Unstad

Vestvågøy (Lofoten) · Norway · Norway

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Unstad (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/unstad.

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A small bay at the end of the road on Vestvågøy, under steep mountains, and the home of Arctic surfing. A long, fast left point breaks at the south side of the bay, a hollow right breaks over cobbles on the north side, and shifty sand peaks in the middle suit learners on small summer days.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Point break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or step-up for the points; a longboard in the middle on small days.

When it works

✓ A west-north-west swell with an east wind, around low to mid tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Onshore north-west gales, and summer flat spells.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • rips
  • currents

Best months

January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December

Local tips

The points are for experienced surfers; the right can be heavy and the left gets rippy. Don't drop in: there is a small, tight line-up. Take all your trash home. Water is about 4–6 °C in winter and 10–14 °C in summer: a 6/5 hooded wetsuit with 7 mm boots and gloves in winter.

Getting there

Drive about 25 minutes from Leknes to the end of the road at Unstad.

History

People have surfed at Unstad since the 1960s, and it became known among Norwegian surfers in the 1980s.

Travel notes

How often it works
Lofoten faces the open Norwegian Sea. Autumn and winter storms bring wind swell from the north and west and the odd long south-west swell; summer is often small or flat. Daylight is short or absent from late November to mid January. Unstad picks up even small swells, so it is the most consistent spot in Lofoten.
Crowd and vibe
Small line-up that can feel crowded on good days; the vibe is friendly if you respect the locals.
Camping and vans
Eggum Outfield Camping is about 5 km away by air (longer by road); Unstad Arctic Surf has cabins and lodges at the beach. Nearest campsite about 5 km away.
Facilities
Unstad Arctic Surf: lodging, café and restaurant, rental, surf school and sauna.
Water quality
No bathing-water results were found: Norway is not in the European Environment Agency bathing-water data, and no local results for this beach turned up.

Ideal conditions

Swell
W–NNW best, SW–N works
Size
1.2–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 4 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 11 s
Wind
Offshore NE–SE; handles onshore up to 15 km/h
Tide
low, mid best
Faces
WNW (290°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

In the guides

Nearby spots

All spots in Norway · All spots

Sources