About

It'll make or break you at 6 ft+. This is a great wave but has a foul atmosphere because of the locals who sit at the base of the pier and give everyone a hard time when iot is small.

Atmosphere:
The atmosphere at this spot is a bit difficult up to 6 feet, but the locals who think they own the spot do not go out over 6 feet. If you are going to paddle out sit on the main peak otherwise it is not worth surfing and catch your fair share of waves. The locals will paddle around you and each other like priority buoys at a contest, do the same back, it is expected as there is a current washing you off the bank. I do not surf here anymore as I am in my mid 40's and have mellowed out, but for young rippers it is the spot to be. When it is big it has been compared in international and local surf magazines to Backdoor, Kirra, Hossegor, Puerto Escondindo and Haleiwa...so it is a heavy high performance wave. The atmosphere improves as it gets bigger and bigger and the kook bad attitude locals do not go out anymore...then the local pros and big wave surfers take over and being calibre surfers they give anyone who is out a bit of space. There are about 200 locals at this spot, some seem to think they own the place and then there are others like local legend Jason Ribbink who is one of the nicest guys around and charges it from 3 feet up(see photo), we also proud that he represents us in the big wave comp at Jaws in Hawaai...Go Jason, thanks for being an inspiration. Also Flame and Twigs charge the big, big stuff and don't take crap from the kooks...good on ya boys!! Over the years reigned over by many 'locals' who operated a strict pecking order. I have known some of them and they were all generally good guys, 'Max','Mouse', 'Dave Jennings', 'Jeff', 'Greg Swart', 'Pierre Tostee', 'Wade Sharp' with the exception of a few dumbasses such as portly hanger on Jason Ribbink who seems to have a beef with all in the water.
Sunny Garcia once commented that 6ft New Pier was at least as heavy as 6ft North Shore!

Additional Info:
If it is small paddle from the beach or jump off the pier. 6 Feet plus you should jump off the pier, you need very good timing between sets and you must paddle like crazy.Early mornings are quiet. The right is always best on low tide. When surfing it small you can really hit it hard, don't hold back at all. In small surf it is normally very busy, you need to show the same respect as you would at your home break - There are locals, some with bad attitudes, but if you hold back you will not get any waves. There can be a hundred people in the water on an offshore 4 foot day, in which case you have to hassle a bit. When it is 6 foot and over the "Bad Boy" locals stay on the pier. You must ride a gun on low tide as it gets very hollow and fast with some waves offering more than one barrel, on high tide you can still ride a short board on the medium big days and will be able to do big carves! The banks are pretty much the same year after year and change between winter from a running outside wave to summer being bowls. On any big swell though, summer or winter the outside right will be on with a South West wind.Smile, visitors sit wide (there is always a wide set!) when the pecking order is in place, DO NOT DROP IN! And if it's firing it's 'Barrels from heaven!'
Watch out for thieves. Don't get caught too deep on a big day or it's hit the pier time for you, ask Richie Sills.

Location

Access

Access anywhere off the main 'Marine Parade'. Park your car in any of the beach front parking. There are car guards who work on tips, they are nesacerry as SA has the worst car theft in the world. You should treat them as friends not as an annoyance.

Wave Characteristics

Ideal Conditions

Crowd

Dangers

Rips / undertow, Man-made danger (buoys etc..), Localism, Shark protected

Videos

None