Types of Breaks

If you are looking for fun perfect waves you want to look on the north shore of Oahu. The north shore has so many different waves that you can surf and is often referred to as the seven miles of heaven. There are point breaks, reef breaks, and beach brakes. All of these types of breaks are fun and you should surf all types of these breaks to become a well-rounded surfer.

1. Point breaks occur when a wave hits a point of land or rocks that are sticking out of the coastline. These waves can be very long and powerful. They can be good for beginners if they do not close out. Closing out is when the face of the wave in front of you breaks and you become trapped on a slow boring white wash.

2. A reef break is a wave that breaks over a rock bed or coral. These waves generally have a long face and have a lot of power. If the reef is shallow enough then the wave will just peel and barrel for the whole duration of the wave. The good thing about reef breaks is that their constant all year along oppose to sand bars that may only be good for a couple of months out of the year. In my opinion, reef breaks are the most fun because of there power and length. Some examples of reef breaks on the north shore are Pipeline, lanikea, sunset, back yards, and v-land.

3. Beach breaks or sand bars are waves that break on a sandy seabed’s. These waves are excellent for beginners because if you do fall you’re only going to hit sand instead of rock or coral. Beach breaks are generally short waves but are knows for having perfect circular barrels. The downside about beach breaks is that they are seasonal and are only good when the swells push in all the sand onto the beach. Some examples of beach breaks on the North Shore are Wiamea, Log Cabins, and Off The Wall.