Best Surfing Videos on YouTube (That Will Make You Want to Paddle Out in 2026)
Are you looking for the best surfing videos on YouTube to inspire your next surf trip?
Some YouTube Channels offer great wave films. Others change how you see surfing.
Whether you’re stuck at work, planning your next surf trip, or waiting for a swell to fill in, the right surf video can completely reset your mindset. It can remind you why you started. Why you paddle out. Why you keep chasing it.
Here’s my top picks:
1. Ben Gravy on Slushy Waves
What’s more to say about this guy? Just watch him ride those slushy frozen waves.
This video shows:
- @bengravyy & @jverni_ surfing frozen waves
- How do they prepare for surfing frozen waves
It’s not flashy editing. It’s just a unique experince not many of us will get to experince.
Watch this and tell me if you’d jump in.
2. Sea Nicaragua Travel
This video made me want to visit Nicaragua so badly.
You’ll see:
- Epic barrels
- Perfect offshore days
- Raw energy and personality
A full disclaimer, they make it look so much easier. I had a tough time getting into barrels like that when I was surfing in Nicaragua.
But it’s a great practice.
3. Now Now Media- Changing Tempo
Starring Mikey February, this video has style written all over it.
Just watching him ride these waves effortlessly makes you want to jump out of your seat and paddle out on a twenny. But then you realize you’re not Mikey.
What to expect:
- Simplicity
- Exploration
- Pure travel spirit
If you’re into surf travel, this is required watching.
4. Needessentials- Torren Martyn, ‘Calypte
This is a video that takes you on a voyage on ‘Calypte, the sailboat Torren sails around Singapore, Malaysia, and eventually Indonesia.
You’ll see:
- Twin fin flow
- Long, hollow Indonesian waves
- Minimal talking, maximum style
It’s the kind of video that makes you rethink your board choice and your approach to surfing.
Less aggression. More flow.
5. Patagonia– The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez
This one’s different. The incredible story of one of the greatest in the history of the surfing world.
It takes you through
- How Garry became an icon
- The discovery of one of the greatest waves on earth
- Spirituality in surfing & life
It’s a real mind-opening video, and at one point makes you go, “Ha, I want to do that!”
6. Surfline- Maps To Nowhere
Maps to Nowhere is a series in which some of the world’s greatest surfers are taken to a random place on the planet.
You can expect:
- Surf trips with no background story of the place
- Epic barrels
- Real travel exploration
This is honestly my dream job scenario in a video. All a surfer want is some high quality waves with no one around.
And this is what this series is all about.
What makes these the best surfing videos on YouTube?
It’s not just wave quality.
The best surfing videos usually have one of these:
- A strong sense of place
- Personality
- Storytelling
- Or a progression you can relate to
Big waves are impressive.
But emotion is what makes you replay a video.
Conclusion
The best surfing videos on YouTube aren’t always the most viewed ones.
They’re the ones that make you eager to go on a surf trip, change the way you look at surfing, or remind you why surfing is more than just a sport.
Truth is, there are many more videos to add to this list. And I will be adding to it as I watch more epic videos.
My advice?
Create a playlist. Save the ones that fire you up.
Watch them before a session. Not after.
