On the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, right next to Bells Beach, you will find a jewel of the coast. Winkipop is the ultimate wave when it is on: a long, right, reeling reef/point set up, providing waves up to 200 metres long. At times the wave can be heavy, and it demands the respect of anyone who surfs it. This wave provides fast, stellar walls for carves and turns, as well as incredibly rapid, reliable, deep, and makeable barrel sections. It has three distinct sections to it: Uppers, Middles, and Lowers. Uppers and Middles are the most high performance sections of the wave; Lowers tends to be a little too fast at times to make down the line, but is usually uncrowded. A good swell with the right tide will link all three sections together. A regional classic in Australia, Winkipop stands with any other top tier wave in the world.
What are the best surf conditions for Winkipop?
This waves gets good between waist high to triple overhead, it can handle size very well. We recommend riding your standard shortboard and step up here when bigger. Winkipop requires skill to surf, it is best for intermediate and advanced surfers. The wave breaks almost always (9/10) and will always be very crowded (9/10). There is a solid crew of locals that will let you know if you are out of line, and will rip every wave that they get to shreds. Watch them to see what sections to pump through and which ones to lay down power turns. The best winds are from the Northwest, and the best tide is high. The best swell directions are South, Southwest, and West.
We recommend wearing a 3/2 wetsuit in the summer with water temperatures hovering around 16 degrees in February. In the winter a 4/3 is best, as temps drop to a frigid 12 degrees. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
