surfboard rental

[samoka]

Does anyone know of a place to rent a surfboard or boogie board on STJ? we are staying in a house that is supposedly on a beach where there is good surfing - thanks, samoka

[Iluvstjohn]

I have been to st john 7 times now...and I can tell you that there are no waves to speak of to surf! LOL....very little ones....and on "high surf" days...i would think they weren't any to speak of.......

st john is not known for its surfing!

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[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

We've also seen people surf the break at Cocoloba Point, which is the Western edge of Fish Bay.

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[toes in the sand]

I have watched the surfers catch nice waves on Reef Bay

[Iluvstjohn]

well, I stand corrected! In all of my trips to the island....I must be spending too much time snorkeling to see any surfers....or...too much time with a drink in my hand! LOL.....

good luck catching the wave

[Exit Zero]

I have seen surfers on Johnsons Reef - when there is the big N swell - last week there were 2 surfers riding on tight head high waves between Mingo and Lovango Cays.

[Chet]

Bring your own, I did for years, but October is not a good month for swell. I've tried several times to rent or borrow a board, but no one was willing. The big issue is surfing the rocks on the south beaches or the staghorn reefs on the north - it is very easy to ding a rental or a borrowed board. Years ago we rented a villa at Hull Bay and our greeter loaned me her board to surf Carat Bay. That's the closest I have come to a "rental".

From VInow.com:
"On average between November and March the waves/swells are between six to eight feet. During the rest of the year it is virtually flat. The surfing in the U.S.V.I is all reef break, there is no beach break. Therefore if you are afraid of reef break or hitting the reef, this is not the place for you to surf. This is not the surf location for someone to travel to if they are just learning to surf. Although local surfers learn here, they usually do this with an experienced surfer. A surfer should have moderate skill at surfing to surf in the U.S.V.I."

[samoka]

Thanks everyone - we are on Reef Bay - I will keep looking for a board and I will check out Cinnamon - thanks for that tip - now I just have to wait for February to roll around again - samoka

[djmom]

ok, I know some of you are SO sick of this picture, but Samoka, I have to show you this. This is at Cinnamon November 2008. This is not normal by the way, but not unheard of either. This is what they call the northern swell/Christmas winds...

[samoka]

djsmom - That is crazy - we are on Reef Bay so we shouldn't have that kind of wave - not sure if we would actually use a surf board - more likely a boogie board - we travel with our adult children and their spouses and I think a couple have tried surfing on other trips we had taken - I like to have options available for everyone- thanks, samoka

[toes in the sand]

If you have some waves in Reef Bay you will still have the challenge of getting to them. Watch for the urchins. They are plentiful.

[djmom]

samoka,
I certainly don't want to mislead you, you probably won't find that wave anywhere. Just very rarely. You have to see it to believe it because if you have vacationed in St. John when it is normal (completely flat) for years, it really is amazing to see it happen.

There are varying degrees and the Northern swells do happen every year, but that was extreme.

[nothintolose]

Every time we drive out on the road where you can look down on Reef Bay, we see surfers in the water below.