Have Mid-Length Surfboard. Will Travel.

“99 percent of surfers in the 1990s and 2000s were on the wrong type of surfboards,” Rob Machado told Surf-Forecast. “Too small, too thin, too high performance, and too hard to paddle. The fish boards and mid-length designs have made more surfers more happy than any other design in history.”

Rob, as usual, is right. In the last decade, there has been a mid-length revolution. Style gurus like Machado, Torren Martyn, and Mikey February then helped show what was capable on a mid-length surfboard. The extra paddle power, stability, speed, performance, and ability to be ridden in any conditions, now make them an essential part of any quiver.

So, if you have a mid-length, or are about to buy one, you might need to know the best places to surf it. Well, good news, we’ve got you covered. Here’s some of the mid-length dream destinations on the planet.

Byron Bay, Australia

At Byron Bay itself, the legendary Pass provides some of the most perfect and picturesque peelers on the planet. A mid-length provides the ideal median point between longboard cruisers and shortboard frothers. To the south, the world-class points of Lennox Head and Angourie mix power and ruler-edged waves that wrap into pandanus tree and boulder-lined bays. A mid-length is needed, especially when the waves get solid. To the north lies the Gold Coast, with the Superbank, Currumbin, and Burleigh points offering dream barrels and nightmare crowds. However, with a trusty mid-length, all are accessible. And remember, a single wave that just may change your life.

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Morocco

It was the mid-length maestro Torren Martyn in his film Lost Atlas that illustrated the alchemy that can be achieved on a mid-length surfboard and Moroccan points. The beauty of Morocco is that you can choose between the grinding, powerful wave of Safi in the north or the kilometre-long powdery peelers at Imsouane Bay, aka Magic Bay. In the middle ground are the sand bottom points near Taghazout such as Killers, Anchors, and Banana Point, which provide mid-length music for all levels of surfers. Add great weather, fascinating culture, and incredible food, and we’d advise booking a trip to Morocco for the next Northern Hemisphere winter. Sure, we all can’t surf like Torren, but with the right mid-length, you can at least catch similar waves.

West Coast, Sri Lanka

Sticking to perfect sandbottom peelers, it’s hard not to go past the waves surrounding Arugam Bay, located on the east coast of Sri Lanka. In and around the small surf town, there are some dreamy right-hand point breaks, a medley of reefs, and even some harder-breaking barrels. Surf, or Main, Point is the best known and features a fast section at the tip, before it angles down the sandy, coconut palm-lined beach. On the good swells that come between April and October, if you get in early on a set wave on your mid-length, you can jump off, tired and exhilarated, almost a kilometre further down the point. Oh, and did we mention the water is just off bath temperature?

Bali, Indonesia

It’s about time we gave the goofyfooters some love! The Island of the Gods has become a byword for surfing perfection since first surfed in the early 1970s. Not all the waves will be perfect for the extra volume of a mid-length (perhaps best leave the steep drops of Padang and Bingin to the rabid shortboard crew), but most fit like a glove. As an example, if the modern-day mid-length was around in the 1970s, the reeling left-handers of Impossibles would have been called Possibles. Other perfect lefts like Balangan on the Bukit Peninsula, or the more mellow Medewi, are designed for length-of-board and dreamy speed. Nusa Dua, with its open ocean, long paddle, and (relatively) disjointed sections is another wave where the mid-length will save you time and energy and double both your wave count and stoke.

Peniche, Portugal

While Peniche might be known for the heavy waves of the Supertubos, which hosts the CT Rip Curl Pro, the Portuguese peninsula has a myriad of made-for mid-length magic breaks. Whether it's two or 20-foot, you can always find a wave to suit your ability. The beach and bay that finishes with Cantinho Da Baia is an energy scooper, while Baleal and Lagide offer a combination of protected, mellow beachbreaks and punchier reefs. To the north, the sandy beaches and the odd river mouth provide endless rip bowls in southerly winds. A mid-length protects against the constant current, crowds, and Atlantic Ocean power. Now the fishing town isn’t picture-postcard-pretty, but with numerous accommodation options, guaranteed waves, and pure surf vibes, Peniche remains a banker for any traveller looking for three surfs a day.