HI
Has anyone been to the Christmas Islands recently.
Planning on a mission there over Christmas ( of course) so be interested in any feed back regarding surf and accommodation. Not to mention swell expectations for that time of year .
Cheers shane
Oh dear doesnt sound so good. I heard it was windy. Looks like Fanning Island might be where the surf is at anyway and its a fair way from the main Island.
Cheers for teh feed back anyway.
Christmas is very hit and miss. The wind is mostly howling offshore so the best passages that hold massive swell get blown to bits with windswell generated inside the worlds largest coral atoll. Many of the super sucky fun set ups max at around six foot. You rarely get wind swell heading into lee coast due to offshore conditions so if nothing coming from Hawaii's North Shore swell window you get nothing on the London/Paris side. Generally it is very long period groundswell around third to half the size of Sunset Beach a day or so later.
There are several breaks on windward side but onshore slop. A couple of cross shore death slabs too. Very shallow most of the breaks so expect coral time on sup.
A sup would be great to paddle to many of the better breaks as they are almost all a very long paddle from town and you are not allowed to set foot on the Island without a guide between main two areas as is a bird sanctuary. This island has a few great set ups. Usually boat trips are used to island or Paris which can be on "Island time" The strong currents are fatal and you will not find help if you dissapear out to sea.
Generally the waves are tiny fun or if swell comes suit confident short boarder who don't mind putting their wellbieng at risk. Very windy for sup!!!!
When, or if the wind stops it can get epic and a sup would be sick.
Plenty of places to stay I personally think, but have not stayed with, the surf camp is a bit expensive for what you get, location of camp(no waves in front) and you may not get any waves, you may get solo epic tube time???????
There is a hotel that has air con, looks over fun point and Bombie with easy walk to town, if you can call London a town. Look on Kiribati tourism website.
Amazing people and place with the best fishing I have ever encounted.
Fanning is great but you need time or private boat.
Take two pairs of booties!
Enjoy the ride.
Hi Shane,
I've done a few tours on Christmas Island, one of them was this time last year. I wouldn't bother bringing a board, in the two months I was there, I saw one local out surfing at Flying Fish Cove (the main beach) and it was pretty choppy and stormy.
I almost brought with me an inflatable SUP and I glad I didn't, it's always windy and beaches are very rocky. Best to bring snorkelling gear and flippers as the marine life is amazing.
If I was you I'd stay somewhere in Poon Saan. It's central to most things. The accommodation at the Casino is ok but they don't have cooking facilities and it is a long drive to restaurants and shops etc.
There are some positives, the alcohol is extremely cheap - a bottle of jim beam is cheaper than a tub of margarine....no joke!
StKilda SUP, Are you talking about Christmas Island in Kiribati or Australia?
I do not recognise the names you mentioned or a Casino. But I have not been there for 18 months.
StKilda SUP if your ever over christmas island Australia again drop me a line and your welcome to use my board. I'm guessing you were on CI around december to march? thats swell season. The rest of the year is dead flat just pack the snorkel on the board and paddle anywhere, jump in when there is something to see. sharks, turtles, whalesharks, manta rays, spinner dolphins.
