Quicksilver

Every famous right has a left nobody talks about. On the Cloud 9 reef that left is Quicksilver, breaking off the same coral complex as the main peak, a short paddle from the crowd, and on the right day a genuinely fun wave. It is shorter, less hollow and less consistent than Cloud 9, and that is exactly why it is worth knowing about: when the right is a car park, the left is often half empty.

The wave

Quicksilver is a short left-hand reef break. The takeoff is steep-ish and quick, then the wave opens into a wall that lets you set a line and do a turn or two before it runs into shallower reef and closes out. On a bigger, longer period swell it can get hollow through the first section. Most of the time it is a punchy, fast wall rather than a barrel.

Because it breaks off the same reef as Cloud 9, the bottom is live coral and it is shallow. The wave is not as heavy as its neighbour, but the consequences of falling badly are the same. Treat it with the respect you would give the main peak, just with more room to breathe.

When it works

Tide. Mid to high. Like the rest of the Cloud 9 reef, Quicksilver needs water on it. At low tide the reef here is very exposed, the wave gets fast and shallow, and the risk goes up a lot for very little reward.

Swell. East to northeast swell with some period behind it, ten seconds and up. Quicksilver needs more size than the right to break properly, which is why it can look flat on a day when Cloud 9 is working. Local surfers will tell you it lights up when the swell has a bit more east in it; we would not promise that, but it matches what we see from the tower. Three to five foot is the range where it is at its best.

Wind. The southwest habagat is offshore here, as it is on the whole General Luna coast. The left tends to be a little more exposed to any north in the wind than the right, so it is best on genuinely calm mornings.

Season. August to November, when the swell is consistent enough for the left to break regularly. Outside the season it works on the bigger days only. Have a look at the surf forecast and then check it in person, because this is a wave that often looks better or worse than the numbers suggest.

Who it suits

Quicksilver is a solid intermediate to advanced wave. You should already be comfortable taking off on a reef, paddling in a current, and reading a shifting peak without a crowd to show you where to sit. Goofy-footers who have been watching Cloud 9 with mild envy will appreciate it. Beginners and early intermediates should not be here; Jacking Horse is a hundred metres away and the same swell will be fun there.

Advanced surfers use it as a second option: a few waves on the left when the right is packed, or a warm-up before paddling over to the main peak. See the spot overview for how it fits in with the rest of the coast.

Getting there and getting in

Head to the Cloud 9 boardwalk at the end of Tourism Road in General Luna. Paddle out from the end of the boardwalk as you would for the right, then work your way across to the left side of the reef. Watch a set or two from the tower first and mark where the left is standing up; the takeoff zone is smaller and less obvious than the right, and it moves with the tide. Reef booties are a good idea if you plan to cross any of the reef flat on foot.

We offer free pick-up from any hotel in General Luna for guided sessions, and a scooter with a surf rack from our motorbike rental gets you there in minutes.

Board choice

A standard shortboard on most days, or a fish or wider shortboard when the swell is smaller and you want more paddle power for the shorter ride. When it has size and period, ride whatever you would take out at Cloud 9. Our rental fleet has shortboards from 5'7" to 6'7" in a range of volumes, and we will match you to the swell on the morning rather than the board you had in mind.

Etiquette and hazards

The lineup is smaller and quieter than Cloud 9, so etiquette matters more, not less. Take turns, do not paddle straight to the inside, and remember that the locals who surf this left regularly know exactly where it breaks. Say hello.

Hazards are the same as the main peak: shallow live coral, a current that runs along the reef, and sets that shift. Fall flat, never dive head first, and keep your hands off the reef. Clean any cut properly the same day. During the Philippines Pro, 31 October to 10 November, check the marked contest area before paddling out, because the left sits close to it.

If you would like a local in the water with you for your first session on the Cloud 9 reef, our surf school runs guided sessions for intermediate and advanced surfers. Message us on WhatsApp with your level and dates and we will tell you honestly whether the left is the right call for you.