The real locals.
There are those in Alaska with a strong conviction that information about surfing here in the last frontier should not be shared.
From what I gather by reading the emails and comments SurfAlaska.net receives the source of this attitude stems from a fear that if surfing spots are publicized then they will become overcrowded and the fun will be over. Many Alaskan surfers have experienced this very thing themselves in their previous lives at other surf locations around the world and now they fear it will happen in Alaska too. The North is full of independent spirited people that came up here to ‘get away from it all’.
Any surfer can understand the desire to surf uncrowded breaks, to never pass up a good wave because someone else already caught it and to have something special all to ourselves. If you discovered the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow would you post its location on the internet?
This decision of whether to share information or not has been taken seriously and we’ve discussed it to great length. I understand the fear of crowds. One of my favorite things about surfing here is that it’s something we do with friends. We get the joy of feeling like we discovered something ourselves and we decide who to share it with.
I share photos and information on SurfAlaska.net because I believe that the opportunities for surfing in Alaska are much greater than the perceived risk of overcrowding.
After traveling to almost every corner of Alaska’s coastline one thing is for sure – we are only touching the surface of the virtually unlimited surfing potential here. Alaska alone has more coastline than the entire contiguous states combined. So what keeps us from all these potentially epic surf locations?
The biggest hurdle to overcome is access. There are not many spots that we can drive our cars to. There are countless spots that we can fly or boat to, but we don’t all have boats or airplanes ourselves or the budgets to operate them. How can this access logistic be overcome? My belief is that the way to do this is through pooling our resources, knowledge, and expertise. There are surfers with boats, airplanes, cabins at surf spots, and knowledge of breaks we’ve never heard of.
Reciprocity is the answer. I’ve seen it work many times. The surfing community in Alaska is coming together and the result is that we are all catching more waves. That new guy who just paddled out into your local break might just have a floatplane and be looking for a friend that can join him for some fly-out surf trips he’s been wanting to do.
Be a friend and reap the rewards, that’s what I’ve found to be the answer. By sharing some information about surfing in Alaska I’ve in turn been given knowledge and ideas for a lifetime of surfing this last frontier along with offers of boat, airplane, and helicopter rides.
I know many readers are thinking that sharing is good, except when it comes to their local break. I understand that every situation is unique and when I consider posting something to SurfAlaska.net I do my best to be respectful of peoples concerns whether I agree with them or not. The number of positive and thankful emails and comments received far outweighs the negative and I don’t want those few unhappy voices to determine the direction of Surf Alaska.
As always, please feel free to email or call me. I hope that we can have a constructive discussion about this issue and focus on the awesome potential Alaska offers us.
SurfAlaska.net is my home page. You are doing a great job. SOCAL, HB, transplant to AK tired of local yokel stuff, hoping to see you down there for a taste of clean Kachemak salt water. Getting the stoke from your great web site, Matt Setian Art Teacher Grace Christian School
Nice post Scott! I think this is an important issue and one not unique to surfing. Skiers/snowboarders, fishermen (and probably many others) encounter this situation regulary, especially in an age of expanding access to information.
The crux of the issue for me is that this type of knowledge is often hard earned by locals. The idea that any visitor (tourist) can simply check a website to get that same information can be hard to swallow. I like to think that most (but probably not all) “locals” enjoy sharing good days, but they want others to earn those good days too. It’s one thing to give some advice to the guy camped out at the beach, another to give that same info to the guy checking facebook in his condo in Anchorage.
Nevertheless, I usually find people who are overally secretive to be kinda silly, surf breaks are complicated enough to elude most of us, most of the time. But the internet is powerful in it’s dissemination of information, I wince when I see tide or swell info posted, especially when it’s for my home break (like you said).
I’ve certainly benefited access to all types of info and i’m glad that roads don’t go everywhere.
Good point… giving out too much info too easily goes against everthing us Alaskans believe in, why we live here and love the hard work it takes to reap the rewards. If only Scott was respectful of the local people, like he says he is… it’s not too much to ask to not post every single swell, wind, tide AND map to a break that already has a community of local surfers that have worked years for that information. I hope Alaskan surfers can travel and share their unique places, but how about keeping some adventure and exploraion, isn’t that what its all about?
