Winter Surfing on the Oregon Coast

Dave Eveland Surfing at Otter Rock

With the first few in-town snowfalls of the season and winter well on its way, Bend’s snowboarders (Chip included) are filled with glee that they’ll be carving the big white wave of Mt. Bachelor very soon. However, for a few hardcore Oregonians the approach of winter also generates excitement about another, wetter board sport.

“Winter swells on the Oregon coast can be huge with 20' and larger not uncommon,” says Stand Up Paddle Flatwater founder Randall Barna. “It can be pretty dangerous,” says Central Oregon Community College Surf Club president Shelby Merrick. “I don’t recommend it for people who are new to surfing.”

For some though, these conditions are a huge attraction. Take my friend, Dave Eveland (who is a phenomenal personal trainer by the way). Dave relished the “thumping” he received in the “violent mess” of surf at Otter Rock last weekend.  For Dave, winter means ”smaller crowds, bigger waves.” And those aren’t the only positives. “Winter storms have surprisingly mild temperatures while summer winds are surprisingly cold,” says Randall. “Surf spots protected from south winds become favored, the opposite of the summer spots.”

Stand up surfing is fantastic for the infamously chilly Oregon waters, primarily because it's warmer being up out of the water. Randall also points out that “the paddle-out can be longer and more arduous on big winter swells. On a stand up board, you can get out quicker, catch waves earlier, and even catch waves that are in that window between paddle-in and tow-in.”

Many SUP converts say stand up surfing is even more fun than regular surfing. “To me, surfing stand up is the funnest thing I’ve ever done,” says longtime surfer and SUPBend team rider Tom Burke. “It’s the visuals, seeing everything in the water below you. Also, once you develop the skill to stay standing between waves, it’s a more constant experience.” In case you’re wondering, Tom’s personal record for continuous surfing without falling off or sitting or lying down on his board, is 32 waves.

Listen to Gerry Lopez and Laird Hamilton talk about the coolness of the non-stop stand up surfing experience:

For those who want to try stand up paddle (SUP) surfing, Stand Up Paddle Bend offers a wide range of SUP surfboards for both purchase and rental. 

Stand Up Paddle Bend is also a great place for surfers to pick up staples like wax, earplugs, and booties here in town. “When I get to the coast, I want to maximize wave-time, not spend it buying stuff, so being able to pick up what I need before I go is super-convenient,” says Shelby. “Also, if I already have everything I need, I’m open to go somewhere where there might not be a shop.”

A tip from Randall: "I recommend a slightly bigger board for Oregon surf than you'd use in non-wetsuit conditions. You weigh more with a wet-wetsuit - easily 30 pounds. Also, with a bigger board you fall in less."

For more information about surfing the Oregon Coast, visit the Oregon Surf Guide.

Happy Thanksgiving to our Fantastic SUP Community!
Please be sure to check out our Stand Up Paddle Gift Guide - 
From stocking stuffers to show stoppers, you'll find SUPer gifts for everyone on your list!

We love hearing from you. Why do you like stand up surfing? If you were a prone surfer before, were you skeptical about SUP at first? What won you over? Any Oregon winter surf stories to share?

Nelscott Reef Big Wave Surf Contest: Randall’s Recap

The 6th Annual Nelcott Reef Big Wave Classic took place on Tuesday, November 2nd in Lincoln City, Oregon. For the second year, it was a paddle-in event rather than a tow-in event. For the first year, it included a women’s division - the first women's big wave event. One of the stops on the Big Wave World Tour, this year’s event was held in the biggest conditions ever surfed at Nelscott Reef. Waves were 40 foot plus! Kohl Christensen took first place in the men’s division, and Kealla Kennelly won the women’s division.

Randall’s Recap

Yesterday I saw the raw power of nature like never before. The Nelscott Reef 2010 big wave event erupted the biggest waves ever surfed in Oregon. Ron Hill and I got there just as they were launching the first sleds and it was pandemonium. The surge was so high it was picking up those logs that are left up top of the sand (since the last huge storm) and pushing them all around the beach like toothpicks.

The guys in the first sled to go out were very brave and garnered a new level of respect as watermen and sled operators. The walls of whitewater were so high and there were so few opportunities to get out that watching the sleds was as interesting as watching the surfing.

The waves were 40’+ and indescribable. The weather was perfect and comfortable in T-shirts. Light offshore winds made a spindrift off the top of the waves that was as high as the waves were tall. When the break exploded, it was as high as both!

Once the surfers were out there they paddled in to catch the waves. We were amazed that they managed to do this, the skill level unreal! Most of the drops were totally vertical. Positioning and wave selection were critical. Fewer waves were ridden than in a tow-in contest but each ride got more respect. Most of the boards where rhino-guns 10' to 11' with big, thick stringers and multiple fin combinations.

The peak to the south of the contest zone was A-frame and even bigger. Several non-contest tow-in crews were working it and also put on a good show.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to witness such an epic day!

Aloha,

Randall Barna

Check out this video of Big Wave World Tour Director Gary Linden talking about the Nelscott Reef Event:

Stand Up Paddle Flatwater carries the best stand up paddle surfboards on the market!

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Kids Take Up Stand Up!

Stand Up Paddling (SUP) is becoming the sport of choice for a rapidly growing number of kids and teens. Not only does SUP help young people develop strength, balance, coordination, and water skills, it’s also an increasingly lucrative competitive sport. 15-year-old Slater Trout took home $2500 in prize money for placing third in the elite race at this year’s Battle of the Paddle in Dana Point, California. Industry insiders predict that SUP will soon become an Olympic sport.

The most appealing aspect of SUP for kids however, is the fun factor. “My favorite thing is when the water is like glass and you can see things underneath you,” says 10-year old Grace Towle who paddles regularly in California's San Francisco Bay. Towle also appreciates the cross training value of SUP. “It helps me develop arm and belly strength,” she says. “I can use those in swimming, rock climbing, and horseback riding.”

7-year old Amanda Kardol who paddles regularly in the Columbia Gorge enjoys being able to spend time on the water without coming in contact with river reeds, which she isn’t a fan of. “I feel safe on my board. I can float all alone up there without touching the green stuff,” she says. Amanda’s 5-year old sister Olivia hasn’t started stand up paddling herself but says she loves riding along on the nose of her mom's board.

Stand Up Paddle Flatwater carries several great kids' SUP boards. Any little SUPer would be thrilled to find one under the tree this year!

Besides Stand Up Paddle Journal Junior of the Year Slater Trout, other up and coming SUPer stars include:

17-year old Zane Schweitzer of Maui, a windsurfer who has finished impressively in several international SUP surf and race events.

15-year old Connor Baxter, also of Maui, winner of the 2010 Duke Kahanamoku OceanFest.

17-year old Kai Lenny, winner of the 2010 Stand Up World Tour.

12-year old Riggs Napoleon, the youngest person to cross the Molokai channel on a stand up paddle board (or any non-motorized watercraft).

17-year old Kialoa team rider Bobbie Cooper of Britain.

17-year old SUPBend team rider Isabella Barna who consistently finishes among the top in Pacific Northwest SUP events.

Check out this video of prominent young British SUP athlete Bobbie Cooper with her Kialoa Pipes Paddle:

Check out this video of Riggs Napoleon, mid-way through the 2010 Molokai 2 Oahu Paddle Race:

To help your child develop balance, strength, coordination and water skills through SUP, check out Stand Up Paddle Flatwater's excellent ramge of kids' stand up paddle boards.