Oregon Surf

[Señor Surf]

I longboard in SC where the waves are small, but the water is warm and the beaches are sandy. My in-laws live in the Portland, OR area. I have been thinking about trying to surf while visiting family out there, but I've heard stories of kids dying on the rocks, horrible rips, etc. How safe is it to surf the Oregon Coast? Where are some good spots? Is it tide dependent? When I check the forecasts it is always big, but hardly ever clean. Is that pretty much the way it is? Worth my time? Thanks.

[fecalposition]

Well its different depending on the time of year; winter is always pretty big, and summer can be clean but small. Fall is a good time of year cause its a little of both.
You know i cant really give out good spots, your best bet is to check forecasts and wannasurf.com - its a really good surf atlas.

Just so you know, Oregon has some pretty localized spots. So if you go you be best to check out the scene and find out what its like.'

Yeah there are rips in oregon, especially in open ocean spots. Big dangers include driftwood and sharks. But, if you want to play, you gotta pay. do your reading bro, mahallo

[MadIrish77]

Look into driving up to Westport, WA also. Need a 4/5/6 wetty cuz water is always 55 degrees... Piss on that localized mumbo jumbo surf or sponge where u want!

[xbodyboardx]

Hi. Ecola State Park ("Indian Head") is really mellow, quite pretty, and has terrible surfers, so it would be a safe place to check out. The rip is not bad - in fact, you will wish there were more rip to help you get to the outside!
http://www.oregonsurf.com/html/surfspots_north.html

[Señor Surf]

Hi. Ecola State Park ("Indian Head") is really mellow, quite pretty, and has terrible surfers, so it would be a safe place to check out. The rip is not bad - in fact, you will wish there were more rip to help you get to the outside!
http://www.oregonsurf.com/html/surfspots_north.html
Sounds like a great place to start. Thanks.

[Señor Surf]

Well its different depending on the time of year; winter is always pretty big, and summer can be clean but small. Fall is a good time of year cause its a little of both.
You know i cant really give out good spots, your best bet is to check forecasts and wannasurf.com - its a really good surf atlas.

Just so you know, Oregon has some pretty localized spots. So if you go you be best to check out the scene and find out what its like.'

Yeah there are rips in oregon, especially in open ocean spots. Big dangers include driftwood and sharks. But, if you want to play, you gotta pay. do your reading bro, mahallo
I don't mean any disrespect, but what places are localized? I've only been to the beach where my in-laws took us, but I've never even seen a surfboard in OR..

[Señor Surf]

Hi. Ecola State Park ("Indian Head") is really mellow, quite pretty, and has terrible surfers, so it would be a safe place to check out. The rip is not bad - in fact, you will wish there were more rip to help you get to the outside!
http://www.oregonsurf.com/html/surfspots_north.html
Otter Rock looks like a good spot. I don't want to ride anything too big at a break that I am not familiar with. Thanks for the website.

[meteoscott]

I surf in SC and I am out in Oregon this week. Surfed "needles" today, waist-shoulder long period swell with semi-glassy conditions. Kind of weak and mushy, but some nice sets rolled in as the tide sucked out. Water temp is in the mid 50's so I rented a 4/3. I guess a 3/2 would of been ok. No bad rips or anything. Just some pretty aggressive surfers. Longboarders were getting the best rides.

[meteoscott]

oh yeah, a couple of rock hazards, but pretty easy to avoid...

[Swellinfo]

hey scott,

if you dont mind, post a report or two from oregeon, so I can validate the forecasts for out there. I haven't had a lot of feedback from out there, so any input is helpful.

[fecalposition]

Oh yeah, about being localized; im not saying stay away. I say surf where you want. Im just telling you its a hazard sorta.

Im from seattle and surf oregon a few weeks back and surfed huntington this spring too. word

[meteoscott]

Checked out Oswald West State Park, OR today. Hiked down to the beach break around 2PM, 5-6 people out. Started out, waist-chest, long period mush with semi-glassy conditions with some fun long lines. Waves picked up around 3PM in the chest-shoulder range with a larger sneaker showing up in the head range. By 4PM, 15 or so peeps showed up. The waves became less consistent, but still held its size. Some of the best surf I have had in a long long time. The locals thought it was only "so so". Fun stuff...

[Señor Surf]

I surf in SC and I am out in Oregon this week. Surfed "needles" today, waist-shoulder long period swell with semi-glassy conditions. Kind of weak and mushy, but some nice sets rolled in as the tide sucked out. Water temp is in the mid 50's so I rented a 4/3. I guess a 3/2 would of been ok. No bad rips or anything. Just some pretty aggressive surfers. Longboarders were getting the best rides.
Agressive surfers? So, maybe what that guy said about the localized spots is true. I've never had problems with anyone around here. Where is "needles"? How much was it to rent a wetsuit? Thanks.

[meteoscott]

Needles is just south of Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, OR. The "needles" are two tall rock spires coming out of the ocean. I rented a 4/3 suit, booties, gloves and a 6'4" Fish for $50.00/24hrs. Not a bad deal. The crowd was much more mellow at Oswald, but maybe I visited Needles on a weird day. Waves have been a little inconsistent, but super fun!

Scott

[Señor Surf]

Oh yeah, about being localized; im not saying stay away. I say surf where you want. Im just telling you its a hazard sorta.

Im from seattle and surf oregon a few weeks back and surfed huntington this spring too. word
Thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure to mind my manners in the line-up.

[Señor Surf]

Checked out Oswald West State Park, OR today. Hiked down to the beach break around 2PM, 5-6 people out. Started out, waist-chest, long period mush with semi-glassy conditions with some fun long lines. Waves picked up around 3PM in the chest-shoulder range with a larger sneaker showing up in the head range. By 4PM, 15 or so peeps showed up. The waves became less consistent, but still held its size. Some of the best surf I have had in a long long time. The locals thought it was only "so so". Fun stuff...
Sounds like better waves than MB. We get excited about waist high around here, but the water is 80 degrees. I've seen the forecast saying double or triple overhead and choppy in OR. I think I would get worked on that. Have you seen anything that big out there? The report almost always says choppy. Has it been clean? Thanks again.