Once tethered to local breaks, professional surfers now chase perfection across the globe’s best places to surf. These athletes, from rising stars like our own Brisa Hennessy to all-time legends like Kelly Slater, seek more than just swell forecasts. They chase identity, community, and soulful connections to places that have shaped their lives and careers.
From the jungle points in Pavones, Costa Rica, to the reef giants of Cloudbreak in Fiji, these best places to surf in the world are home breaks, proving grounds, and personal sanctuaries for pro surfers.
Quick Highlights
- Surfing’s addition to the Olympics expanded the sport’s global reach, driving pros to refine their craft on the world stage.
- The global surf tourism market was valued at $68.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $95.9 billion by 2030.
- CNN named Pipeline on Oahu, Hawaii the world’s top surf spot, celebrated for its towering six-meter waves and flawless barrels.
- Legends like Kelly Slater and John John Florence built their careers on iconic waves including Pipeline, Teahupo’o, and Kirra.
- Athelo athlete Brisa Hennessy found her style in Costa Rica’s tropical swells, training at Pavones—home to one of the world’s longest waves, stretching more than 800m.
- Fellow Athelo surfer Zoe Benedetto honed her grit on Florida’s East Coast, where small, unpredictable 1–2 ft waves demand adaptability.
Brisa Hennessy’s Best Places to Surf: Matapalo & Cloudbreak
Raised off-grid on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula in Matapalo, Brisa Hennessy learned the foundations of surfing on waves like Pan Dulce and Pavones. These breaks are encompassed by dense rainforest and local community.
From a young age, surfing for Brisa was more a way of life than a sport. Her parents ran a local Pan Dulce surf school, where she first stood up on a wave at age three. This foundation has shaped the soulful and grounded competitor we see today.
Years later, during lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji, Brisa faced one of her most defining moments at Cloudbreak, a legendary reef break known for its raw power. As she described in SurfGirl Magazine, confronting fears head-on filled her with confidence.
“Fear is uncomfortable. But I learnt [at Cloudbreak] that when you accept it’s real, it’s there, you’re willing to embrace it. You either stay uncomfortable or you grow.”
These two iconic surf spots, Matapalo and Cloudbreak, go beyond just being her favorite. For Brisa, they’re the chapters that shaped her resilience. Matapalo is Brisa’s heritage. Cloudbreak represents her embracing her fears and finding clarity amid the chaos.
Zoe Benedetto’s Favorite Surf Spot: Fort Pierce, Florida
Rising star and pro-surfer Zoe Benedetto grew up surfing the Fort Pierce Inlet. The inlet is a modest, yet challenging beach break she proudly calls her home territory.
“It’s a pretty solid beach break for Florida,” she told The Inertia. “It definitely prepares you for the grovel and challenging aspect of surfing where it’s not perfect all the time.” This foundation has given her a competitive edge and grit that carried her through her early QS victories.
Beyond her home break, Zoe also loves Playa Escondida in Costa Rica. This sought-after surf spot is revered for its world-class quality and regular wave frequency. While remote, Playa Escondida offers a more intentional surf for Zoe, one that resonates with her evolving style.
Zane Schweitzer’s Top Picks: Maui, Hawaii & Cloudbreak
Born into a water-obsessed family on the island of Maui, our very own Zane Schweitzer mastered ocean sports before he could walk. These watersports include surfing, windsurfing, and stand-up-paddleboarding. His grandfather, Hoyle Schweitzer, invented windsurfing, setting the tone for Zane’s life and passion for the ocean.
Zane calls Manu’s reef breaks home, especially spots like Honolua Bay with its groomed, hollow right-handers and sheltered trade winds.
Along with Honolua Bay, Cloudbreak in Fiji also holds a special place in his heart. As one of his favorite surf spots in the world, Cloudbreak pushes Zane to his limits. Out there, it’s all about wave-riding ability and talent on the water, conditions that strip the sport back to pure instinct.
Slater, Florence, and Ewing: Their Favorite Spots
Pro-surf legend Kelly Slater has many break favorites across the globe. His reach spans from Pipeline and Kirra to Jeffreys Bay and Sebastian Inlet. Slater also has described his deep connection to the surf community in Tavarua, Fiji where Cloudbreak feeds his passion.
John John Florence’s homebreak is the iconic surf spot of Pipeline on O‘ahu’s North Shore, arguably the most challenging and celebrated wave in the world. This spot is also home to many surf competitions, where the community and culture has enhanced its appeal and has contributed to the growth of the sport.
Florence has described this wave as both familiar and commanding, saying he’s “not afraid” even when the ocean looms overhead. From childhood paddling to back-to-back world titles, this top surf destination has seen many of his life-defining moments.
Hailing from North Stradbroke Island, Ethan Ewing’s strength lies in rail control and speed. Yet, he also favors Teahupo’o in Tahiti, a renowned heavy left-side break known for its raw challenge and breathtaking barrels. His 2022 season showed Ewing wasn’t just surviving Teahupo’o, he was excelling in it.
The Places That Shape Surfers & Their Performances
Pro surfers may travel the world in search of waves, but the breaks closest to home often define their style. Brisa Hennessy’s surfing DNA was formed in Matapalo and Cloudbreak, yet her sharpest results have come at Pipeline and Punta Rocas.
Zoe Benedetto learned adaptability in the shifting beach breaks of Fort Pierce, Florida, a skill that now carries into competitions from Oceanside to Barbados.
Kelly Slater’s first proving ground was Sebastian Inlet, but his career-defining wins span Pipeline, Jeffreys Bay, and Teahupo’o. John John Florence, raised on the North Shore’s reefs, has proven himself from Tahiti’s heaviest barrels to South Africa’s point breaks.
These stories show that while identity begins in home waters, a surfer’s legacy is built on waves that demand skill, instinct, and commitment.