Surf Talk Guru

Why didn’t anyone think of this before? Today there is a trend toward eco-friendliness in all aspects of life, but in the wetsuit arena, it couldn’t have come soon enough. Wetsuits have historically been made from neoprene, with nylon as a lining. But now wetsuit manufacturers like Xcel are improving the linings using recycled natural fibers, which are better for your skin and for the environment.

Xcel wetsuits just came out with the environmentally responsible ThermoBamboo lining in their latest line. Why bamboo? Bamboo fabric is soft, naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, and it’s grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. For use in wetsuits, bamboo is a superb choice because it absorbs moisture and dries quickly. Bamboo is also a natural insulator, retaining heat against the body. Surf warm this fall and winter, and keep Oregon green!

Leaves are starting to fall and the pelicans are out in full force. That only means one thing–surf’s up on the Oregon Coast! Fall is without a doubt the best time to surf in Oregon, the only downfall: cold weather. Luckily for us, the water temperature stays about the same, but the air temperature drops significantly, and can even be frosty in the morning. It’s time to get out the gloves, booties, and upgrade to a warmer wetsuit.

Gloves should be anywhere from 1-3 millimeters thick, depending on your preference (the thicker, the heavier), booties should be at least 5 millimeters, and your wetsuit should be hooded 5/4/3, or even a 6/5/4 if you like to stay really toasty. The latest in heat-retaining technology is the Bamboo Barrier insulation in the Fall 2009 line of Xcel wetsuits and accessories.

There are lots of things to consider when choosing a wetsuit. It is important to consider what temperature the water is that you will be using your new wetsuit in and you need to know your height and weight so you can determine what size you need.

Xcel wetsuit company had recently come out with an environmentally freindly wetsuit. The inner lining of the new Xcel wetsuit is made of bamboo.

When learning to surf on the Oregon coast one of the most important things to do is know what the weather forecast is before going surfing. The swell size is directly related to the strenght of the rip tides. This means if the swell is big (8ft or more) then the rip tides will be very strong.

If you do find yourself in a rip tide you will notice it pulling you out to sea. Your first instinct is to paddle back to the beach, this is not possible due to the rip tide. Instead, paddle parrallel to the and work your way out of the rip current, then you can head in to the beach. In order to have a positive surfing experiance, checking the forecast is a must, but starting with an Oregon surf lesson is an even better idea.

There are several different options for learning to surf on the Oregon coast. I think one of the best place to find Oregon surf lessons has got to be Agate Beach. The surf shop there at Agate Beach offers 3 day surf school during the summer. This is a great way to experiance the mighty pacific ocean first hand.

The surf shop at Agate Beach is located directly across from one of Oregon’s premier surfing destinations. The close proximity to the break allows begining surfers to rent their equipment and walk to the beach. This means no sandy wet equipment inside or on top of your vehicle!

People ask me all of the time how to get the best deal on a wetsuit. Here in Oregon the end of the summer season is a great time to buy a wetsuit. Most shops are looking to unload excess inventory at a discounted price. Xcel wetsuits can be sold for up to 40% off during this time.

If you need a wetsuit and it is not the end of the season there are still a few options. Used wetsuits are available at most surf shops. If the surf shop offers rentals, ask if you can buy one of the rental suits. With new xcel wetsuits starting at just $145 I am sure you will be able to find a wetsuit that fits your needs.

Parents often ask me for a solution to buying a chids wetsuit, since kids grow so fast it can be tuff to justify spending over $100 on a wetsuit they they may grow out of in a few months. This was the reason we came up with the children’s wetsuit program. Here is how it works; when you purchase a new child sized wetsuit from Ossies Surf Shop or the Otter Rock Surf Shop on the Oregon Coast a record of the purchase is saved on the computer under your name.

In a few months or even a few years when the child no longer fits into the wetsuit you can return it to where it was purchased. Depending on the condition of the wetsuit you will receive up to 40% of the original purchase price for an exchange towards a new wetsuit. It is a win win for eveyone involved.

There are several different surf camps that operate on the Oregon Coast. Most of them run during the summer months of June-Sept. Camps can range from 1 to 3 days in lenght and focus on teaching the basics of surfing.

I think the three day surf camps are the best. They give the grommets (novice surfers) a chance to see the ocean change over the course of three days. After three days of surfing, most people know if they had a good time, or changed their lives forever.

With more than 350 miles of scenic coastline, Oregon stands as one of the country’s premier destinations for sea kayaking. Not to be confused with its river-going brethren, the sea kayak is made seaworthy thanks to a covered deck. Sea kayaking trips can be lengthy, which is why the vessels offer plenty of cargo space for meals, spare clothing and other equipment.

It’s not uncommon for kayakers to rent a boat for days or even weeks at a time to go on prolonged expeditions, camping in parks along the shore at night. Agate Beach, a popular surfing destination near Newport on the Pacific shoreline, is also well known as a source for Oregon kayak rentals. If you’re looking to set out on a new adventure, sea kayaking could be just the ticket.

Oregon State University has a surfing class that you can take and earn college credit. PAC247 is a physical activity class offered by Oregon State University for college students looking to add a physical activity credit to their degree while learning to surf.

Not enrolled at Oregon State but still want to learn to tear it up on the waves? There are plenty of opportunities for the rest of us to learn how to surf without being in college.