Surfing TR - Here you go Scotsman!

Omigosh. Long and Sterling look like they are about to get wrecked. Great shots. I'd love to see Mavericks when it's working. I looked at that Oregon link from Pete A and those are huge waves. I guess it makes sense that it can go that big there and but I didn't realize. I've heard of locals towing into 20ft + waves way out in the middle of Grays Harbor. Here is a pic from Tofino on Vancouver Island, BC this August. Some friends and I did a trip and had five sunny warm days in a row, not to mention pretty good waves. I have low standards when it comes to waves as you can see. However this monster was an exception, and when it closed out I almost lost my visor. Very scary.

Based on Stugies glowing report, and lack of snow, and a buds invitation, I decided to make the trek down to Westport yesterday. I'd never tried surfing before, or been in an ocean for that matter. Tide was a little high, knuckles breaking on the shore, the jetty didn't look like fun, so we ended up at the cove. I can't say how big the waves where.. but the looked like the last few photos posted from my perspective. I'm sure they where a little smaller.

We paddled out on the shoulder away from the heavies. I just wanted to get out and get the feel of being on a board floating in the water. I went out in the deeper water and just played paddling around on the swells before they broke. wow is that tiring! Then I got a little closer in to belly surf, but still hanging off to the side away from the real action. I caught a few nice beaks, or more like they caught me. For one brief second.... I got on a wave, felt the feeling of gravity pulling me down the face, had it break and curl over me(or with me) and there I was.. it was like time stood still. The inside of a tube! granted I knew it was only momentary before the pummeling set in, but it seemed like an eternity.

Then just when I wanted to be out there the most. The hypothermia set in. I went back and changed into dry clothes and watched the action for a bit. It was pretty fun to just watch. A good close up spot to see how guys do it. I have WAY more respect for surfers, and even more so those who do it in less then desirable conditions. I don't think I would call what I did surfing, more like getting surfed on. I do think that one brief moment when time stood still, may have got me.

Oh,, and the heavies said they are gonna kick stugies ass for blowin up west port the nets. I heard it in the lineup.

Hells bells, way to get out there alecapone!!

I'm thinking I'm hitting the groins this weekend if the report keeps looking good...

Thanks for the heads up about the heavies...I'll just be a good Stugie and throw some rocks...

Just returned from first time in Maui (nice place).  Stand up paddling is the new old thing.  You can tour along shore or out to a reef with a single blade paddle then kind of drop a knee to ride.  Not much water resistance so you can cover lots of water and no deskinning required.

Example
Racing Example , 2:38 in (killer core workout).
No Ocean Required (Boulder Drop Anyone?)

Any of this going on in Westport?

There will occationally be a SUP'er (stand up paddler) out in the water...seems like during the summer, most popular NW breaks that are longboard appropriate will usually have one or two people paddling around on these.

FYI, it seems like many surfing purists/snobs (at least around here) aren't too keen on SUP's and tend to mock them...I think the massive size of the board and the paddle is looked upon as being an 'unfair' advantage. Given the big board and the use of a paddle, SUP's can start cruising on a wave before its much more than a bump...way before a traditional surfer can get sliding on a wave, so folks on SUP's need to make sure they aren't been too much of a wave hog.

That video where the guy is using his paddle on alternating sides and dropping his knee looks a bit like Telemarking to me. SUP'er's are the tel-gapers of surfing! ha ha.