Backyards

Tucked just beside the infamous Sunset Beach, Backyards is a wide, exposed reef that rarely sees a crowd—mainly because it demands a certain kind of madness. The wave breaks in scattered lefts and rights over a shallow, uneven reef, delivering a heavy, unpredictable ride that is strictly for experts. Paddling in here is a battle; when the swell kicks up, this spot quickly becomes the domain of windsurfers, kites, and tow teams. The reef itself is unforgiving—thin, jagged, and studded with sea urchins, adding a sharp penalty to every mistake. This is not a wave to learn on; it is a wave to survive.

Best Surf Season (December - March)

Backyards is a northwest-facing stretch of coast built to intercept North Atlantic groundswell. During December through March the mid-latitude storm track sets up shop off the US East Coast and the Caribbean, generating a steady conveyor belt of long-period NNW and NW swell. Average surf heights run in the 8-9ft (2.5-2.7m) range with periods of 11.7-12.8s, and the preferred NW quadrant accounts for 23-30% of the directional spectrum. Combined with offshore flow from the S/SSW/SW/WSW sectors 21-27% of the time, winter consistently offers the cleanest, most powerful surf of the year. A negative NAO phase can push the jet stream and its associated lows further south, adding even more size and energy to these swells.