{"id":5226,"date":"2013-02-07T23:39:36","date_gmt":"2013-02-08T07:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/?p=5226"},"modified":"2013-02-07T23:39:36","modified_gmt":"2013-02-08T07:39:36","slug":"mission-to-surf-nelscott-reef-big-waves-in-oregon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/mission-to-surf-nelscott-reef-big-waves-in-oregon\/","title":{"rendered":"Mission to Surf Nelscott Reef – Big Waves in Oregon"},"content":{"rendered":"
“Surfing big waves becomes a mission.\u00a0\u00a0It takes money, time, effort, travel, and all at the last minute.”<\/em><\/p>\n A few years ago my family and I drove along the Oregon coast on our way to Seattle. \u00a0I brought surfboards hoping to surf some giant waves.<\/p>\n But, all I saw from the road was an unruly ocean, rugged cliffs and super giant waves smashing on rocks with not a surfer to be found anywhere.<\/p>\n The waves in Oregon are so big and dangerous it would be suicide to surf alone.<\/strong>\u00a0 I just imagined my wife and son watching me disappear into the sea, never to be seen again. Big waves, strong currents, isolated as it gets, and oh yeah, big sharks!<\/p>\n But the lure of the giant surf along this rugged coastline was strong<\/strong>.\u00a0 I had heard of a spot called Nelscott Reef, but I could not find it, and I had no one to ask. \u00a0So I promised myself that someday I would have to come back and surf this beautiful place.<\/p>\n Last week on Wednesday night I got the call; \u201cNelscott\u2019s on\u201d from my friend and big wave surfer Ian Wallace. He was on it, he had all the details, and all I needed to do was get there.<\/p>\n Nelscott Reef is a killer surf spot about a half a mile out.\u00a0 It\u2019s \u00a0in Lincoln City, Oregon. The Big Wave World Tour (BWWT<\/a>), headed by Gary Linden, holds a contest at Nelscott when the swell and weather get just right.<\/p>\n Contest promoter Jon Forse thought it was a good idea to add a Standup Paddle Surf Challenge to the contest.\u00a0 This was an ideal way for us to surf any big wave spot; with good friends, a support of bad-ass waterman on safety skis, and a lot of extra eyes watching out for you.<\/p>\n If I could be there by Saturday morning, \u00a0I could stand up paddle surf in the contest.<\/p>\n I was excited.\u00a0 This was my chance to surf the Oregon coast, in big giant waves. \u00a0The drive from San Clemente to Lincoln City Oregon is 18 hours straight. \u00a0I needed equipment, time and money.<\/p>\n My wife laid out the facts.\u00a0 \u201cWe need money for expenses, a tune up to the Dream Machine, a new board and a safety vest.\u00a0 There\u2019s no way I want you out in those waves without it.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n