Sandbanks is a sand-bottom beachbreak that stretches across 8km (5mi) of beach, reef, and pointbreaks, so it soaks up just about every bit of swell that reaches it. Windchop generated off the Toronto beachbreaks can travel southwest toward here, and the long, varied shoreline gives it plenty of ways to catch what arrives. Waves peel both left and right.
When It Works
Swell shows up from southwest to west (SW-W), and a southwest (SW) swell is the best match of the bunch. It works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft. Sandbanks can be somewhat inconsistent, so it pays to watch for the windows when the swell lines up rather than counting on it day to day.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast (NE) offshore wind to clean things up. The beach can work through most of the tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
The waves here suit beginners, and the lineup usually stays fairly quiet when it's breaking.
