Point Breaks: The Ultimate Guide For Newbies

Point breaks offer up some of the best waves on the planet.

But what is a point break exactly? And how are the different to other types of breaks?

Don’t worry, this post is about to explain it all.

In this article you’ll learn:

What a point break is, and how to identify one.
What makes them unique.
What the difference is between surfing point breaks, beach breaks, reefs, etc.
Where the best point breaks in the world are located.

And a whole lot more.

There’s a lot to get through in this ultimate guide, so buckle up, and let’s go!

WHAT IS A POINT BREAK?

A point break is a type of wave that breaks along/across a prominent piece of land, such as:

A headland
A sandy point
A rocky outcrop

What makes them unique is the way the waves bend and wrap around the point, creating mechanical waves that can peel and break for miles – literally.

In fact the longest point in the world, Chicama in Chile, can break for up to 8km!.

Point breaks are coveted in the surfing community as they offer up the longest rides, and break in a predictable way.

HOW IS A POINT BREAK DIFFERENT TO A BEACH BREAK OR REEF?

The biggest difference between a points and other styles of breaks is the way a swell has to wrap around a headland (or point if you will).

This wrapping, or refracting if you prefer, is what sets point breaks apart from everything else with the waves moving down adjacent to the point, rather than perpendicular.

But let’s take a closer look at how they differ below:

POINT BREAK VS BEACH BREAK

Beach breaks face perpendicular to ocean swells, and as such they don’t break for as long, or as predictably as a point break would.

Instead, the direction a wave will break depends largely on the swell direction, and the under water topography, or sandbanks as they’re known.

Typically, a beach break will throw up short, unpredictable rides breaking in either direction, left or right, and will very greatly depending upon the tides too.

POINT BREAK VS REEF BREAK

There are a lot of similarities between a reef breaks and points, but some key differences in there too.

Reef breaks will break on rock, or coral – as too will some point breaks.

But the difference is in the refracting of the swell around a headland or point that sets them apart.

The wrapping nature of a swell will allow the swell to run down the point rather than focusing straight in on it.

Not to confuse you, but you can have a reef break that follows all the same mechanics of a point; how it breaks, swell refraction etc. but it’s still not classed as a point break because it’s not connected to a land mass.

Take Restaurants in Fiji for example (ref image above), a reef break wave where the swells wrap and roll down the reef, but because it’s not connected to land, it’s considered a reef break and not a point.

POINT BREAK VS RIVER MOUTH

River Mouths are similar in so many ways to a points, yet very different too.

A river mouth will throw up long peeling, predictable waves that break along a sandy bottom, oftentimes breaking for hundreds of meters.

The big difference though is how the waves are formed.

A point break is formed either from sand deposits from swells that wrap around a headland to create the sand banks, or from rocky outcrops or reefs that shape the headland itself.

River Mouths on the other hand are created by sand and silt deposits from a river flowing out to sea.

As sand and silt flow out from the river they sink to the bottom to create a sand bar, and if everything aligns this sand and silt deposit will create long, sand bottom peeling waves that can be fun as hell.

Mundaka in Spain, is the most famous (pictured above) River Mouth in surfing.

LIST: THE WORLD’S BEST POINT BREAKS

Want to know where the best point breaks for surfing in the world can be found?

Keep reading…

JEFFREY’S BAY, SOUTH AFRICA

One of the worlds longest right-hand points, breaking over a rocky shelf in South Africa.

An iconic spot, famous for its long stretched out walls, tubes, and its crazy marine life (yes, this is where famously Mick Fanning was attacked by a great white).

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/An63LMgFGjVL8c746

SUPER-BANK, AUSTRALIA

The jewel in the crown of Australia’s East Coast, the Super Bank (a largely man-made phenomenon) is known world wide as one of the best points on the planet.

Expect sand bottom tubes, and long open walls – expect too a hell of a lot of people, as this is one of the most crowded surf spots in the world!

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/An63LMgFGjVL8c746

RINCON POINT, CALIFORNIA

Rincon is a mellow right-hand point break in California, a natural footers dream.

On it’s day it can rival anywhere, but as with most famous breaks you can expect a crowd, as this is one of the best waves on the California coast.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MC7U31RvTiQBaE5f6

CHICAMA, CHILE

Officially the longest wave in the world!

Chicama in Chile spans roughly 8km, with multiple sections and take-off spots to choose from.

The place itself might not be the most beautiful, but if you’re after left handers that run for literally miles, you’ve found your spot.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LBuzcoc1m44xMEcB8

RAGLAN, NEW ZEALAND

Raglan is home to the most iconic wave in New Zealand.

A series of point breaks in fact, stretching out from the beach across multiple headlands, the long left-handers are a goofy footers dream.

If you’re surfing in New Zealand you absolutely have to check this place out.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/avQNygPJtodb2aEf8

SKELETON BAY, NAMIBIA

Discovered in an online surf competition back in the day where the public would scour Google Earth for potential, unknown world class waves, and boy did they find a gem.

Quite possibly the best wave on planet earth, period.

Surfers have been known to have tube rides here for over 30seconds, WTF!