Introduction
Once upon a time, the phrase “surfing the Internet” triggered waves of irritation among surfers. For those immersed in ocean culture, it felt like their sacred word had been hijacked. But times have changed. Today, “surfing” the internet is as natural as waxing your board before a sunrise session—and most surfers rely on the web more than ever. With the decline of traditional print surf magazines, our go-to for forecasts, gear reviews, and cultural commentary has shifted entirely online.
Below is the definitive guide to the best and most relevant surfing websites in 2025. These platforms have evolved and adapted to meet the growing demands of global surf culture, from high-definition surf cams and accurate swell forecasts to immersive storytelling and community discussion.
1. Surfline (www.surfline.com)
Best for: Premium surf cams, advanced forecasting, and global surf reports.
Surfline remains the industry leader in surf forecasting. What started as Swell.com during the early dot-com boom has matured into the most sophisticated surf website in the world. Its partnership with Magicseaweed has streamlined its interface and boosted the accuracy of its 17-day surf forecasts.
In 2025, Surfline’s Live Wind feature and AI-powered cam rewind tool let users scrub through past surf sessions for nearly every major beach break in the U.S. and abroad. Their editorial content, led by seasoned journalists, includes travel guides, pro interviews, and environmental deep dives. Premium membership unlocks longer-range forecasts and exclusive cam access.
2. Stab Magazine (www.stabmag.com)
Best for: Cutting-edge surf films, editorial features, and raw authenticity.
Stab remains the most culturally influential surf media platform in 2025. With its signature voice—smart, cheeky, and irreverent—Stab captures the soul of modern surfing. Projects like Stab in the Dark and How Surfers Get Paid continue to break ground.
Their newly launched “Stab Premium TV” includes original docuseries and behind-the-scenes features from global surf destinations. Stab’s emphasis on gender inclusivity has deepened, with frequent features on women shredders and a dedicated channel for women’s surf content.
3. World Surf League (WSL) (www.worldsurfleague.com)
Best for: Live competition streaming, rankings, and athlete profiles.
WSL has elevated its production in 2025 with 4K drone streams and multi-angle replays. With a robust Championship Tour (CT) and Challenger Series schedule, the WSL site is a must-visit for pro surfing fans.
New features include Fantasy Surf League integrations and AI-generated heat predictions. Their storytelling arm now covers mental health, athlete diet, and surfing’s Olympic ambitions. If you’re a competitive surfing enthusiast, this is your digital stadium.
4. The Inertia (www.theinertia.com)
Best for: Editorial honesty, surf culture, and environmental reporting.
Founded by Zach Weisberg, The Inertia remains the most inclusive and varied platform in surf journalism. Anyone can submit, but a strong editorial filter ensures high quality.
In 2025, its reach has expanded into wellness, sustainability, and outdoor travel, with contributors ranging from Kelly Slater to indigenous surfers in Oceania. Their video podcasts on surf activism and community development are some of the most insightful in the industry.
5. Magicseaweed (now merged with Surfline)
Best for: Archival storm tracking and European wave data.
While the Magicseaweed brand now lives under the Surfline umbrella, MSW’s legacy continues. The MSW-style charts and long-range forecast models are still part of Surfline’s UI.
The once-beloved MSW app has been sunset, but much of its data—especially for Europe and Africa—remains intact within Surfline’s global forecast network.
6. SurferToday (www.surfertoday.com)
Best for: All board sports and in-depth how-tos.
SurferToday continues to serve a multi-board audience. From surfing and bodyboarding to kiteboarding and windsurfing, they deliver daily content with evergreen appeal. Their tech and gear guides for beginners are often referenced by surf schools worldwide.
In 2025, their editorial focus has leaned into AI in surf tech, climate adaptation strategies for coastal breaks, and surf tourism data. They remain unmatched in skimboarding coverage and environmental news.
7. Wavelength Magazine (www.wavelengthmag.com)
Best for: UK surf culture, indie publishing, and storytelling.
Wavelength has embraced its digital evolution. Still grounded in British surf culture, the site now includes live surf cams, drone-shot short films, and a feature series on cold-water surfing in Scotland.
They also operate the Blue Earth Summit and an e-commerce store offering sustainably made surf gear, coffee-table books, and limited-edition prints. Their editorial is poetic, and their voice captures the eccentricity and endurance of surfing in the UK.
8. Carve Magazine (www.carvemag.com)
Best for: British pros, gear reviews, and surf books.
Carve continues to thrive in the post-print world. Its website is clean, image-rich, and full of excellent reporting on the UK and European surf scenes.
In 2025, Carve launched a mobile app with digital versions of each issue, interactive gear reviews, and a directory of certified surf schools across Europe. Their in-house gear testing and book publishing arm are thriving. They’re especially strong in wetsuit testing for cold climates.
9. Swellnet (www.swellnet.com.au)
Best for: Australian conditions, surf reports, and opinion columns.
This Australian site is known for its local flavor and sharp analysis. Their long-form journalism goes deeper than the usual news bites, making Swellnet a favorite for older, more thoughtful surfers.
In 2025, Swellnet expanded its regional forecast network across Indonesia and New Zealand. They’ve also introduced video essays and have a loyal community forum debating everything from fin design to localism.
10. BeachGrit (www.beachgrit.com)
Best for: Scandals, satire, and inside dirt.
Still irreverent and sometimes inflammatory, BeachGrit thrives in its niche as surfing’s gossip blog. Its founders, Derek Rielly and Chas Smith, are award-winning journalists who treat satire and investigative journalism with equal reverence.
They are still the first to break stories when things go south in the WSL or among the elite surf crowd. Their “anti-depressant” mission persists, providing humor in an often too-serious surf media space. Their comment section? Wild, unfiltered, and hilarious.
11. SurfStrengthCoach (www.surfstrengthcoach.com)
Best for: Surf fitness, mobility programs, and injury prevention.
This website continues to be the top resource for surf-specific training. Programs target paddling endurance, shoulder health, pop-up speed, and mobility.
Their Surf Athlete App in 2025 includes personalized workout plans, live-streamed coaching sessions, and community chat. Ideal for surfers over 30 or those recovering from injury.
12. Surf Simply (www.surfsimply.com)
Best for: Structured surf coaching and theory-based learning.
More than just a resort, Surf Simply’s website is a goldmine of technique articles, theory podcasts, and long-form coaching videos. Their podcast remains one of the most downloaded surf podcasts in the world.
In 2025, they’ve expanded their online training content with quizzes, webinars, and digital coaching plans for remote surfers.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re chasing barrels, geeking out on gear, or simply following the latest surf drama, the web has a wave for you. These websites serve every corner of the surf world, offering everything from soulful essays to tech-enhanced forecasts. Bookmark your favorites, support independent media where you can, and never stop paddling toward your next online surf session.