Iceland’s Best Surf Spot Is Currently Being Destroyed

“The destruction of Icelands best surfing wave started this morning in Þorlákshöfn,” wrote Arctic Surfers, the Instagram account behind an Icelandic surf tour operation. “Come together, rise up.”

What’s the wave like?

“The Thorlakshofn point break is the only consistent surf spot we have in Iceland,” wrote Steinarr Lár, Chairman of the Icelandic Surfing association. “It is much like Trestles in San Clemente in the sense that it breaks both right and left. The right breaks for up to 300 yards on good days. The bottom there consists of round boulders that groom the wave. This is pretty special as most of our coastline is recent lava which is very rough and does not produce waves.”

But Icelandic surfers continue to fight, despite the construction already underway. Another Instagram account, dedicated to all things outdoors, especially in the water, had this call to arms:

“We wanted to share why we will continue to fight for the protection of the wave at þorlákshöfn in southern Iceland. All government approvals have been given and the wave could be covered under rocks any moment now.

“We all ask for sustainable development. This public recreation area is perfect, it delivers surf most days of the year and has zero maintenance cost. All economic benefit it provides to the local community forever, is pure profit. There is zero purpose to this landfill. The shipping company named as using it denies it is for them. Nobody has an answer as to why and the officials have shown they just want to destroy this wave at all costs.”

For what it’s worth, there’s a petition to fight against this development. But perhaps it’s too late.