ALAÏA BAY LEVEL GUIDE
Welcome to our level guide!
We want to help you get the most out of your session by giving you the low down on our setting structure. Take a look to get a good idea of which session you will get the most out of during your time with us.
NO.1 – ROOKIE
Are you looking to learn how to surf, and want to get to grips with the board? The Rookie session is for you.
Our Rookie wave is a friendly setting that lets you practice and have fun in the water. Here in your dedicated area of the Bay, you can learn how to catch ocean-like waves in a safe environment with the help of our expert instructors.
NO. 2 – ROOKIE RIDER
Have you surfed in the ocean before, but want to master your skills? Our Rookie Rider level will help you progress your surfing in one session.
Start the hour with some knee heigh waves. They are the perfect waves for you to get used to taking off. It will also introduce you to the sensation of controlling your board along the face of a wave.
NO. 3 – CRUISER
Our Cruiser setting is relaxed, the smallest of the waves we have here at Alaïa Bay.
This can mean getting your pop-up faster and practicing controlling the direction of your board to trim along the face. However, if you’re at the point where you want to try manoeuvres, this wave is probably slightly too weak for you.
NO. 4 – INTERMEDIATE CRUISER
Our Intermediate Cruiser wave gets to around waist to chest height. If you’re able to confidently maneuver your board into the pocket, this wave is for you, you may even want to try a few turns. Take a look here. Alternatively, if you’re looking to try longboarding for the first time Intermediate Cruiser is a good one to start with enough power for attempts at cross-stepping or just cruising down the line.
NO. 5 – ADVANCED CRUISER
The Advanced Cruiser is our most versatile wave at Alaïa Bay. More powerful than the Intermediate setting, it’s perfect for pro loggers who want to nose ride down the line, but also for progressing shortboarders. It’s head high, with a nice combination of fast sections for racing across the face and friendly open-face sections for learning the responsiveness of your board and trying to work on your turns and cutbacks. As it is not a turns setting, it is quite a forgiving wave helping to teach you how to read waves.
NO. 6 – ADVANCED TURN
Our Turns waves are steeper waves that resemble the type of wave you find at oceanic reef breaks, like Trestles. They require a faster take-off, letting you go quicker to try new moves. Advanced turns are our most accessible turns wave, making it versatile for both advanced longboarders and shortboarders. Advanced Turns sessions pump out waves typically between chest and head height.
NO. 7 – EXPERT TURN
Expert Turns is a level up from our Advanced Turns setting. Faster, steeper, and more powerful, this wave is head high at take-off. Featuring an end section that packs a punch, which allows you to get in one last solid turn, a sneaky little tube ride, or even an aerial.
NO. 8 – MEGA TURN
This is our biggest Turns wave, boasting the highest wave at take-off possible with Wavegarden tech, letting experienced surfers link top and bottom combinations seamlessly with speed. To ride, you must be comfortable with drop take-offs, yet this wave still features a surfable open shoulder for you to ride. This wave has sections that accelerate and unfurl quickly, and like Expert Turns, finishes with a powerful end section.
NO. 9 – EXPERT BARREL
Our Expert Barrel session chucks out a combination of waves. Initially, you’ll get some Expert Turns waves through, before evolving into our barrel setting. Expert barrels are our smallest barreling wave, yet don’t be fooled – it packs a punch. Similar to a small slab, the take-off is pretty mellow but accelerates as it builds.
NO. 10 – MEGA BARREL
Here it is, the big one. Drop into a head height smooth turns section, before funneling into a long, heavy slab and tube ride. Popular with experienced surfers and bodyboarders alike, this wave offers an intense ride.
