El Quemao surf guide
Surf: Known as Pipeline's Atlantic sister. Lefts and rights reel down a short and shallow reef with intense power and ferocity. W swell makes the lefts more makeable than the rights, which resemble Backdoor by closing out on the sharp lava reef. When it’s on, it’s packed with the best of the islands stand-up and bodyboarders and a Coliseum atmosphere pervades.
Directions: In front of the harbour
Environment: One of the most photographed spots in the Canaries, but also one of the most localised. Does have its quieter moments on less epic days however the surfing level required to ride here must be very high.
Surf: General: El Quemao is a fast, pitching, hollow left breaking over a jagged lava reef that sits in front of the village of La Santa on the north shore of Lanzarote. Its high-quality barrels can break up to 10-feet and are known around Europe as the Pipeline of the Canaries. The waves break on a solid westerly swell, coming out of deeper water to lunge up onto a slab, producing powerful, thick-lipped, hollow lefts and occasional speeding rights.
Tides: Mid to high
Size: Waist-2x overhead
Wind: E-SE
Swell: N, NW
Bottom: Lava reef
Paddling: Not too bad but paddling skills needed.
Spot Rating: Gets epic here. Pipeline of the Canaries, Expert surfers only.
Access: Simple.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Large local crew.
Local Vibe: Extreme localism.
Environment: Nice Caribbean-like water.
Hazards: Ultra sharp reef.
Season: Fall-Spring