Sunday at the Coast

captain crusty · Since 30 Aug 2005 92 Posts PDX

rips are easy to see....its where the waves arent breaking and the water is flowing/pulling offshore...easiest way to get to the outside...like it or not. South winds at Beaverly on a crazy swell??? I would be at the overlook also drinking beer and wondering what are these guys doin

Mocean · Since 21 Sep 2005 343 Posts Newport Obsessed

It was the body surfing part that really gave me the jitters. Personally, I'm not that fond of ocean kiting in south winds, storms, and rain, but I'm just picky. I do like the swell manageable enough to be able to get out and ride a clean one, not just soup riding. But hey, I've got friends that do it all the time and rip. Just know that if there's trouble you've got to get in quick cause its a whole different ocean in December.

Bill D · Since 14 Jul 2007 11 Posts

scottnorby Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:02 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...been riding the ponds during south winds.
Also the bay in Seaside.
Plenty of room if you guys are jonesing to ride.

If someone wants to ride the bay in Seaside on south wind, does it need to be high tide? Is it OK to ride on outgoing tide?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

Come on guys, clearly the wind wasn't awesome, and we made sure it was not offshore (ended up being directly cross-shore). We never went farther out than waist deep water. The rip current we experienced was the also only waist deep, so we walked out of it (if we did swim out in it it would have been a problem). We didnt just throw some kites in the air and go for a swim, we scoped out a good place to kite (shallow sandbar and few large waves), waited for the wind to come up, kited till it died (unfortunately that was about 5 minutes), and messed around with a mountain board and a foil kite after that untill even the foil wouldnt fly. Not sure what makes that kook behavior.

On a slightly different note, we hit up the Siletz today, very powered on my 11m, nice big lofty jumps and plenty of flat water (big kite + flatwater = lots of speed Very Happy

!). Definately beat Beverly Beach.

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Hey, the Siletz was totally great today on the incoming tide!! WSW wind with big tacks over Mo's! Lots of beach, almost no rain, real flat water... Lots of fun! Very Happy

Only sad there were no burning hot showers!
Sorry, no pictures this time.

To carry on the fuss:
The aborted body surfing took place near the river, we both agreed quickly it was a danger and to bail - whole thing lasted about two minutes - imagine walking into the surf, feeling a big pull on you, turning around and walking out, then diving with a wave in a foot and half of water.

As far as the kiting goes, it was totally on the inside. I just stood up when my kite dropped and walked out - no problem where we kited.
All that being said, after having experienced that rip, I really wouldn't want my kite to drop in it in deep water.

After our positive experiences at the Siletz, verses the crap we've had to put up with at Beverly, we'll probably be going to the bay quite a bit. Maybe get up to the ponds if it wants to go east.

Sol-flyer · Wed Dec 19, 07 10:08 am

this one time at band camp......

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Scott,

How is Ponds on a south day? I've only ever been out there when it's blowing east, but Tucker and I were thinking that it wouldn't be too great (seems like they'd be really short reaches).

Thanks!

scottnorby · Wed Dec 19, 07 11:21 am

ponds on a south is actually a pretty good reach but you have to work upwind first of course. South to SW winds are almost straight onshore so you just work your way out and get a long reach left to right.

Seaside is best at slack tide but if you are experienced you can ride outgoing tide. It looks like deep muck at low tide but I have literally rode my mountain bike across it.
It is shallow sandy bottom. I have ridden there over a dozen times and I have never seen anyone else out.

Gotta keep your kite high on 27 meter lines. The wind up high is better. And stay toward the north end. There is a small beach at mid tide if you work your way back through the neighborhood off of Oregon road near the Seaside athletic club.

I know of one more bay that is good at mid tide and waist to chest deep but if you want to ride there PM me. I would like to find a couple of guys to ride with me there on a steady basis. SW to West winds (winter)
If too many people go out there someone is bound to get hurt. I don't want to lose the right to ride there.

eli_anderson · Since 04 Jun 2007 507 Posts Addicted

the ponds at the S. Jetty are killer during se and strong east winds. It is nice to hit it near high tide, it's pretty shallow, but there is a narrow channel to mess around in during low. The pond is seaside is cool when the wave aren't pushing into the bay! Too much moving water sometimes! I did see several riders out this weekend.