Surf Talk Guru

Bat Tail Surfboard

If you have ever wondered what the differences are between roundpins, squashes, fishes,and bat tails, there is a lot to learn about surfboard tail design. The important thing to remember is that the tail influences how the board digs into or skids across the surface of the wave. An angular tail will allow for more angular, square turns and will dig into the wave. A rounder tail will create rounder, smoother turns and slide across the wave.

If you want to experience the difference in surfboard performance, borrow a board with a tail you’ve never tried from a friend and ride it for about a week. Surf shops often have demo boards you can test out, too. If a certain tail you want to try keeps eluding you, keep your eyes open for a used surfboard rather than getting a new one. You’ll save money and you don’t want to buy something you aren’t sure if you’ll like.

Here is a link to an article on the specifics of different types of tail designs: http://www.surfinghandbook.com/surfboard-design/surfboard-tail-design/

OSU Researchers Need Surfers’ Input:

When health advisories are issued for specific beaches, it’s because tests revealed a high level of fecal matter, indicated by a certain number of enterococci(orgs) per 100 milliliters of water. With the off-the-charts test results at Nye Beach recently, I looked up some sources of beach pollution. The most common cause of this pollution, especially in larger cities, is urban runoff, which includes domestic wastes, storm water runoff (storm water washes over rooftops, parking lots, roads and picks up fecal matter from animals), agricultural runoff (discharges from farm animals, overloaded septic systems), sewage overflows, sewage treatment plant malfunctions, and improperly handled boating wastes.

Although we’ve had a lot of rain lately and probably have our fair share of urband and agricultural runoff, Newport also has another problem: the Georgia Pacific Pulp and Paper Mill up the Yaquina River in Toledo. GP’s wastewater permit allows for the primary outfall of the mill to be directed by pipe right to Nye Beach in Newport. Thankfully, nobody surfs at Nye Beach, but those tourists who unknowingly wade or swim in the water there may be subjected to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and fever, ear infections, eye infections, and skin rashes.

Overall, Oregon surfing is safer and less polluted than in almost any other area in the states. On the west coast, only Washington, Alaska, and BC are less polluted.

A study by Oregon State University shows that surfers are at a higher health risk in the water than are swimmers or divers because they ingest ten times more water in a session than other water sport partcipants. According to OSU scientists and the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, this puts surfers at a higher risk of contracting gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses when surfing in contaminated waters.

The good news for Oregon surfers is that since the beaches are overall less polluted than more popular surfing destinations, such as California, Hawaii, or Florida, the risk of GI illness is lower for people surfing the frigid waters of the Oregon coast. But the study’s findings suggest that even Oregon surfers who spend longer periods of time in recreational waters, or who surf in more contaminated locations, are at higher risk of contracting GI illnesses.

Surfrider image showing visible pollution plume at Nye Beach

The Environmental Public Health arm of the Oregon Department of Human Services issued a water contact advisory for Nye Beach. Advisories are issued for marine water samples that are or exceed 158 enterococci(orgs)/100ml. The marine water at Nye Beach Turnaround’s discharge pipe tested at 495 enterococci(orgs)/100ml and the fresh water discharge pipe tested greater than 24196 enterococci(orgs)/100ml. That’s off the charts!

What does this mean for surfers? Well, it is advised not to wade, swim or surf in contaminated water at posted beaches. Surfing in water with a high bacteria count can make you sick, producing cold-like symptoms that linger throughout the rainy season. You should be safe to surf up or down the coast at beaches where the bacteria count is lower. The bacteria is still there, but not in quantities high enough to make you sick.

The only advice I can give is that when you’re surfing this winter and an advisory has been issued for a nearby beach, just get in wearing an Xcel wetsuit , get your waves, and get out. It gets hard enough to linger in cold water winter conditions without the worry of a health hazard you can’t avoid.

Prior to the advent of the wetsuit, many surfers risked hypothermia in chilly oceanic waters. Today, the wetsuit keeps surfers warm, comfortable and aerodynamic as they cut through the surf. Since these accessories represent a sizeable investment for any surfer, it’s crucial that one takes proper care of her Oneill wetsuits after use. Although it would be nice to crumple up a suit and retrieve it before the next day’s surf session, that’s never a wise course of action.

Salt water leaves wetsuits smelling funky to say the least, and the salt can also deteriorate neoprene material over time. It’s therefore up to the surfer to rinse the suit thoroughly before hanging it on a plastic hanger. Note that metal hangers could do irreversible damage to the material. Some surfers advocate drying a wetsuit inside out so that the interior is dry when one puts it back on.

When big winter storms hit the coast for days upon end and you can’t get out to the waves, you can have a tendency to laze around and pine for surf. But if you’ve been lazing around wishing, you won’t be ready for the return of post-storm 4-star surf. Make sure to stay in shape for when the waves shape back up.

Probably most importantly, keep up your cardiovascular condition by either running or swimming. Some people don’t mind running in the rain, but luckily, you can also do this around the gym track or on the treadmill. Swimming is good practice for chasing after your board and swimming back up to the top after a big slab pushes you down. You can keep your arms and chest in paddling shape by simply paddling your longboard around in the river, bay, or lake. You can keep your body in balance with a Balance Board, something you can do indoors anytime.

Most of us have a surfer on our Christmas list and don’t want to spend too much this holiday season. Here are some ideas for less expensive gifts any surfer would enjoy.

1.) Surf Video $20-$30–When surfers can’t surf, they want to watch other people do it. That’s why it’s also known as surf porn. DVD’s feature a variety of pro surfers in different locales, surfing to music.

2.) Surf Magazine Subscription $15-$25–A year-long subscription to Surf, Surfing, or TransWorld Surf magazines will provide knowledge, insight, and keep them up with current events in their favorite sport.

3.) Beanie $10-$20–Always appreciated year-round on the coast, stocking caps, or beanies, feature their favorite surf shop or brand, helping your surfer stay warm and stylin’.

It’s a beautifully crisp, clear, and sunny fall morning. You’re out catching glassy, head-high peelers and the waves are only getting better.You just bought a brand new ThermoBamboo 5/4mm Xcel wetsuit for the chillier seasons, so you’re nice and toasty warm. This session could last forever. But. . .you had a cup of coffee this morning and you have to pee. Should you pee in your new suit or get out and do it?

Some people say that urinating in your suit will attract sharks, will ruin the suit, or should otherwise be avoided at all costs. If you’re renting your suit, no, do not pee in it. It will smell for the next person. But if it’s yours, I say go ahead and pee guilt-free. You’ll eventually end up urinating in your new suit, so you might as well get it over with so you won’t feel bad about it next time, either. As long as you faithfully wash it with wetsuit shampoo every few days or so, it shouldn’t stink up your car.

It’s starting to build already, but Friday is supposed to be the worst day of a huge storm on the Oregon Coast. A Pacific typhoon is making its way east as it dies, but it’s not going down easily. The swell will get up to 32 feet at 19 second intervals, creating waves 57 feet high! Storm watchers from all over will want to come check this out. But I hope they come prepared because the wind will be gusting up to 55 mph and it will rain, rain, rain every day for the forseeable future.

Tow surfers should definitely go out today, Thursday, while the surf is still building up to 24 foot wave faces. I would say it’d be mighty sketchy to go out Friday. Again, make sure every part of every piece of your tow surfing gear is ready to perform for you under the worst conditions. Replace any gear necessary.