Impossibles
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Impossibles is best described as the most technical part of the right-hand point break: you’re racing for maximum speed and the correct line through a fast, hollow wall that sits over shallow reef. The rock shelf can be slippery for entry and exit, and conditions can drift you down the point on bigger swells.
- Extremely hollow and fast right-hand point-break barrels
- Best results with Southwest/South swells and North offshore winds
- Requires advanced expert-level technique and local knowledge
- World-class hollow barrels and fast right-hand point-break wall
- Works best with big Southwest/South swells and offshore North winds
- Can produce very long, high-speed rides on good days
- Very shallow reef/rocks increase injury risk
- Extremely technical and fast section—requires precise take-off timing
- No lifeguards at the break
- Crowds can be heavy on weekends and big swells
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N
- Offshore directions
- N, W, NW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Trade-wind pattern reported; offshore North winds are considered optimal for grooming.
- Reliability
- high during SW swell season
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Also described as moderate-gusts by another source; overall winds are typically steady to moderately gusty.
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Shadow Zones
- High dunes can create slight turbulence near the shore.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Reef — Reef/rocks with sand reported as part of the bottom system.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Huge — Works from around 1.0–1.5 m and can hold up to 4 m+.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky reef entry; navigating a slippery, rocky shelf is required.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Rocky entry with slippery shelf navigation; moderate-to-difficult depending on conditions.
Through the year
Highest during winter swell events and holiday periods; also described as fewer than Supertubes due to difficulty.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Impossibles is the most technical section of the Jeffreys Bay right-hand point break, known for extremely fast, hollow barrels over shallow reef and rocks. It is often the ‘impossible’ section because it demands precise take-off timing, a high line, and expert control.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- SW, S
- Swell Height
- 1–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Also described as best on mid and high tide, and on a rising tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed, high-performance reef point environment.
- Wind Effect
- Clean on North offshore winds; offshore winds from West and Northwest are also described as grooming and holding the barrel.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds massive size and becomes ultra-fast and hollow; often turns into an extremely hard-to-make section.
- Wave Quality
- World class
- Wave Power
- Very powerful — Hollow, fast, and powerful sections; can become extremely fast on big swells.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — World-class hollow barrel potential; aggressive closure when it connects.
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Short — Brief but explosive barrel section; longer rides can occur when sections connect.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Normal length is reported as 50 to 150 m; good days can run 300 to 500 m; some sources quote typical around 150 m and up to 500 m on exceptional days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Impossibles in the full forecast view.
Impossibles wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–14 ktsGusts 25 kts
- Direction
- SSE149°
- Strongest day
- Tue, Oct 2714 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.1–2.2 m8s period
- Temperature
- 14–24 °C
Over the next 7 days, Impossibles is forecast for daytime winds of 2–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Tuesday, October 27 with gusts to 25 kts. The prevailing direction is SSE. Waves run 1.1–2.2 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Shallow coral-encrusted reef
- Sharp rocks
- Exposed rocks and sea urchins on the shelf
- Strong currents / down-the-point drift
- Localism
- Coral
- Sharks
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Spot-level sources report no dedicated rescue presence at the break. Regional emergency response is available via Jeffreys Bay.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital reported as in Humansdorp; general emergency services available in Jeffreys Bay.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Also described as moderate by another source; expect some local resistance in a crowded, high-stakes lineup.
Rules of the spot
Experienced surfers only; local ocean etiquette is strictly enforced in this high-performance zone.
- Not recommended for beginners
- Do not attempt without deep local knowledge of the line and sections
- The section is extremely fast—matching the take-off line and maximum speed is critical.
- Watch entry and exit points carefully; the rock shelf is notoriously slippery.
- Wait for sets at mid-tide to avoid the most dangerous shallow sections.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Jeffreys Bay
- Nearest Town
- Jeffreys Bay
- Parking
- Parking on access roads above the break; also described as public parking lots near the Supertubes park and surrounding streets.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English, Afrikaans, Xhosa
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous guesthouses, surf lodges, and hotels within walking distance in Jeffreys Bay.
- Food & Drink
- Food and drinks available in the area; cafes and restaurants along the main road are described.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surf rentals are available in Jeffreys Bay; high-performance boards/gear may need to be brought.
- Gear Storage
- Available at some surf lodges/guesthouses.
- Gear Repair
- Surfboard repair shops in Jeffreys Bay are reported; high-performance gear is often brought by visitors.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Impossibles?
The best overall months at Impossibles are May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Impossibles?
Impossibles works with N winds. Offshore directions are N, W, NW.
What skill level is Impossibles suitable for?
Impossibles suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.