Im going to Washington in July to visit some of my wife's family. My son and I will be renting boards since flying with them is a real pain. I really don't know what to expect since we have mainly only surfed the gulf. We have our wetsuits ready to go but need some help finding a good spot that isn't crowded and good for beginners. Thanks in advance.
where in washington? i went to ocean shores last summer and that would be good for beginners. there are other spots in WA but they require travel, cold water gear, and probably more experience
We are going to be in Olympia visiting for a day or two. The closer to Olympia the better but I would drive a little farther for a better spot.
I spent a few days in Westport last summer. That's another good area. When it's small, like it was for me, it's mostly beginners and there is plenty of room to spread out. If it's too big for you on the ocean, there is an adjacent bay where the waves will be smaller (it was flat when I was there).
o no crowd at all. the only real spot in town is the jetty they have. it was small and junky but i saw pictures of it when its good and it looked fun. and yea westport on a decent swell looked really good. the water is cold year round there, there is no crowds haha
Would you suggest booties and gloves for late July? Also, If anyone wants to suggest a good shop to get a rental board I would definitely appreciate it.
I'd say a radiation suit would be in order. a helmet too it seems http://2012glorioushope.blogspot.com/2013/03/fukushima-japans-nuclear-disaster.html
Booties, yes. You won't need gloves, but I would've been a little more comfortable in some 3mms. There are two shops in Westport.. I think this is the one I rented from: http://westportsurfshop.com/ Typical rental selection of foamies and bics/NSPs, but I was able to get a short fish which was fun.
Ha. I thought I would either grow a few more toes or start losing hair when BP filled the gulf with oil. I might bring a helmet though just in case I just happen to run across some Jap scrap. Thanks brek. I guess I'm gonna go ahead and get some booties at least.
Not to hijack this thread, but I'm going to anyway. I'm headed to Seattle in August to meet up with a friend and head for the mountains, but was considering surfing while I'm out there. He said that locals can be a bit territorial out that way, though he doesn't surf...just picked it up through hearsay. Any surfers out there care to lay out what it's like out there culture-wise? I'm an intermediate surfer and am of course respectful in any line up, particularly if I'm the stranger in the bunch.
Where I went (westport) there were no lineups to speak of (wide open beach break). Also, and this is really saying something, I may have been the best surfer out there (until the guy I recognized from the surf shop showed up). Maybe if the waves are good it becomes more territorial but, at least for me, it was just tons of stoked beginners on foamies and a few longboarders who knew what they were doing. I don't think you have much to worry about.
And by 'respectful' you mean, 'allow a bunch of d-bags to crap all over you'? Not to be a ****, but c'mon man, just go surf. Don't hog all the waves and don't drop in. That's it.
Westport is your best bet from Olympia, or for Washington State given your general experience level. It really isn't very territorial at the Westport Jetty stretch as long as you are not jockeying for the primo peak on any given day. There are other breaks in and around the Jetty beach but not likely to be breaking in July & August... those breaks would be more territorial. The other territorial breaks are not anywhere near Westport and I won't mention them here... or my legs might end up broken the next time I venture out that way. Snoop around and you might figure out where they are. But again, 'tis not the season yet for the Aleutians to start spewing. Best call ahead about boards and any wetsuit gear you might want to rent.
