Rams Right and Lazy Left: A Midigama Surf Guide

2 min read

Surfboards leaning against the wall of Surfing Life Guest House in the garden

From our archive. First published in 2014. Rooms, prices and services may have changed since, so message us for current details.

Midigama is one of the south coast’s best-loved surf villages, with a run of reef breaks along a short stretch of coast. From Surfing Life in Gurubebila, it’s about five minutes by tuk-tuk. Two of its waves are the reason many experienced surfers come here: Rams Right and Lazy Left.

Rams Right

Rams is a right-hand reef break. It’s quick, punchy and rewarding when it’s on, but it breaks over shallow reef and doesn’t forgive mistakes.

  • Who it suits: confident intermediate and advanced surfers.
  • What to expect: a fast take-off and a short, powerful ride. On the right swell there are sections that open up nicely.
  • Watch out for: shallow reef on the inside, especially at lower tides. Wear reef boots and go in with a plan for getting out.

Lazy Left

As the name suggests, Lazy Left is the friendlier of the two. It’s a mellow left-hander that peels along the reef and gives longer, easier rides.

  • Who it suits: intermediate surfers, and improving surfers ready to try their first reef wave with some guidance.
  • What to expect: a softer wave with time to set up your turns.
  • Watch out for: crowds on good days. It’s popular for a reason.

Tips for a good session

  1. Go early. Mornings usually bring cleaner conditions and fewer people.
  2. Check the tide. Both breaks change a lot with the tide. Ask a local before you paddle out.
  3. Take the channel. Paddle out where the waves aren’t breaking, not through the impact zone.
  4. Be patient in the line-up. Midigama has a strong local surf community. Respect goes a long way.
  5. Bring the right board. Something with a bit more performance is better than a big soft-top here.

Make Surfing Life your base

A lot of our guests surf the Gurubebila reefs at dawn and Midigama in the afternoon, or the other way round, depending on the wind. We’re happy to point you to the best option each morning, and a tuk-tuk is always easy to find.

If you’re still building up to reef surfing, start with our local reef breaks guide. You can also spend a few days on the beginner waves at Weligama first.

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