Galicia, Spain

[Galiciabound]

Greetings!

This is my first post on here, so best if I start off with a bit about myself:

I didn't surf until I was 47. Typical mid-life crisis stuff (I prefer to call it a mid-life awakening). Divorced, disollusioned with a mundane life, cue: pack in job and go travelling.

I'd planned to spend a week in Bali but a pathetic first attempt with a longboard saw me hooked. 2 months later I reluctantly moved on, just knowing I'd be back. I then secured a new job as an English teacher in Jakarta. My somewhat limited spare time was spent surfing in West Java, Bali and Lombok.

It's now 12 months since I've surfed. Working in Poland has its attractions; but surfing isn't one of them. But I've recently landed a job for the new school year in Foz, Galicia. The supplied apartment is 200 metres from the beach and although that beach appears to get few waves, others within 5 miles most certainly do.

It's like a dream!!

Anyway, has anyone surfed in this vicinity? Another question: water temps will be 12-16 during the time I'm there. I believe a 4/3 wetsuit might be best for these temps but I've been offered a cheap 5/4/3 which fits very nicely. Might that be too warm in 16 degree water?

All replies appreciated, cheers!

[jaffa1949]

Apart from the wetsuit you've discovered the meaning of life.
So many people end after what you've been through at the bottom of a bottle.
You picked a barrel, well done and Galicia even better.
Live the Aloha

[surf patrol]

Hey, there's actually someone looking forward to the start of the new school term
Good on you, it's a great place to be to get some waves.

[Galiciabound]

Thanks for the replies. Well the new school term coincides with the new surfing 'term', hence the good feelings 2 months to kill before that, I've decided to 'survive' them in West Java and Lombok.

[surf patrol]

I've decided to 'survive' them in West Java and Lombok.

Love it, don't take it too easy!

[fiestasurf]

Hi there, we live in Asturias and often travel over to Galicia. Asturias and Galicia are fantastic places to surf, avoid the city breaks and you will find an enormous array of uncrowded breaks, for every level to choose from. There is so much to discover it would take a long time to get bored of surfing here! It is truely a wonderful place to live and surf. Welcome to Spain

[Galiciabound]

Great, thanks very much! I'm really looking forward to spending 9 months in your country, and more, if all goes well.

I've been given an apartment 200 metres from Praia de Llas, a km or so west of Foz. This beach faces NNE, would I be right in thinking that this rules it out for most of the swells? My Google searches have drawn a blank.. I'm likely to be limited to a bicycle for transport you see, teachers wages, ha ha.

[surf patrol]

I think it should be fine, good NW swells should make it easily. It's listed on a couple of surf spot sites so you should be fine.
There's waves all along the coast there, hitch a lift with some local surfers.

[JoshSurf]

Hi I also had a question about Galicia or near abouts (Sorry for the temporary hijack!)

My friend has a place near Patos in the summer August/September
I was wondering if this area does have the breaks described above ie. uncrowded, good for every level, and how Are the pollution levels and locals?

The surf guides seem to describe Patos as 1-2 foot localist swamp haha (exaggeration) but it'd be great if anyone could shed any light on this!

Thanks,
J

[this_summer]

Hahaha, your description of Patos fits pretty well I've been living in Vigo for 3 month now and Patos does rarely get good waves and then it's crowded. And additionally I think swell is not very consistent in August/September... For me Patos is perfect, cause I'm still a beginner and it's definietly better than nothing. But if you have the choice, I would recommend going somewhere else. Within 1 hour (Portugal) our 2 hours (north) you have some decent waves.

I hope this helps you a bit and if you have any questions, let me know.

[fiestasurf]

If you have access to a car then you are laughing! There is an amazing array of surfing to be had within a days drive of Patos. The whole of the Galician and Asturian coast is peppered with brillant surf breaks, avoid the city breaks/the well known ones (Rodiles etc) and more often than not you will have the waves to yourselves. That said August/early september is when Spain goes on holiday and seemingly the whole of Madrid comes up here to the North of Spain (intersting that no spaniard seems to holiday in another other part of spain!!) so things can get crowded, but again with so much on offer, get yourself a decent map (easier said than done), be prepared to just turn off the main road at the slightest hint of a Playa and you will be in for one fantastioc surfing adventure.

[surf patrol]

Thanks for the info fiestasurf, I'm keen to go there after that little description