Surfing
Surfing
Appy days: 7 extremely downloadable apps for surfers
To separate the serious sea tech from the digital seaweed, we’ve done a deep dive and surfaced with seven of the best apps for surfers.
1. WSL app: Your surf all-rounder
Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
2. WillyWeather: Weather in your pocket
There are loads of weather apps out there, so chances are there’s one specifically optimised to predict local conditions in your hood. For Australians, we have it on good authority that WillyWeather is the most reliable weather app down under. Its simple, no-fuss interface packs in all the wind and tide information you’ll need to determine whether to suit up or stay in bed.
Tip: If you live outside Australia, or are curious about surf conditions around the world, NOAA Ocean Buoys is another great resource for live swell heights and ocean conditions. Word is that it’s the surf report app of choice many pros too.
Julian Wilson gets airborne at Bells, 2016.
© Red Bull Content Pool
Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
3. True Surf: Surf anywhere
Fancy some barrels in the bathroom? It’s now possible thanks to True Surf – a slick, surprisingly realistic surfing game that more than scratches the itch for those craving a few virtual waves. The graphics and physics feel solid, and there are heaps of famous breaks for your fingers to carve up, making this easily the most enjoyable surfing game on the market.
Developers keep updating the game with new waves and tweaks to make this one of the funner mobile surfing games out there!
Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
4. Coastalwatch: Surf Reports, forecasts and livestreams
Coastalwatch provides a plethora of information for all levels of surfers. It spits out surf reports, forecasts, and live-streaming surf cams for over 300 beaches around the country. It offers detailed information about wave height, direction, period, wind conditions, and tides. The app also features surf news, videos, and a community section to connect with other surfers.
Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
5. Dorsal Shark Reports: For dodging sharks
The one app we hope you never have to use. That’s the sell from Dorsal, a crowd-sourced platform that logs sharks sightings and encounters on beaches in the USA, Hawaii and Australia. Dorsal’s data set combine the observations of over 200,000 surfers with information from aerial surveillance partners and official marine reporting to create a detailed (but definitely not definitive!) map of shark activity in coastal waters.
Of course it's not the one you want to get a notification for just before you dive into the surf but with a very low, but real risk of running into a finned friend why wouldn't you have this one hand.
Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
Mick Fanning surfs at Bells Beach in 2016.
© Red Bull Content Pool
6. Dawn Patrol: Strava for surfers
If you surf to escape the distractions of technology, this probably isn’t the app for you. But if you’re the type of person who can’t run around the block without letting the world know, or just love collecting data, the feature-filled Dawn Patrol app turns your smart-watch into a pretty handy surf tracker.
From counting your waves and calculating your top speed and distance, to measuring your heart-rate and calories, it’s a cool way to challenge yourself, or settle any disputes over who had the wave of the day.
Get it on the App Store.
7. Red Bull TV: Your ultimate surf content companion
Red Bull TV
© Red Bull TV
Packed with hours of surf content, including films like Modern Collective and Paradise Lost, the Red Bull TV app is lets you stream all the live and on-demand sport you can handle, to any device you can dream of.
And best of all, it’s completely free! If you’re hungry for surfing films, documentaries and events – this is one app you’ll want stuffed in your boardbag.
Get it here
