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Oxwich Bay

Oxwich Bay by Rachel Davies

Oxwich Bay in winter time by Rachel Davies.

A sheltered spot in large winter storms this beach break can produce some nice hollow surf but attracts a large crowd.

This long sandy beach is sheltered or offshore in strong south westerly winds. It's not the most consistent spot on Gower however and needs a massive swell to produce any surf here.

The outer ocean swell needs to be huge (fifteen feet or above) to produce a small, clean wave here and the swell direction also needs to be just right. It does however offer a wave when all other options have been exhausted.

If it all comes together you'll be rewarded with a clean three to four feet hollow wave. It is however prone to 'closing out'(dumping) so don't expect long rides here.

If there is a wave then you'll not be short of company. Longboarders love this beach and it's not uncommon to see over a hundred surfers in the water, all fighting for their share of the waves.

The sand banks to the east can often produce good waves and remain relatively uncrowded, as most people tend to surf at the hotel end of the beach.

Try to be respectful when parking here as the hotel don't appreciate surfers using their private car park and the road is lined with double yellow lines and boulders.

There's a pay and display car park opposite the beach in summer which often opens up in winter time when the surf is good. Parking here in a van can be expensive though.

The Point

Near the main beach lies Oxwich Point - a shallow right hand reef that's been known to serve up classic waves.

Don't arrive 'en masse' here as it doesn't hold a crowd, so if you're in a group, it's advisable to surf somewhere else.

It's a dangerous spot when the surf is big and local surfers push each other to take off deeper (closer to the rocks) so it's a wave for experienced surfers only.

The entry point is a slippery clamber over rocks as there's no sand here and smashed boards are common. Exiting the water can be tricky too and it can often be easier to do the long paddle back to the beach rather than clamber in over the rocks.

The wave has two main sections - an outer and inner, with the latter being hollow and shallow with some nice barrelling sections.

The waves also breaks further round, back towards the beach as the tide recedes but again it can be very shallow, breaking over dry reef. This wave is definitely not for beginners or intermediates.

Article written by Martin Aaron


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