WATCH: Welcome To Liberia; Africa’s Newest Surfing Outpost

The BBC just dropped a new edit introducing the world to what they reckon may be the next ‘surfing hotspot’.

The place they’re talking about is the west African nation of Liberia, which is sandwiched between Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone and boasts a lengthy south west facing coastline, perfect for hoovering up long range Atlantic groundswells. Surf explorers first visited the nation in the 70s, however due to a series of bloody civil wars starting in 1989 surf travel to the country became impossible.

However, recently everything has begun to change with a peace keeping effort making way for the nations first democratic elections in 2005 and the appointment of it’s first ever female head of state. Despite battling with an ebola outbreak in 2014, the country has continued to go from strength to strength over the last decade, with foreign visitors returning and surf retreats beginning to pop up along the coastline. Locals too have started to take up the sport in their droves, with the first generation of shredders now ready to take the younger crew under their wings. The nation boasts an abundance of long left hand points and fun beachies, providing a fertile playground for surfers of all levels. The water is warm and the kids are keen and if Liberia continues on its positive peaceful trajectory, the bourgeoning surf scene is expected to grow exponentially over the coming years.

You can find out more about surfing in the African nation in an article published in the mag a few years back and now available to read online here.

Cover photo @gregewing