Sounds like your drinking Hateraid!
surfing brings that high horse attitude. As a life long skier I know all about it. I absolutely hate this trait. Someone in a condo has just as much right to surf as you. They could be a doctor saving lives too busy to be a local. That doctor could save your life that one day he shows up and you need medical attention right away. People will surf all the spots. Planet Earth is for everyone. Scott publish that shit up because it is only going to make it easier to go surfing in alaska. That is what we need not this elusive I grew up in a small town, don’t pop my bubble bullshit. They are not your waves or mine. They don’t care about you or the next guy. They have no feelings, why should you? Scott is doing something special right now and why should he not use his first amendment right? Let Alaskan surf break out and when it does all the groms are going to be busting airs on both your faces. Shit we could get a surfing circuit and maybe even put out a pro surfer in years to come.
I can’t tell if this comment is serious or a joke.
I live and surf in Northern California. I publish a blog for friends, which has become something of a go to guide for weather/conditions in the region. I never name places, but i certainly provide people with a way to understand how certain breaks might be a good call on a day to day basis. Most of California’s known spots are packed. Even in cold Nor Cal. However, you can still find plenty of unspoiled, uncrowded waves between San Francisco and the Oregon border if you know when, how and what to look for. So I think what you guys are doing is cool. Access in Alaska is going to keep most of the coast line uncrowded. Easily accessed, “known” locations will always have people. We live on a big planet. If you want to get away from people at your surf spots – then open your eyes and go explore. Don’t blame others for “outing” a spot or sharing info on a blog. You still have to figure it out – no matter how clear the road map happens to be. Cheers, wasabi.
I gave a friend half my cookie the other day. She was happy. I was happy. Less chance now that I will turn into a greedy lil chubbo. Most things are better if shared. Keep up the great commentary and photos Scott.
Share the waves.
The difficulty of access in Alaska, not to mention the fear of cold, will always keep “crowds” out of almost every spot so worrying about disclosure is ridiculous. There are a few spots on that “localism” list that I’ve been trying to get to for a couple of years now and been unable to because of timing, weather, small windows, work, and whether I can round up a friend. If I’ve got the money but still can’t make it, then I don’t think anyone needs to worry about crowding. Spread the aloha. It will come back to you in the end.
Don’t lose sleep over this. I lived and surfed in Dutch Harbor for five years then Cordova for five years where I shaped surfboards under the Surfboards Alaska logo (I sold about ten boards!). In both spots there was a few surfers who were always busting my chops about disclosing the local surf breaks in fear of the “word” getting out. That was from 1991 to 2001. Twelve years later the surfing population in Dutch Harbor is now zero, and in Cordova the numbers have stayed at the same level….four! Now after living in Hawaii and Texas I can personaly let you in on a secret…..
No one wants to spend $2,000 on a vacation to go to Alaska and surf!!!! (except for the fringe looney or two). So do yourselves a favor, welcome the occasional stray into your lineups and enjoy it while it last….for the rest of your lives!
Dave
In the 1990’s we couldn’t even find a surf shop to order wetsuits on, much less provide ALL info necessary on any surf spot in the world. It is very different now. We always welcome the occasional stray into our lineups, of course!! Traveling of fun and meeting new people is great. There is a big difference between that, and finally getting our friends together for a much needed trip due to work and weather, and find a huge boat full of guys that dont even share the few waves! If everyone REALLY took turns and shared, it would be a much more peaceful ocean.
Scott,
There is a big difference from helping out the local youngster that wants to become a surfer and telling the world on the internet about secret, sometimes sacred spots. You can help people learn and spread the stoke, but once you start to profit by it, that becomes an issue with me. It seems to me the reason for your webpage is mainly to sell surf gear and make money. Plenty of people in our community could have sold this place out, but we realize that it isn’t always best to shit in your own nest. Apparently you don’t get that, as you are not from here and feel that you have the right to use our beauty and assets to sell your gear and make money at our expense. That’s my issue. Keep doing what you feel is right, but you need to know that your actions have consequences to others.
