Praa Sands.

Praa Sands is a mile-long sandy beach in Mount's Bay, south Cornwall, facing broadly southwest to pick up Atlantic swell wrapping into the bay. The break is a proper beach break: shifting peaks that can produce fast, hollow lefts and rights across the length of the beach, with a more defined right tendency at the western headland on optimal SW lines. The wave runs over clean sand, so the bottom itself is forgiving, but the wave behaviour is not - it pitches quickly and rewards decisive surfing. Low to mid tide is the window; as the water fills in, the beach steepens and the break compresses into a heavy shore dump that is unpleasant to deal with. Below mid tide the waves are at their most shapely and hollow. The best conditions arrive on solid winter Atlantic swells from the southwest, with a NE wind holding the face clean. Summer is largely flat. When Praa fires it draws a significant crowd - multiple peaks help spread the load, but expect competition at the best banks. Rips are the primary hazard, capable of running hard across the full beach width during larger swells; RNLI rescues have been recorded here. Rocks at both ends add another dimension to watch. Entry is straightforward via the western car park and slipway, or coast-path steps at the eastern end.

Fast a-frames over shifting sand that tube when the banks and tide align.