Located in Durban, South Africa, New Pier is the epicentre of the Durban surf scene. It’s surfable at almost any size and holds big swell very well. The right is the place to be and offers up performance walls, high-speed barrels, and heavy ledgy barrels when big. Expect a highly competitive crowd, and make sure your paddling chops are up. You’ll need to constantly work to stay in position and avoid being caught inside. Being caught means a one-way trip to the pier, which can range from a bad decision to your last decision. The local crowd is definitely protective, even if it slims down in size, so make sure to be respectful. The wave itself is very high quality and breaks for up to 200 meters (656 feet) over a sand bottom, which tends to stay the same year to year.
What are the best surf conditions for New Pier?
New Pier gets good between waist-high and triple overhead. We recommend riding a shortboard, then a step up, and then a gun as the size increases. This break is good for intermediate and advanced-level surfers. The surf here is consistent (7/10) and will get insanely crowded (10/10). The best winds are from the Northwest, Southwest, and West. It works best on a South or Southeast swell. Lower tides will be more hollow, while higher tides provide performance walls.
We recommend wearing boardshorts or a bikini in summer when water temperatures rise to 26°C (78.8°F). In the winter, a spring suit might be best as temps drop to about 21°C (69.8°F). See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
