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Ifafa Pipes 72.9
#2348 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇿🇦 South Africa · KwaZulu-Natal · near Port Shepstone
Works almost every day, wind is the enemy here, no off season.
Works all yearAdvanced
Surf score72.9 /100
Surfable days99% of the year
Clean days8% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell39% period 11 s+
Typical size2.1 m 6.8 ft median
Water24°C a rash vest or 2 mm
Best time to surf Ifafa Pipes
The best time to surf Ifafa Pipes is April, May, July. It rarely works. In July the water sits around 22°C, so pack a rash vest or 2 mm, and the typical wave is 2.1 m. The nearest airport is DUR (57 km) and the nearest town is Port Shepstone (39 km).
| Month | Surfable | Clean | Size | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 100% | 4% | 2.1 m | 25°C | boardies |
| Feb | 100% | 6% | 2.0 m | 26°C | boardies |
| Mar | 100% | 8% | 1.9 m | 26°C | boardies |
| Apr | 98% | 15% | 2.1 m | 25°C | boardies |
| May | 99% | 16% | 2.0 m | 24°C | vest |
| Jun | 99% | 11% | 2.0 m | 23°C | vest |
| Jul | 95% | 21% | 2.1 m | 22°C | vest |
| Aug | 94% | 11% | 2.4 m | 21°C | 2mm |
| Sep | 100% | 2% | 2.2 m | 22°C | 2mm |
| Oct | 100% | 5% | 2.3 m | 22°C | vest |
| Nov | 99% | 3% | 2.0 m | 23°C | vest |
| Dec | 99% | 4% | 2.0 m | 24°C | vest |
Why 72.9
Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.
Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
4.5
Groundswell 12%
7.6
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
6.7
Water comfort 10%
7.7
Access 10%
8.6
The detail
Faces 115° with 50% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 22% of days. Mean peak period 10.3 s. Days over 3 m: 9%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 0%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates -30.425, 30.673 (OpenStreetMap).
Spots nearby
Donkey Kong Island🇿🇦 South Africa · score 75.6Scottburgh🇿🇦 South Africa · score 74.0Black Rock🇿🇦 South Africa · score 74.1Green Point🇿🇦 South Africa · score 68.9
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