The beginning of winter can be a melancholic time for lovers of good weather, while for surfers in Mallorca it is the perfect time to get back to catching waves.

Rarely have you heard of “Mediterranean surfing”, as this sport requires weather and sea conditions that are normally only found on the coasts of the oceans.

The perfect conditions for surfing in Mallorca

These conditions, such as waves of considerable size, strong, windless and with a period between waves of more than 8 seconds, are not usually found in the Mediterranean, except in winter and especially in Mallorca. The island is located in a strategic area to receive this type of waves that are produced by different storms, typical of winter low pressure, all along its coasts, although especially in the north and Llevant: Son Serra, Cala Mesquida, Cala Agulla and Canyamel are usually the beaches where you can surf the most on the island during the low season, especially when the strong Tramuntana wind blows. Although it is not surprising that sometimes the summer storms cause an ideal swell for surfing on the southern and south-western beaches, such as Peguera, Cala Major, Can Pastilla and Es Trenc.

“The surf in Mallorca is not very consistent in summer. In winter you can catch a few days of waves, although you have to have ideal conditions such as swell and swell,” says Sofía Boned, a young surfer from Mallorca.

The peculiarity of Mallorca means that many local people have gradually taken to the sport since the 1990s, and just over a decade ago the surfing boom has led to an increase in the sports on offer, both for tourists and for the local population: new surf schools have opened and the nautical clubs have expanded their courses to include surfing and paddle surfing as a star product.

“The best spot to start surfing in Mallorca is Can Pastilla, as it is a long beach sheltered from the wind. It is ideal because there are many surf schools where you can rent boards and have lessons to get you started,” continues Sofía Boned.

Although it is true that there are only 175 surfing days a year on average on the Mallorcan coasts, it is one of the Mediterranean destinations where you can surf the best. Moreover, it is a good attraction for alternative tourism in winter, which can be complemented with other water sports, such as kitesurfing, windsurfing or canoeing.

Continue reading this article in the winter edition of Mallorca’s magazine Globalmag, available in the best kiosks and newsagents in Mallorca.