Salem-News.com Surfing articles

Volcom`s Shawn `Barney` Barron Scores the Yeti

"Defiantly a wave out of your imagination" - Shawn 'Barney' Barron / VolcomTeam Rider

(CAMARILLO, Calif.) - With Fall barely out the gate, the second major North West Pacific swell marched towards the Oregon coastline promising endless amounts of giant surf for a few solid days.

With the predicted buoy reading of 17' @ 17 seconds, Mother Nature delivered once again a massive blow with some 35'-40'+ wave face heights at a select outer reef just south of the now famous Nelscott Reef. The locals call it 'South Reef' and rarely does it break as it did on October 22, 2009!

Global Storm Chasers Al Mennie and Andrew Cotton Score Huge Surf in Ireland and Oregon

Surfers looking for the biggest waves in the world, find them in Oregon and Ireland.

(AILEENS, Ireland) - Al Mennie and Andrew Cotton have just managed to surf three giant swells in two oceans all within a one week period.

The duo racked up over 8,000 miles last week in order to surf two swells at Aileens, Ireland and compete at the Nelscott Tow-In Classic, Oregon.

Nelscott Classic Surf Contest: Great Conditions and 25+ Foot Waves

Special multi-media report includes contest results, a video photo essay, photo spread and a slideshow presentation.

(LINCOLN CITY, Ore.) - The Nelscott Reef in Lincoln City was going off Thursday, once again providing 25+ foot waves for the annual surf contest known as the Nelscott Reef Tow-In Classic, the fifth annual event.

Competitors like Russel Smith of Santa Cruz, say the event was another ideal day for the top ranked professional surfers in the world who travel here each year to compete, "Oh today's been great you know, not too much wind, the water's not terribly cold and yeah, it's going really well."

Big Wave Surfing Contest in Lincoln City Thursday

The forecast calls for huge waves at the Nelscott Reef Tow In Classic.

(LINCOLN CITY, Ore.) - Organizers say the 2009 Nelscott Reef Tow In Classic and Big Wave Paddle In surf contest has a green light, and will be held Thursday, 22 October.

The event draws some of the biggest names in surfing to Lincoln City, to ride one of the largest reef waves in the world.

Safari Town Surf Shop Celebrates 20 Years on the Oregon Coast (PHOTOS)

A "surfer's surf shop", Safari Town understands that focusing on the sport and serving the needs of Oregon surfers has given their shop staying power.

(LINCOLN CITY, Ore.) - Life can come about full circle sometimes, and I consider that when I think of my longtime friends from the beach, Tony and Jeanne Gile. Their business, Safari Town Surf Shop in Lincoln City is celebrating its 20-year anniversary.

I am heartened that Oregon so completely accepted the sport of surfing in recent years. I'm not surprised by Tony's success, and I am glad that his shop has been one of the driving forces making surfing a regular everyday part of Oregon's beach culture.

Wagging it at the Waterfront…Huntington Beach

Wouldn’t it be loverly to learn how to surf with your dog in Surf City USA?

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.) - With an 8.5-mile stretch of pristine shoreline, popularly known as “Surf City USA” (celebrating its 100th year in 2009), Huntington Beach is home to a world famous municipal pier and is a west coast surf mecca for more than 8 million annual visitors.

Huntington Beach is a mere 30-minute drive from the Orange county cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, Santa Ana and Tustin.

Busy Weekend for Coast Guard in Pacific NW

One incident involved an overturned vessel near Coos Bay; the other rescue saw two surfers rescued near Grays Harbor.

(SEATTLE, Wash.) - It was a busy weekend for Coast Guard rescue crews over the weekend in both Oregon and Washington. The story serves as a good reminder of how treacherous NW waters can become, and how frequently the Coast Guard is able to complete lifesaving rescues.

The Coast Guard reports rescuing a 73-year old man near Coos Bay, Oregoln, Sunday. A Coast Guard watchstander at the Coos Bay lookout tower spotted a vessel overturned and a man in the water around 2:15 p.m.

Nelscott Reef Surf Contest in Lincoln City Sees Seasonal Setback

Contest organizer says too much wind for first big swell of the season.

(LINCOLN CITY, Ore.) - The only big wave surfing contest in the world that breaks within view of a residential neighborhood, The Nelscott Reef Tow-In Classic, will take place a little later this year.

Contest organizer Behemoth, LLC changed the contest status back to red last Friday after a week of monitoring the first big swell of the season. A large swell was forecast for Saturday, but unfortunately, the wind did not want to cooperate.

Although the holding period for the 2008 Nelscott Reef Tow In Classic began on October 1st, good swell and wind combinations usually start in November, says contest founder John Forse.

“We are looking for a solid swell with offshore winds for the event. This was just too much wind, from the wrong direction, to call the event”, Forse said.

14-Year Old Surfer Struck by Dory Fishing Boat Loses Arm at Pacific City Beach

The victim, Cole Ortega of Bend, had been surfing with his 16-year old sister and her boyfriend. Other members of Ortega's family were on scene.

(PACIFIC CITY, Ore.) - One of the worst things any surfer who goes to Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City can imagine, happened today. Just before 10:00 AM, a 14-year old boy surfing in large waves at PC was run down by a double ended dory fishing boat, police say. The boy survived, but his left arm was amputated in the collision.

Over the years, relations between surfers and dory boat operators in this coastal Oregon town are sometimes tense. It was reported that there may have been more victims. I can confirm that there are many close calls at this otherwise pleasant beach; but the boats and surfers almost always manage to avoid each other. Pacific City is home of the west coast dory fleet, and the only place in Oregon where fishermen take their boats out straight through the surf on a regular basis.

15-Year Old Prodigy Jessie Richman Wins Nelscott Kiteboard Rodeo (SLIDESHOW)

A fairly new sport, kiteboarding becomes a main attraction on the Oregon Coast.

(LINCOLN CITY, Ore.) - The Nelscott Kiteboard Rodeo concluded Sunday with a 'no go' in the freestyle competition scheduled for the Siletz Bay due to the lack of adequate wind. Saturday's scheduled waveriding competition turned into a beach party-barbecue waiting for the 12-15 mph threshold to be reached which it never did.

Friday however was another story as the contest director Steve Gunn finally called the 'Downwinder' a go at about 4:00 PM.