sSs Team Rider, Kit Brogan continues his exploration of the western coast of Australia with a trip to St Margaret's river as the Australian winter fast approaches. Kit tells all:
The winter is well and truly here in West Oz. The consistent seabreezes of the summer months have left us and we are now taking whatever we can get. The only saving grace is that the swell is now here again and we can enjoy surfing once again in Perth! In these articles I have focussed mainly on those locations to the North of Perth. However, there are plenty of places South of Perth that receive great conditions. Perhaps the most famous is Margaret River.
Located 3hrs South of Perth at the South West corner of Australia is the sleepy town of Margaret River. There is no real river here at all – more of a small stream but the swells come from the Southern ocean uninterrupted from the Antartactic to Australia. As a consequence this is the most consistent place for swell in WA. Unfortunately it is the least of the windy locations in Oz and unlike Geraldton and further North you cannot guarantee wind to arrive here in the Summer.
There are several breaks along the coast but the main one is aptly called ‘Main Break.’ It is 20 minutes from the town centre in a small village, which has a good shop and camping facilities. The break itself is a reef break off the point. There is a large slab of reef, which the wave peels left and right. The right can only be surfed and is not really suitable for windsurfing. The left is short, hollow and very punchy. There is a bowl section and it takes some time to get the placed dialled because you have to stay upwind and then drop into the bowl at exactly the right time to make the section.
I have to be honest, it is not my favourite location. This part of Oz is really nice and there is some great stuff to do other than windsurfing. The surfing at places like Yallingup is amazing but I tend to find the windsurfing a little bit of an anticlimax. The wave is very short (one or two turns). It is crowded and there is some fierce localism. It has now become popular with kitesurfers and as we all know these sports don’t mix that well on point breaks! I have always been really impressed with the kiters here though and think that it is probably better suited to them.
That said, I have been down there several times and it is well worth the trip, make sure you do sample some of the local produce – there are hundreds of vineyards!
Enjoy the photos. Once again, any questions then please don’t hesitate to contact me via the SSS website or on kitbrogan@doctors.net.uk
Kit is also sponsored by Edge Watersports www.edgewatersports.com
