El Gringo Surf Guide

El Gringo Surf Guide

El Gringo is referred to locally to as the Chilean Pipeline for the shape of the wave. The wave, situated on an outer island one mile or so out to sea, breaks 300 feet from where the public is standing and can reach easily 15 feet-plus, which makes it an impressive arena for surfers and watchers alike. The wave is dangerous, and a cross in honor of a dead surfer is just in front of the spot to remind you of this. Most pros enter this wave with a helmet on; the last section of the wave on small swells sometimes breaks on dry reef.

The entry through the left channel is an experience in itself. You have to stand on a rock in front of the breaking wave, wait for a calm moment, and jump in and paddle like mad to the lineup, duck diving the incoming waves in shallow reef. If you don't feel capable of this feat, just take the long route through the right channel and paddle your way up to the lineup.

The smaller this wave breaks, the more dangerous it gets if you fall badly in the last sections next to the reef. But seeing Gringo break big can take away your will to surf the break. The right (the Chilean Backdoor) will usually accept more size than the left, but the left is the real deal, a steep drop followed by a solid bottom and straight into the tube. Once you master the left, you can score some real tube time. Just be careful not to overshoot and get taken around the island, the tortuga (turtle) rock is just next to where the waves crash on a rounded rock, and it won't let you out of that spot. If you ever fall here and can't fight back the current, you will most likely have to be rescued from this spot.