Ask The Experts: Surfing in the Pacific Northwest

By Lexie Hallahan of NW Women's Surf Camps
Lexie Hallahan answers questions for those interested in learning to surf in northwest waters.

Live in the Pacific NW?  Love the ocean?  Want to learn to surf…but the cold water temp, grey cool days and fear of sharks keeps you from learning?  Well don’t wait any longer!

Over the last 20 years, wetsuit technology has developed with the same technological leaps that most sport products have.  What used to be very limited options for cold water wetsuits and parts is now covered with a great selection of choices, for men, women and kids!  The wetsuit materials laminated and utilized in suits is very flexible, well constructed and provides great warmth in 50 degree water.  The thicknesses of suits now offered are ample for the Pacific NW waters.  Typically, summer seasonal surfers wear 4mm suits, while year round surfers use 5 or 6mm wetsuits.  Polypropolene and lycra rashguards are commonly used for additional comfort in your suit!  Sizing no longer is an issue for women or men; a wide variety of sizes for all body types are now offered, examples like Medium Tall to XLarge Stocky for men to size 8 Tall or 16 for women.  Everyone can get properly fitted!

The ‘Guy in the Big Grey Suit’??  Sharks on the NW Coast??  Let’s put it this way, traveling on the highways to go surfing is the real threat!  I was told years ago by a Shark Expert Mark Marks of the Smithsonian Institution in Northern California, that there are probably three adult Great White Sharks off the entire Oregon Coast.  They have such huge ocean territories, and are so well fed by seals and seal lions here, that the “rare” time where a surfer has been bumped or bitten was a case of mistaken identity.  To avoid an encounter, I recommend you don’t surf jettys during the spring and fall salmon runs.  You might become one of the “food chain”, with salmon swimming up rivers, seals and seal lions following them and sharks following them.  Also, avoid surfing around river mouths for this same reason.  Surf with others.  Always use your intuition in the water and before you even enter.  I never go surfing or continue if I sense anything is off.  My advice is don’t worry about sharks, follow the speed limit and always wear your seat belt!  “Life is short, go surfing!”

About Lexie Hallahan: NWWSC Director Lexie Hallahan is a 20 year resident and surfer on the North Coast of Oregon. She is one of only a few women who surfed year round on the Oregon Coast in the 80’s and 90’s, before the Blue Crush phenomena hit the West Coast of America. She started surfing with a boogie board in 1987 and then pursued surfing with boards the summer of 1991. Her local knowledge and world travel knowledge of surfing is vast. She’s traveled to Indonesia, Baja Mexico, Hawaii, California and the Pacific NW in search of surf and surfing photography. She was also General Manager of Cleanline Surf Company in Seaside and Cannon Beach for 16+ years. Her in-depth understanding of boards, wetsuits and surf gear is an asset to her students. Hallahan pursued her passion of surfing and teaching with the formation of NWWSC the fall of 2004.

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