Hoddevik – A Love Affair

Some places get you in a special way. I think I fell in love with Hoddevik because I caught my first green wave here. Or maybe because when I arrived the first time it was so magical, we have been driving all night and arrived at dawn, when the early rays of sun were kissing the steep faces of the mountains and the cold, dark blue surface of the Northern ocean. Or maybe I fell in love with this place because of the people I have met here, like Espen and Mathilde and their daughter Alvilde. Julia and Olof and the crew at Stad surfing. Anne the artist and eco warrior, Anna-Stina who choose to move to Hoddevik because of her love for the ocean and mountains.

Now I’ve managed to pass on the love for Hoddevik to my daughter Maja and she has caught her first green wave here and feels the stoke. And she will be back during the summer to work at the Café Strandro to get to surf and meet amazing people who chooses to spend the endless summer evenings in this remote place isolated from the world outside.

Hoddevik is just a small bay with a dozen of houses scattered in the landscape. A narrow stretch of land surrounded by majestic mountains and the ocean. Blessed by the ancient Nordic gods of Valhalla with an own wave generator. And here we are, cold water surfers searching for some chilled and relaxed line ups with whom to share some mind freeing waves.

The Hoddevik Surf Festival is a tradition held at end of May to kick off the summer season and to share some good vibes at the Lapoint Surfcamps. This year was a special one hosting a concert with Jonah Lake, a great surfer and musician, the voice and rhythm of the Swedish surf community. And a festival I shared with my daughter and great friends. And by the way, Jonah not only entertain us at the dinner party, he also won the surf comp held during the day.

As I write these words I’ve already planned my next trip to Hoddevik. Despite the fact that it´s a 12 hour drive from my home in Gothenburg, the Hoddevik experience is worth it. It’s like surfing at the end of the world.

Hoddevik in a Nutshell

Location: Hoddevik is situated on the west coast of Norway, in the peninsula Stadlandet where probably some of the best surf in Norway is to be found. Southwest of Ålesund and North of Bergen.

How to get there: By car from Oslo is a trip of around 8-9 hours, take the E6 north bound to Otta, turn left Rv15 to Stryn, after passing Stryn follow RV620 and then 632 and follow the signs Hoddevik. You can also fly to Bergen or Stavanger and catch a ferry.

Stay: Lapoint offers 2 alternatives. Lapoint Insikten for the younger surfer who really want the social atmosphere and play around on the skateramp, trampoline and yard. Or  Lapoint Utsikten for the slightly older more relaxed surfer, a smaller cabin with an epic terrace overlooking the bay and sauna to round up in after those cold days.

Stad Surfing offers B&B, surf leasons, surf shop and in the same house you’ll find Café Strandro, sandwiches, pizza, waffles and cakes, and the best coffee in the bay.

Akka Surf offers stay in some amazing nice decorated rooms and the chance to learn more about the environment.

Ervik Surf Shop in the next valley offers stay in a really nice flat, surf shop, surf school and some good times talking to the owners.

Some quick questions to Sebastian, grounding father of Lapoint Surfcamps

When did you start to surf at Hoddevik? • First time I was here was in 2001, one of Norway’s legends in surf Eyvind Torgersen told me about the place. Eyvind and Baard Bernhardsen introduced me to surf, and they were also the ones that discovered the spot at Hoddevika.

When did Lapoint establish the camp there? • We opened the camp in 2007 and later the villa Utsikten.

What’s the best with Hoddevik? • You feel like you are in another planet, there in the valley you can relax completely. It’s awesome to look around and contemplate the mountains, the landscape, the lakes and the sea, it’s epic.

When does the swell work best? • Spring time is my favourite, great waves in combo with sparkling sun and snow-covered mountains, amazing.

What should you bring in your quiver? • A good shortboard for the pumping fall/winter waves, a groveler with some volume for spring and a longboard for those summer peelers.

In short, a magical place that you should visit.