Aucune tempête active
EUROPE and North Africa has been bathed in swell for the last few weeks. No two ways around it, there's been consecutive hours of clement weather and pumping waves from Iceland to West Africa. There have of course been a few mega swells in the mix since 2013 came of age, but whilst that Atlantic winter speciality might be good for an XXL nomination and viral black blob swell charts, it generally means maxed-out beaches for the majority. What you and I, Mr Joe Average of the surfing world want (sorry Dorian) is overhead glassy walls of tubular joy, not 30ft Mully or 78ft Nazare. The second good thing about this time of year is the light, suddenly the morning dawny and the skip-off-an-hour-early from work has opened up for those without trust funds, trades or student loans. We were in Morocco recently and people were calling "best winter ever" etc. An impossible claim to quantify - but ain't it been fun? Endless waves in the solid but approachable range. If you haven't been scoring then you've missed out as this mashup from the user photos uploaded to the site should let you know. © 2013 zakiche
Porthtowan performing an hour long Indo impersonation. So many perfect waves. © 2013 Alex Callister
A wintery peak on the South Coast of the UK getting all excited by the southerly element in the swell. © 2013 DJH
We scored, big time. A group of six of us went to a secret spot on the north coast and boy was it good. Six mates surfing perfect 5 to 6 ft waves with lines as far as the eye could see and no one else out made this one of the most memorable surfs I've had in a long time. Good times. © 2013 Matthew Loots
The view from inside the shorebreak just North of Hossegor known as La Graviere. © 2013 Baptiste Haugomat
Kohl Christensen charging PMPA in front of snowy mountains in freezing waters. © 2013 Lars Jacobsen
Messanges in France looking like perfect (crowded) fun - it was like first day of spring. © 2013 Secret Spot Lodge France
This is big wave spot in France which whilst it's no secret is best left to those who know. Not least because it's a monster paddle-out. © 2013 user119372
Polzeath - if only all winters were like this. © 2013 crox
Chunky Perranporth on a stunningly sunny, (but cold) February day. © 2013 Richie Pickersgill
St Agnes nug slides through unloved. © 2013 sponger
Secret spot somewhere in Morocco, just look for the someone who's lost a boat and ask them where it is... © 2013 pointsurf
The start of what was a good week of swell. © 2013 Matthew Loots
Skindog in a thick Porthleven shackaroo © 2013 David Pick
Gordon Fontaine throwing a crazy air on the Ledges. © 2013 David Pick
Somewhere in Cornwall... © 2013 jackneale90.tumblr.com
Vincent Duvignac flying in the last light of a cold (for France) glassy Mimizan evening. © 2013 Danny Bastiaanse
Ben Skinner on one of the many bombs that came through at Porthtowan yesterday. © 2013 Matthew Loots
Porthtowan was a bit of a barrel fest late this arvo; shot from the beach for a change for Alex. © 2013 Alex Callister
Even the donkeys have been having a looksee in Morocco.
Safi again, the go-to spot when the coast is maxed. © 2013 zakiche
Le Braye, Jersey off the top. © 2013 Matt Sullivan
Unridden realm up around Machrihanish © 2013 Filfar
Somewhere in Western Ireland there's a barbed wire fence to shoot perfect waves... © 2013 Sophia Harding
This top turn was so solid it made the world tilt, a beautiful day in El Lloret, Gran Canaria. © 2013 David Herrera
Woolacombe, winter sunset, magic from above if you believe in God (who's not real). © 2013 Jay Teee
A nice little round one, with no takers. A rarity at Chally. © 2013 Angus Dugs
Whitesands Bay, Wales, is one of Pembrokeshire's more consistent beaches so long as there's a good bit of west in the swell.
The larger west swell get through to remote spots such as Sele in Norway where much reduced you can end up with a glassy two footer rolling down this boulder point. © 2013 Mark Hewitt
Glassy lefts somewhere in Western Ireland, those who've been will recognise it. © 2013 Kristian Cowin
It is however pretty icy in Norway at this time of year. © 2013 Tagava
Croyde Beach in winter, yes please. © 2013 close2sea
Porthtowan is getting a lot of love © 2013 richrips
Mundaka with no-takers? This is clearly Photoshopped. © 2013 EKTphotos
Lazi at home in the Canary Islands. © 2013 Mattia Mandreoli
Mauretto living the dream in Furteventura. © 2013 Chus Carvajal
Unridden in Lanzarote... the same can't be said of the English tourists. © 2013 Chus Carvajal
El Fronton in a twisted frame of mind, as per normal. © 2013 Martin O L
A long lonely paddle-out in Iceland is not for the faint of heart. © 2013 Dana Marlin
Supertubos at sunset, poised to live up to its moniker. © 2013 user164195
Come on ... We had to include one of Nazare. © 2013 baleixo
A 9 metre swell, 120kmh winds, tress uprooted with their roofs blown-off, but the shorey was sick.
Wintery backlit glass on the south coast of Cornwall. © 2013 saltshots.com
However we did have the odd massive swell from the Atlantic, sending surfers scurrying for Mullaghmore. © 2013 donalof
Sebastian Steudtner charging massive Mullaghmore, while the mountains in the background are covered in fresh snow. © 2013 Lars Jacobsen
KNOXY does Europe - but the only thing he's slaying are the waves.
Our ride of the week - the Lost Beach Buggy by Taj Burrow and
Back to the cold.... Nixon Surf Challenge headed to Iceland
His raw and aggressive aerial skills are matched by his ability to utilise the entire rail of the board to shift liquid mountains
100% around the surf spot Windansea, La Jolla California - everything and nothing.
Life after winning a MSW photo comp can be tough... Adam's trip to the Maldives was his reward
