Surfing at OSU
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Surfing at OSU
Are you tired of sitting on the couch watching TV or checking your myspace/facebook page to see if someone has sent you a message? Well I have the answer for you....surfing!! Surfing is a great way to get out of the house and have a blast while getting some great exercise. Surfing has been part of my life for over 10 years and let me tell you it really does become a big part of your life. There are some things you should know before embarking on such an adventure, especially in the North West that are essential and some not so essential to your experience. I listed them below.....
Gear
In order to actually surf up in the North West you need certain types of surfing gear. You of course are going to need a surfboard. When choosing a surfboard you want to make sure you start off with a much larger board than the kind you see pro surfers using and other more advanced surfers. I learned on a short board but it can get frustrating and many people will buy a board and give up after a few trips to the coast. Starting off with a long board builds confidence until you are ready to start charging on a short board. If you are still not sure about a board selection, any local surf shop usually has actual surfers running the store and can assist you in making a decision. Next you are going to need at least a 4/3 wetsuit and unless you can handle the extreme cold of the Northwest you are going to need booties, head warmer (somewhat optional),gloves, stick of wax (cold weather sticky bumps is my favorite), and for most people without a truck...surf racks. You can get pretty extensive with other types of surfing gear and apparel but I am just giving the bare minimum of what you are going to need. A great Surf Shop to go to is just North of Newport, next to Agate Beach, they will have everything you will need and it is right across the street from one of my favorite surf spots...how convenient.
Rules
Surfing has a certain type of proper etiquette as does with many other sports. This section is to prepare you for what you should know before you even paddle out to a surf spot. Like driving a vehicle, surfing has certain rules that are accepted in the surfing community. The first I would like to mention is who has the right of way. When you are paddling into a wave it is important to know whether or not it is your wave or the other person in the water next to you. If the wave looks like it is going to break left or right then the surfer who has the inside position of the wave (the position closest the breaking part of the wave) has the right away. This situation does have exceptions however, if you start to paddle for the wave and you are further outside then the other surfer then you get the right away. Following this is important for a couple of reasons. One being that the person who is either further outside or on the inside portion of the wave has a better chance of catching a better wave. Another reason is purely common courtesy. Many surfers (especially locals) will get quite upset with you and unwanted conflict may arise due to your lack of respect for the rules of surfing. I would highly recommend starting at a surf spot that has been known as beginner friendly to avoid certain situations that might accur while learning how to surf. Everyone has to start somewhere, and a great start up place is Agate Beach in Newport. The locals there are real friendly and actually will sometimes even give you pointers on how to improve or what you are doing wrong. It is a real nice break for newby's and old veterens of the sport.
Safety
In this section I am going to give you some pointers on how to have a fun yet SAFE experience surfing. The first thing I would do before even considering going out is knowing the area in which you are planning on paddling out. It is important to know as much as possible about a spot before entering into the water. Many area's have strong rip currents that can pull you out to sea or smash you against dangerous rocks or reef. The best way to find out (besides chancing it and ending up half way to china) is to ask local surfshops, ask locals, or just google search the spot your looking at paddling out at on the web. Another I think crucial point is learning certain basics such as how to duck dive under incoming waves (which definitely comes with practice) and what to do when a very large wave that you cannot possible duck dive heads towards you. In this situation you would ditch your board and paddle as hard and as fast to the bottom to try and get under the wave and just wait for the wave to pass on by. Most times this works but be prepared for some tumbling or leg pulling from the power of the wave. One good rule of thumb when learning how to surf is IF IT LOOKS TO BIG THEN IT IS! If you are considering paddling out and the surf size looks beyond your ability then don't paddle out. It is good to push yourself but that comes much later and when you have a strong basis of surf knowledge and skill. A good way of checking to see if the surf is too big or if you are already a surfer and want to track swells and report is to check out surf report on the web. There are many sites to choose from but the one highlighted is quite good and informative. Surfing becomes a way of life and is quite exciting but can also be very dangerous so be careful, learn from those out there, take proper precautions, but above all have fun and keep on going!!! The more you go the better you get and the more fun you are going to have!
