The Baltic Sea is one of surfing’s final frontiers; photo credit: www.surfertoday.com
When you think of Poland, what comes to mind? Oppression. Vodka (nee Wodka). Decades of Nazi and Soviet occupation, resulting in a bleak, abrasive atmosphere so characteristic of many eastern European countries. Surfing seems like the last thing to be associated with a place like this. But where there’s water, people will find a way to surf.
With 305 miles of coastline, Poland boasts an array of beaches all facing the largely un-surfed Baltic Sea. The waves are primarily generated by wind swell, since the Baltic is a relatively small body of water. One of the principal surfing spots on Poland’s northern coast is a tiny strip of land jutting out into the sea called Hel. Don’t let the name fool you – Hel looks like an idyllic slice of lush coastline and plays host to beachgoers, wind-surfers and surfers in the summer months.
As the 79th member nation inducted into the ISA (International Surfing Association), Poland has emerged as a recognized (albeit unlikely) surfing destination. This August, they’re holding the ninth annual Polish Surfing Championships with a window spanning from August 8th to 31st, depending on conditions.
A day after last year’s event, a group of Polish surfers paddled out and scored fun, barreling surf with offshore winds.
You saw that right… pits in Poland! And in addition to hundreds of miles of swell-facing coastline, surfers recently discovered a standing wave on the landlocked Bobr River. As surfing is fairly new in the country, the locals somewhat struggle with the fast-moving river wave. But this thing just adds to Poland’s capability as a surfing locale.
Surfing is synonymous with travel and adventure; the unknown of discovering a new wave is a driving force that keeps the sport interesting and sets us apart from, say, a basketball player confined to a court. Surfers have scoured the globe, exploring unchartered coastlines in search of new lineups. But the search is finite – Poland remains one of surfing’s final frontiers. The country may not boast the perfect barrels of Indonesia or the off-the-grid ruggedness of Western Oz, but it’s something new and, up until now, fairly unexplored as far as surfing goes. And that’s something to get stoked about.