Hoddevik surf is one of the jewels of the Norwegian surf scene. It might be hard to reach, but you’ll be rewarded with beautiful scenery and mellow sets perfect for beginners and intermediates.
An introduction to Hoddevik surf
Together with Unstad, in Lofoten, Hoddevik is one of the jewels of the Norwegian surf scene. Carving out a great gash in the side of the Stad Peninsula in the Fjord Land part of the country, it’s a majestic place – think an 800-meter dash of silver pebbles and golden sand that’s sandwiches between two giants of headlands. The spot picks up regular N windswell in the winter (when it’s at its prime) but gets really good when big Atlantic groundswells wrap in and start the point breaks working on both sides of the bay.
Hoddevik, like a lot of this corner of Scandinavia, is a true beginner and intermediate mainstay. Because the swells need to work quite hard to bend and curl through the fjords, the finished sets are usually softer and more mellow that what you get elsewhere in Europe. Hoddevik now has a fantastic array of pretty off-beat and unique surf camp stays real close to the beach taking advantage of all that, though you still shouldn’t expect anything near the line ups of Portugal or France.
The downside of Hoddevik and the surrounding Stad region are long flat spells in the summer and just how hard they are to reach.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Norway
Hoddevik surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Hoddevik surf?
Where is Hoddevik?
Hoddevik is about 117 miles from Bergen as the crow flies and over 230 miles from Oslo. It’s a part of the Vestland region, which is known for its striking fjords and soaring coastal mountains – the sort of scenery you’ll see as you surf in the bay! There’s no doubt that the best way to get here is to drive with your own car. There’s no public transport up to the remote bay and taxis can be pricy. Plus, having your own wheels means having the freedom to enjoy the Stad Peninsula and all its white-sand bays and amazing lookout points.
Hoddevik surf spots
Refviksanden
Refviksanden is often overlooked for the more consistent bay at Hoddevik itself. But, if you want to surf almost totally alone and score arguably the most beginner-friendly and logger-friendly wave in Norway, consider making the trek down here. It’s around 1.5 hour’s drive through the heart of the wonderful Stad Peninsula. The bay also has dramatic high headlands looming over the top, but the one of the west is a touch longer than at Hoddevik, so tempers SW swells even more. If it’s working, there’s usually 2-4 foot peelers breaking on the inside and a very mellow left that comes off the rocks. It’s better at high tide when there’s more water running over the reefs.
Hoddevik Left
The left at Hoddevik works best when there’s a 4-7 foot windswell from the N or a massive SW swell that can wrap in. It’s one of the better waves in the bay because it has the prime protection from the W onshore winds, so stays cleaner than the right on the opposite side. On the downside, it’s more fickle. Because sets need to refract through so much from the open Norwegian Sea, groundswell days tend to give this a super-soft wave that’s mainly for the longboarders.
Hoddevik Beach
The middle of Hoddevik bay runs for about 400 meters between the two point breaks at both ends. This is the beginner playground of the Stad Peninsula, and where you’ll usually catch all the local surf schools doing their thing in the morning and evenings. It’s a fun place to learn, what with a series of sandbanks that offer A-frames and plenty of whitewash. This works best with mid-sized SW swells and N windswells but the whole thing will be a closeout if it’s over 6 foot, so don’t expect loads of quality.
Hoddevik Right
The right is the most consistent wave in Hoddevik and probably the one that you’ve seen in all the surf mags. The take-off is right at the end of the breakwater. You can jump off there to dodge the relatively longish paddle from the middle of the bay. From there, the wave bowls right for about 50-100 meters. Unlike the beach breaks and left here, this one can handle some size, and will even throw out the odd almond tube for crouching into when it’s feeling zingy.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Hoddevik surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Hoddevik surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Hoddevik?
The peak season for surfing in Hoddevik is the winter. This is when the strongest SW groundswells can make their way through from the Atlantic Ocean, but also when the more regular N-NW windswells kick in, bringing consistent conditions. Peak times are usually January and February, which can sometimes see cold E winds funnel through the valley and give some glass to the waves. Just remember that this is Norway and that means COLD water. You’ll need 5/4 mils in the wetty minimum and all the add-ons; gloves, hood, changer etc.
Hoddevik doesn’t switch off in the summer. The bay still gets nice cruisy waves but the conditions tend to be better for longboarders and beginners. It’s probably the best time to look to join the local surf schools here if you’ve not surfed all that much before.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
