Surf Talk Guru

Yesterday’s Chilean earthquake and subsequent tsunami advisories and warnings served as a warning to coastal residents and visitors alike that we need to be prepared. Luckily little damage and no injuries were caused by the small tsunamis that appeared in Hawaii, Japan, and elsewhere, but people should be commended on taking it seriously and following directives to evacuate.

Here in Oregon, we need to be prepared with a tsunami-readiness kit that includes three days of food and water. It wouldn’t hurt to also have propane and a propane stove, matches or lighters. If bridges ever went out, or flooding occurred, it may help to have a small boat of some kind, a kayak, canoe, or driftboat, with paddles, and an Xcel wetsuit for doing water work.

Spring Break is almost here! Do you have plans yet? Slots are still available for Oregon Surf School’s Spring Break session.

Just $99 will get you three days of surf lessons and rentals. All ages and ability levels are welcome. Enjoy some of the best, most experienced instructors on the coast.

Click here for the best deal on the web for Surf Lessons.

Many people are surprised when they hear about be or see people surfing in Oregon. They think it must be too cold in our Pacific waters to actually get into the waves. And there simply cannot be a wetsuit capable of keeping one warm in the ocean. Many an Oregon surfer has had to pose for a tourist’s camera when going out to surf or coming back into shore.

It is a miraculous feat, this sport called surfing. If you’re a beginner interested in trying it out or an intermediate getting to know the local waters, a surf lesson is the way to go. An Oregon surf lesson can be tailored to your ability level and can be used to give you a step up in figuring out the currents, the lay of the land, the local customs, etc. A lesson is also a good thing to do with visiting friends and family members. Show them a good time without a lot of pressure to help them catch waves.

As the sun shines more and spring approaches, we all get to thinking about our sunny summer days. If you have out-of-town friends and relatives that want to live it up for a day at the beach, go with them to rent booties, wetsuits, and boards for the day.

With Oregon surfboard rentals, you’ll be able to take your time, especially if you rent for a 24-hour period. That way, you can get in and out as many times as you want to rest, eat, warm-up, whatever. It’s also nice to hang out in your wetsuit when the north wind is nuking. The price is nice for a 24-hour rental, and if your guests want to do something different on a day at the beach, they’ll love it.

Make their day really special with a picnic lunch on the beach, random toys to entertain with (frisbees, volleyball, etc.) and end it with hot dogs and beers around the fire. But make sure they don’t leave one shred of litter on the beach!

After graduating from college last spring, I spent the summer lounging by the beach and mentally preparing myself for the “real world.” While much of each day was spend loafing around and sipping drinks, I also made a personal commitment to learn how to surf. Since I was a newbie, I searched around for used surfboards to save some of my much needed graduation cash.

Although I didn’t take any formal lessons, some of the locals were nice enough to give me some pointers. By the end of the summer I was no where near adept on the board, but I could adequately ride mid-sized waves. While I probably won’t get to put my surfing skills to use anytime soon, it was nice to at least do one thing that was somewhat productive over the summer.

Wetsuits are an important purchase for your child. They keep kids safe and warm when playing in the waves at the windy Oregon Coast in the summer or any other time of the year. Obviously, you can’t expect just to buy one wetsuit over your kid’s childhood. They’ll need a bigger size at least every year. This can be very expensive since kids’ wetsuits, especially top brands like Xcel wetsuits, can cost up to a few hundred dollars. There are some options that will help out monetarily and still provide your child with adequate beachwear.

1. Team up with a friend/relative with a child a year or so older or younger than your own. If they’re interested in keeping wetsuits on their child as well, you can go in together on the cost, then pass the wetsuit down to the younger child after the older has outgrown it.

2. Buy and sell used children’s wetsuits. Surf shops often have used wetsuits on consignment. See what’s available to buy, then make some money back when you sell yours.

3. Determine what type of suit your child needs. Short-sleeved and short-legged spring john style wetsuits are cheaper than full suits with hoods. Try out a minimalist suit on your child and see if it keeps them warm and protected enough for their purposes. If so, you’ll stand to save a lot of money over time.

Care of your surfboard is a vital responsibility. Maintaining the proper wax coats, keeping up with ding repair, and storing it in a sock or bag, are some things you can do to ensure a long life for your board and a higher resale value.

Another easy way to keep your board looking and riding good is to store it on the wall on a wall rack. Keeping it on the wall and out of the way will prevent dings from accidental bumps and falls. Del Sol sells racks with foam padding that will prevent scratches to the finish. Wall racks are also a great way to display board art or a board you just want to show off.

Ocean Kayaks are sit-on-tops that will take you anywhere. The wildlife watching is fantastic in creeks, rivers, bays, lakes, and the ocean waves. If you go out at Depoe Bay, for example, there’s a chance you’ll see the sea otters that have surprised everyone by showing up on the Oregon Coast for the first time since 1906 when fur trappers killed them all off.

You can rent ocean kayaks or buy them used at the local surf shop. They’re a cheap and easy form of entertainment and excercise.

When: Wed, February 10, 6:30pm

Where: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Hennings Auditorium, Newport Oregon

DEQ, along with representatives from Georgia Pacific, Surfrider Foundation and Oregon State University, will host a public meeting to review the wastewater permit for Georgia Pacific’s pulp and paper mill located in Toledo. The permit sets pollution limits for the discharge of treated wastewater from the facility. A discharge pipe extends 4,000 feet off the shore of Nye Beach and into the Pacific Ocean.

This issue affects not only Oregon surfing, but tourists whose kids and dogs play at the beach, and people who eat local seafood. Come and show support for keeping our oceans blue, and stay informed! More information here: http://www.deq.state.or.us/news/prDisplay.asp?docID=3194