reef to the inside beach break.”

Granny’s and Tiffany’s Reef is north of Salt Rock beach.

Tiffany’s Reef is a wave that runs left and right and breaks very far out on a reef.

“It can get extremely good with the correct swell direction and size. The best thing to do is to paddle off the reef, but it all depends on the conditions and rips on that day.”

There are lots of rocks by the rock pool so Kidd suggest you don’t try to come in by the pool, because you might lose a fin or two.

Umdloti Point is mainly a beach break, but it does have a bit of a reef that you can surf when the swell is right.

Westbrook is also a beach break to the left of the lifeguard tower. It has a reef break on the right hand side which gets pretty good according to Kidd.

Tinley Manor is a beach break with rocks that run out pretty far on the right.

“This actually creates the wave to be mostly a right hand wave (which goes left if you are looking out to sea from the beach).”

He said the best way to get to where the waves break is to jump off the rocks, because it can be a long and difficult paddle.

So next time the swell is right, grab a board and get wet at any of these spots.

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