Outer Kom

Best Surf Season (May - August)

Outer Kom is a west-facing slab that sits directly in the firing line of the Southern Ocean storm tracks. In the South African winter, the roaring forties push a relentless series of lows toward the Cape, and average swells climb to 8.5-9.5ft (2.6-2.9m) with periods holding at 12.4-12.6s. The swell window also shifts favourably: WSW and W components become more common alongside the dominant SW, giving the reef more of the lines it needs. The downside is the accompanying west/northwest wind, but May and June post the best clean-window rates of the year at 19 percent. When an east/southeast breeze follows a cold front, Outer Kom turns into a heavy, grinding, world-class wave.