Nīas (Indonesian: Pulau Nias, Nias language: Tanö Niha) is an island off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Nias (Kepulauan Nias) is also the name of the archipelago, containing the Hinako archipelago.
Nias Island covers an area of 5,121.3 km² (1,977.3 sq mi) (including minor offshore islands). It is mostly a lowland area rising to around 800 m (2,600 ft) above sea level. There were 756,762 inhabitants on the island (including minor offshore islands) at the 2010 Census.

Nias is an internationally famous surfing destination. The best known surfing area is Sorake Bay, close to the town of Teluk Dalam, on the southern tip. Enclosed by the beaches of Lagundri and Sorake, the bay has both left and right-hand breaks. As they wait for waves, surfers can often see sea turtles swimming below. There are also two consistent, world-class waves in the nearby Hinako Islands, Asu and Bawa. Many lesser-known, high-quality surf spots with low crowds await adventurous travelers.
Nias was part of the famous Hippie trail of the 1960s, particularly traveled by surfers, which led to Bali. Some claim that the waves at the southern beach of Sorake are better than the ones in Maui. It has been the site of several international surfing competitions in the past, particularly before the 1998 Indonesian Reformation Movement.
Despite the storied history of surfing in Nias, international surfing in Nias has slowed down especially (but not specifically) due to the recent earthquakes.The situation is slowly changing, however.
 This Whice one videoin Nias.

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Samoa has some of the most secluded and pristine beaches in the South Pacific - long stretches of palm-fringed, powder-white sand lapped by turquoise lagoons - just perfect for a beach holiday or romantic getaway.a

Many beaches boast a beachfront resort while others host a traditional fale (typically owned by the nearest fishing village).

Alternatively, hire a car and discover your own secluded beach. Many are privately owned so don't be surprised if you are asked to contribute a small 'fee' to use the beach - usually STD2 to STD5. Discover your best honeymoon beach in Samoa from this selection:

Lalomanu Beach (Upolu) - This narrow stretch of powder-white sand is considered one of the best beaches in the South Pacific. Pick a spot to sunbathe on the soft sand and enjoy views across the lagoon to four, small, uninhabited islands. Relax in the shade of swaying palm trees, swim or snorkel the calm, clear waters of the turquoise lagoon and when you feel hungry, enjoy fresh seafood snacks from one of the beachside restaurants.

Lalomanu Beach is located in southeast Upolu among a string of fabulous beaches that lie on the edge of a beautiful lagoon. Come for the day or stay longer at one of the beachside fales, such as Taufua Beach Fales at Lalomanu village.

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Equipment !

Surfing can be done on various equipment, including surfboards, longboards, Stand Up Paddle boards (SUP's) , bodyboards, wave skis, skimboards, kneeboards, surf mats and macca's trays.

Surfboards were originally made of solid wood and were large and heavy (often up to 12 feet (3.7 m) long and 100 pounds (45 kg)). Lighter balsa wood surfboards (first made in the late 1940s and early 1950s) were a significant improvement, not only in portability, but also in increasing maneuverability.

Most modern surfboards are made of polyurethane foam (PU), with one or more wooden strips or "stringers", fiberglass cloth, and polyester resin. An emerging board material is epoxy (EPS) which is stronger and lighter than traditional fiberglass. Even newer designs incorporate materials such as carbon fiber and variable-flex composites.

Since epoxy surfboards are lighter, they will float better than a fiberglass board of similar size, shape and thickness. This makes them easier to paddle and faster in the water. However, a common complaint of EPS boards is that they do not provide as much feedback as a traditional fiberglass board. For this reason, many advanced surfers prefer that their surfboards be made from fiberglass.

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Surfing is a surface water sport in which a person (the surfer) rides a board (the surfboard) on the crest of a wave as it carries the surfer towards the shore. A variation, bodysurfing, entails the use of no board and is considered by some the purest form of surfing (see separate entry for Bodysurfing).

Two major subdivisions within stand-up surfing are longboarding and shortboarding, reflecting differences in surfboard design, including surfboard length and riding style.

In tow-in surfing (most often, but not exclusively, associated with big wave surfing), a motorized water vehicle, such as a personal watercraft, tows the surfer into the wave front, helping the surfer match a large wave's higher speed, a speed that is generally, but not exclusively, a speed that a self-propelled surfer cannot match.

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