How we rate

The Surf Level (1-7)

Each level is defined by observable skills — wave size you routinely surf, boards you're comfortable on, maneuvers you can land, break types you're confident in. And each level is anchored against a real, named wave so the rating is portable across the surfing world.

The Surf Fit Score (0–100)

The 0–100 score is the precise version of your level, and it is what decides which level you end up on. Matching itself works on the level, not the score: given your Level 1–7 and a spot or camp's level range, we say whether the match is great, a stretch, or out of reach. (This page used to say matching was score-based. It never was — the score produces the level, and the level does the matching.)

Take the 2-minute quiz to find both your level and your score.

Spot grading

Every spot is tagged with three levels:

• Minimum safe. Below this, the wave is dangerous for that surfer.
• Best progression. The level for whom this wave most directly progresses ability.
• Maximum challenge. Above this, the wave stops challenging the surfer.

Each spot also carries a 0–100 difficulty score that combines wave size, paddle, hazards, takeoff steepness, and localism.

Camp grading

Camps inherit their level range from the spots they teach at, then we adjust based on coaching ratios, instructor certifications, and what the camp explicitly markets toward.

The daily surf call (1–5 stars)

Spots with live forecast data show a star call per day: a quick read of how good the waves look, calculated by us from three forecast figures — wave height, wave period, and wind speed. It is an estimate derived from model data (weather data by Open-Meteo.com, CC BY 4.0), not a measurement, and never a suitability or safety assessment — a five-star day at a heavy reef is still a heavy reef, and your level is a separate question the match card answers.

How the points add up, in full:

• Period (swell quality): under 8s scores 0, 8–10s scores 1, 10–13s scores 2, 13s and up scores 3.
• Height (rideable size): under 0.5m scores 0, 0.5–1m scores 1, 1–3m scores 2, over 3m scores 1 — very large open-ocean swell usually means fewer makeable waves, not more.
• Wind (surface): under 12km/h scores 2, 12–25km/h scores 1, 25–40km/h scores 0, over 40km/h scores −1. Unknown wind scores 1.

The total maps to stars: 0–1 → ★, 2 → ★★, 3–4 → ★★★, 5 → ★★★★, 6–7 → ★★★★★. Two overrides, both downward: under 0.3m is flat and scores one star whatever the period says, and wind over 40km/h caps the day at two stars. A day's star is its best daylight window (roughly 6am–8pm local), because “should I get in the car at some point today” is the question it answers.

What the score deliberately does not see: wind direction. Scoring offshore-vs-onshore needs the exact bearing each break faces, which we don't hold as reliable data — and a wrong offshore bonus would be worse than none. The forecast is also for an offshore model grid point, typically a few kilometres from the break; the spot page says how far.