Quiksilver

Direction: Right 

Level: Advanced

Best wind: South West

Best swell size: 2 - 10 ft

Best swell direction: East or North East

Best tide:   mid - high 

Best for: In good conditions Quiksliver is best for serious surfers who know how to catch and ride a super-fast, barrelling right-hander and don't mind competing with the locals (and they're damn good!). During summer months it’s very small and good for begginers and longboarders.

Crowd factor: High.  Due to its easy accessibility from the tower at Cloud 9 this break is a favorite of local surfers.  Because it's a bit smaller than Cloud 9, more surfers have the ability (or think they do) to surf Quiksilver.  In fact, I rarely surf Quiksilver or Cloud 9 just because it is so crowded.

Kind of wave:  Not as big as Cloud 9 but don't let appearances fool you.  It may look small compared to Cloud 9 sitting right next to it but when you paddle out there you'll know.  Quiksilver (during peak season) is very big and heavy.  The full-force of the Pacific sucks up off the reef and can produce overhead waves breaking so fast it'll make your head spin.  In fact, Quiksilver is a faster and more technically difficult wave than Cloud 9.  During these times, only expert surfers should venture out.  Add the fact that the local guys are always out there rippin' and you'll understand why it's hard to have a good time at Quiksilver.  Unless you can out-paddle these guys and catch the wave cleanly you'll be left sitting on the shoulder watching guys get barrelled while you get nothing but frustrated.  But let's not be too negative, if you are a good surfer, then you might just get the barrels of your life in Quiksilver.  It's a beautiful, perfect, right-handed barrel when it's head to double overhead high.  During off-peak swells/seasons Quiksilver can be small enough to learn to surf on (as with Cloud 9) or just a fun-sized waist - head high wave.

Surf season: Quiksilver works best in the peak season of late September to December which sees big swells and off-shore winds.  During winter, the on-shore winds prevent Quiksilver from being surfable most of the time.   When the winds return to off-shore in the Spring we'll see a few good days of surf in Quiksilver before turning flat for the summer months of June, July, and August.

How to get there:   Easy peasy.  Walk out to the tower from the village at Cloud 9 and paddle out to the left of the tower, it's right there.