Salani Left surf guide
Surf: Typical south coast left, requiring SE swell to wrap around and give a better chance of making this tube express that doesn't slow down until it hits the buffers 150m down the line. Onboard speed and taking the right track essential to reaping the long shade-time on offer. Compared to the right, it's less tide tolerant, handles less size, over a less user-friendly reef and is way less consistent.
Environment: This means less people, albeit at a higher standard, striving to avoid the shallow inside shutdowns and dodging swinger sets on the paddle back out.
Surf: General: A clean, lined-up swell will produce fast, spitting barrels over a forgiving but shallow coral reef at the Salani Left. Notoriously fickle, the wave gains momentum and opens up more the further down the line you go, making this a favorite among goofy-footers and general barrel-hunting visitors to Samoa.
Tides: Medium to high
Size: Knee high-double overhead
Wind: N
Swell: SE
Bottom: Reef
Paddling: Not bad on average days, a workout when it's pumping.
Spot Rating: Has to check a lot of boxes to properly work, but is a great wave when the swell and wind work out.
Access: 5-minute boat ride.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Uncrowded.
Local Vibe: Friendly.
Environment: Good.
Hazards: Bouncing off the reef.
Season: May-August