surfing

NASA: Azerbaijan and the Baku Peninsula; 2004

Around 5.5 million years ago, the modern day continents of Europe and Asia (then Laurasia) finally joined with part of the Gondwana supercontinent. For millions of years, the body of water that lie between them was known as the Tethys Ocean. As this gap closed, the Ocean became the Tethys Sea and finally whay was once an ocean was lifted to form the mightly Himalayas. The residual water from this great Ocean forms the modern day Mediterranean, Black, Caspian and Aral seas. Whilst the Mediterrnanean maintains a tenuous direct passage to the open ocean via the Strait of Gibraltar, the other seas are now totally cut off; ancient reminders of a long forgotten Ocean, we are left to merely speculate on what surfing that Ocean 250 million years ago would have been like.

Surfing the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan is like stepping back in time. with a total surface area of 371,000 square kilometres there is ample space for significant wind swell to develop. These events are uncommon but have been significant enough to sink shipping even in recent times. What you are looking for is a stray sirocco storm system to go spinning out of control across the Med and skip across Turkey to the Caspian. The window for this event is small with Nov-Dec your best bet. Can you honestly think of a more unique surfing experience than spending a northern hemisphere winter hunkered down in a bar in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku waiting for the mother of all storms to turn the Caspian into a swell generating machine. When it happens, hire a Lada and hit the sandy points and bars of the coast just out of town - a unique experience that few of us will ever experience.

Baku sits on an excellent peninsula stretching far into the Caspian, this swell magnet will grant you access to both northern and southern wind swells in the region.

what to pack

Nordelch: Flashlight; 7 January 2005

Pack according to the season, as there may be different temperatures in Azerbajan. A small backpack makes a good carryon bag and will be useful in daily life.  Women: remember to take a good flat pair of shoes.... And for everybody: pair of comfortable walking shoes will be great for walking. Beach clothing & sandals will be useful if you are going in the warm season. All the gear if you plan to camp: a good sleeping bag and tent that are good for very low temp; special gas container u can use for heating food and water; a sturdy backpack or a cargo pack with a good daypack. Invest in a portable water filter or at least take some puri-tabs or boil the water.

Bring plenty of memory for digital cameras and bring plenty of batteries.