How to use Surfing Genie   

Surfing Genie is very simple to use:

Step 1 - Use the Search map, the Detailed Search Dropdowns, the Search Box or the information pages to find your dream destination.
Step 2 - Use the links from the beach page or information page to find local Service listings and book cottages, B&B’s, hotels, surf lessons etc.
Step 3 - Book and head to the beach.

The Homepage explained

1. Search Box.   If you know the name of the Beach, B&B etc, then simply type it in here for matching results in the database.
2. Login to the community section of the site, for forums, blogs, emails, profile page etc.
3. Link to the video gallery where you can watch videos and upload your own to the video gallery.
4. Surf Forecast.
a) Swell Forecast.   Forecast for the height of waves for the next 5 days. Use this to see where the surf will be largest around the British Isles.
b) Wave Period.   Forecast for gaps between waves for the next 5 days. Use this to see where the largest wave period will be (producing the most regular waves with the longest time to paddle out back between waves).
5. Vote in the current Surfing Genie poll and see the running results.
6. Links from here into the database of over 200 beaches for all the things you can do.
7. Links from here into the Community section for all the things you can do (you will need to register a username and password first).
8. Links from here into the Service Listings database of 13,000 Cottages, B&B’s, Hotels, Pubs, Events and much more.
9. Information Pages.   These pages have general information on different subjects and have links into the database for the best beaches and listings for each subject.
10. Beach Search map.   Use this to search for beaches in the different regions around the British Isles.
11. Detailed Beach Search.   Use the drop downs to search the entire beach database and filter down to your ideal destination.

The Beach pages explained

1. List of the Regions of the British Isles from the main Map Search.
2. Beach Gallery.   A selection of thumb nail photos (click to enlarge) with a link to the gallery to either upload or view photos of this beach.
3. Weather links.   Click on these links for local wind, wave, sun, cloud, rain, tide height and tide time forecasts for the next 1 – 10 days.
4. Google Map of the local area showing all beaches and listings in the database. Directions to this beach are calculated if you type your home post code in.
5. Adding Beaches to the database. If you want to add a beach that is not currently included in the database, this link will take you to the beach creation form.
6. Add Listing.   If you are a local business owner use this link to include your business in the local database.
7. Link back to this site guide.
8. Surfing Genie Beach Icons.   See below for a full explanation.
9.  Featured Local Service Listings.
10. Links through to all local self catering cottages and also local businesses (B&Bs, hotels, surf schools etc).
  

Key to Surfing Genie beach icons

Surfing Genie hopes to inspire people towards their next surfing adventure and as such we have created simple icons to represent the key characteristics of each break, to make searching out your ideal playground that little bit quicker. These are:

Surfing Ability

• Novice - breaks best suited to those learning & developing
• Intermediate
• Legend - breaks that will challenge and entertain the most experienced
• Laird Hamilton - we reserve this icon for the best and most respected breaks in the UK, that visiting icons should try whilst here.

Type of break

• Beach break - ideal for all levels of surfer, particularly novices
• Point break - fast, long rides along headlands
• Reef break - fast rides over offshore, shallow features

Wind direction

This potentially confusing criterion shows the ideal wind conditions (i.e offshore) for this break to be working - remembering that a southerly wind is one that is blowing into your face if you are looking south. You can search for breaks that will work best in the prevailing wind.

• Northerly
• Southerly

Access

This criteria puts a value of 1 - 3 on how accessible the break is.

• Expect a bit of exercise - this place is off the beaten track
• Expect a short walk
• Good enough for Granny - you can step straight out of the car

Price of car parking

• Free
• This should cost you under a fiver for a days parking
• Be prepared for pay and display or charges that will total over -5

Urban proximity

This criterion should give you a guide to where the break is located in relation to numbers of other people and facilities. There are five values ranging from:

• More cows than people - go to these breaks if you want to be on your own
• Close to the nightlife - for party animals who want to maximise the hours in the day or those with a shopping addiction

Water quality

The breaks shown on Surfing Genie are only those with exceptional or very good water quality. To be exceptional the beach must have received a European Blue Flag award for water quality or similar National award.

• Good
• Pristine - a Blue Flag beach

Lifeguard

If lifeguards patrol the beach during high summer season, this is indicated with the icon, although Surfing Genie would advise always checking that lifeguards are on duty on the day:

National Trust

The National Trust is the custodian of the land behind many of best breaks in the country and Surfing Genie is keen to support their work protecting our surfing heritage. As members we have free parking at beaches with National Trust car parks.

Activities

In addition to the icons there are two other criteria that can be searched for. These are activities for kids and other activities. Activities for kids rates from 1 (very little) to 3 (lots) of things out of the water that will amuse children. These vary from fun fairs and activity parks through to castles and lighthouses. Other activities is a rating, again 1 - 3 for other things for adults to do out of the water. These vary from top other adventure sports & quality restaurants, through to theatres, museums and galleries.