Off-the-Wall

Surf Guide

As close to a hoax as any famous wave of the past 30 years, Off-The-Wall (OTW) is a single slab of reef just to the west of Backdoor and Pipeline. Off-The-Wall can have its golden moments. OTW is separated from the Backdoor reef by a narrow, deep crevice, which blocks some swells from closing out across both breaks. The OTW reef is largely flat lava, with a mound of shallower reef near its northern edge. It is best in a slightly fractured, overhead NW swell. It's a wedging right, with some smaller lefts peeling back toward Backdoor. On precisely the right wave, OTW will produce a beautiful almond-shaped barrel; many waves will be caught and ridden to closeout point by the hopeful surfer before that ideal one is found.

Ability Level

Advanced

BegIntAdv

Experts only.

Local Vibe

Doable

WelcomingIntimidating

Humility and respect a must.

Crowd Factor

Moderate

MellowHeavy

Hit or miss, but count on at least a handful of surfers out when breaking

Spot Rating

Fun

PoorPerfect

Hollow and fast when it's on.

Shoulder Burn

Light

LightExhausting

Breaks close in and the rides are not super long.

Water Quality

Clean

CleanDirty

Clean. Beautiful, clear, blue water.

Ideal Surf Conditions

Swell Direction

NW to N

Wind

Calm or light to moderate ENE to S.

Surf Height

Head high-2X overhead

Tide

Medium