Look close and you'll see Jake Beaudoin surfing this mid-winter Alaskan beach break.
As predicted, we had a pretty strong surf swell in Homer, Alaska on the day after Christmas. It was actually a bit oversized for our normal breaks so we surfed a kind of funky beach break. Turned out to be some great drops, and a few nice walls to ride between heavy poundings. It was a big day for me, after shooting a few quick photos I jumped in and scored what I think might stand as my biggest drop so far. I’ve surfed bigger faces before, but this particular wave jacked up to about double overhead and sent me flying off the lip straight to the bottom, somehow landing on my board I just pointed it down the line with a big grin wondering how I managed to stay on my feet. The current was ripping down the beach so we would hike up a ways, take a few quick paddle strokes out and drift down the to the ‘lineup’. If you didn’t get on a wave within about 5 minutes it was best to just wash up on the beach and hike back up for another drift.
The few days after this one were even better, I’ll try and post more soon. Till then, here’s a few snap shots from the 26th of December.
Miriah Phelps waxing her board before and Alaska surf session.
Alaskan surfer, Jake Beaudoin, walks the snowy beach for another drift down current.
Late December Alaskan beach break
dude….. ripping shots. who’s the guy with the taxi board? i love the paint job. id love to see more shots of him ripping. i heard hes a moon tube shredder. cant wait for more pictures. Do you guys surf up there? your crazy.
Snake Adams – Didn’t you notice that almost all the photos on this site are of that guy with the taxi cab board!? I mean, sometimes I have trouble just finding a photo that isn’t of him.
Can you provide us Southern CA surfers some detail on the temperatures (air and water) and the wetsuit set up so we can fully appreciate the session. I surfed in Cornwall England with my buddy Colin Scoble in 45 degree air and 45 degree water and pissing rain; a cup o’ tea afterwards was nice. But you guys get the award for cold weather charging
I was going to move up to Alaska in 1976 to Homer because we (nursing students) heard there was a new hospital there. I’d looked at the coast and figured it must receive swells. Did finally visit there in 1999 and loved the town. Kinda like Haleiwa, HI where I did settle. Small, cool people and in your case, uncrowded waves. Good for you guys! The vistas are lovely. Debbie
Hi Debbie – It’s not too late! The hospital here (South Peninsula Hospital) is expanding and they are looking for new nurses.