Winter Heats Up the Atlantic: As Seen By You

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.

A wintery peak on the South Coast of the UK getting all excited by the southerly element in the swell.

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.

The view from inside the shorebreak just North of Hossegor known as La Graviere.

Kohl Christensen charging PMPA in front of snowy mountains in freezing waters.

Messanges in France looking like perfect (crowded) fun - it was like first day of spring.

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.

Polzeath - if only all winters were like this.

Chunky Perranporth on a stunningly sunny, (but cold) February day.

St Agnes nug slides through unloved.

Secret spot somewhere in Morocco, just look for the someone who's lost a boat and ask them where it is...

The start of what was a good week of swell.

Skindog in a thick Porthleven shackaroo

Gordon Fontaine throwing a crazy air on the Ledges.

Somewhere in Cornwall...

Vincent Duvignac flying in the last light of a cold (for France) glassy Mimizan evening.

Ben Skinner on one of the many bombs that came through at Porthtowan yesterday.

Porthtowan was a bit of a barrel fest late this arvo; shot from the beach for a change for Alex.

Even the donkeys have been having a looksee in Morocco.

Safi again, the go-to spot when the coast is maxed.

Le Braye, Jersey off the top.

Unridden realm up around Machrihanish

Somewhere in Western Ireland there's a barbed wire fence to shoot perfect waves...

This top turn was so solid it made the world tilt, a beautiful day in El Lloret, Gran Canaria.

Woolacombe, winter sunset, magic from above if you believe in God (who's not real).

A nice little round one, with no takers. A rarity at Chally.

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.

Glassy lefts somewhere in Western Ireland, those who've been will recognise it.

It is however pretty icy in Norway at this time of year.

Croyde Beach in winter, yes please.

Porthtowan is getting a lot of love

Mundaka with no-takers? This is clearly Photoshopped.

Lazi at home in the Canary Islands.

Mauretto living the dream in Furteventura.

Unridden in Lanzarote... the same can't be said of the English tourists.

El Fronton in a twisted frame of mind, as per normal.

A long lonely paddle-out in Iceland is not for the faint of heart.

Supertubos at sunset, poised to live up to its moniker.

Come on ... We had to include one of Nazare.