Sharing the Stoke

Sharing the Stoke

I've heard some people complain that the waves this summer weren't as good as usual. I haven't been in Oregon long so I can't speak from long term experience, but I do know is that I had a lot more fun surfing this summer than the last couple. There certainly weren't big swells, but there were some great sandbars for some super fun longboard waves. It seemed to me that there were a lot less closeouts. And it was a great summer for teaching and learning.

I went out a couple weekends ago with some friends, most of whom are pretty new to surfing. Some of my favorite times surfing are when it's good enough and big enough to have fun myself for a while before taking the time to try to share some of my knowledge and experience.

That weekend, one of the other friends I was with is a great teacher and he took that responsibility while I waded in the water and snapped a few photos of the fun they were all having. It was great to capture those moments for them. The whole weekend was so fun and it was awesome to share it with people relatively new to the ocean.

Now, summer's not quite over yet but I have seen some leaves starting to change and the days are certainly getting shorter. It's almost time for bigger swells to start hitting those good sandbars. Bigger waves are no reason to stop teaching. Or, if you're learning yourself, it's not a reason to wait until next summer to get back out there. Of course you have to use common sense and know your limits, but if you pick the right days and the right sheltered spots, you can have fun and gain experience during all of the seasons. It's pretty hard to actually learn and become proficient if you only surf for a few months of the year.

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“How would you describe the Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic” is a question I get asked during interviews ahead of each year’s contest. The simple answer is to say that it’s a local surf contest put on by a dedicated group of volunteers. The truth is that the contest is something more than that. It has its own soul. It has a life that we and the organizers before us can’t take credit for. I would like to think we had something to do with it, but the reality is the Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic has become something far beyond anything anyone ever imagined.

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Both cheers of support and loud laughter were heard throughout Pacific City this past weekend as surfers and spectators gathered on the beach to root on the participants in the annual Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic. This year marks the 25th running of the beloved community event.
Started in 1998 by Bob and Michelle Ledbetter, the contest has grown to become a staple of the NW surf community. It not only attracts surfers throughout Oregon, but this year saw people from Canada, California, Washington and even Hawaii make the pilgrimage.