Additionally, I’m not sure how long you have surfed in Alaska, but I’ve have seen it change a lot in the past few years, crowds are an issue. Becareful what your after.
Think about it…
Get over it. Alaska has more surfable coastline than the entire lower fourty-eight and there’s how many regulars in all those line ups? What’s the matter bra? You getting lazy and hangin at the local easy drive up spot or what? Seems like you’ve got too much time on your hands. Maybe it’s time for a long cold skiff ride, a two hour walk through the rain forest, then up the beach for another mile or more. All through Brown country. Let’s see how many people are in the water when you gaze out…….None
How many people are in the water when we gaze out???? None, in the good ol’ days! For over 15 years we have explored in our skiff, hiked miles and camped through bear country (oh my gosh, what do you know, bears live here too!) Whats up with that attitude when you have no idea what we have been through to find surf spots to get away from the ONE spot that is road accessible, so it is crowded and inconsistent when it does break! Why else would we be concerned about the future of this area, we arent telling you guys what to do with your community. Get over yourself, bra!
As Yoda would say “greedy wave monger you are.”
GW,
I don’t think that you know Scott, as he is from here he has surfed here for years and he has only been selling gear mostly to his friends since July. He has been spreading the surf alaska stoke for years. He initially started this website as a surfer blog and so surfers could communicate with each other online.
I think that Scott would be one of the last people “selling out” our state.
I understand the concern that you have, but like many on here I don’t think that you need to worry about getting run over by crowds.
Regards,
Nathan
A blog for communication and selling gear to friends….. great. But why Maps and ALL details on spots that have a local surfing community?? A blog we can all talk, and share, but selling info about a community you dont even live in…. come on…. anyone knows thats not cool. Why have so many places become heavily localized???
Yea I get the crowded concern and all. I have had my share of it. Learning to surf in north Malibu I have seen crowds and sometimes ugly crowds. Then moved here and forgot about surfing for a while and went fishing. Not sure which is worse fishing bings in July or surfing north shore in Christmas time. But even when surfing bishops or the spit with a bunch of guys out the vibe out in the water is a whole lot nicer then those other places. Anyday you can get wet and play in our clean water is a good day indeed. [note: there is an outfall from beluga slough [lined up with boardwalk] out about 2500 feet from beach where ‘treated’ “efluent” is released there.
I understand that all you folks that don’t live in Sitka don’t worry about crowds. The fact of the matter is most locals in Sitka do, and they requested that the SurfAlaska crew didn’t post any maps or names of local breaks. Scotty did anyways. Which pretty much showed no respect to the locals that surf and live here. So now they are pissed.
Also, I have taken that long skiff ride and a long hike through bear country to be enjoying a secluded break with friends (that took a few years to dial in) until a boat load of guys just off the plane showed up and aggressively tried to dominate the peak. They found the place from a map some other dumb ass had decided to put on line.
Hi GW – Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts here. I appreciate your perspective.
I just want to clarify one thing. In my discussions with a few Sitka surfers prior to this excitment, I was told that it was acceptable to share information about Sealion Cove and Sandy’s. I understand that not all Sitka surfers share the same perspective on this, but from my conversations I felt comfortable posting what I did. Now, I see some of you are pretty upset and are claiming to speak for all the locals. I’m sorry you feel that way, but I truly believe that the challenges in accessing sealion cove are a sufficient barrier to keep my little blog post from having a significant impact on the number of non-local surfers ruining your enjoyment of that beautiful beach.
Gw,
Fare enough.
Nathan
Okay…so ONE time “a boat load of guys just off the plane…” Give me a break, how many times has that happened? I just spent four years living and surfing in Hawaii and to hear you snivel about crowds getting off the plane just makes me laugh. You have no idea what a crowd is.
You’ve got it so good. Get some Aloha brah! You might have pioneered those spots, but they’re not yours.
Who would want Ak to be HI??? Lame….
Demitri, where did I write that I wanted AK to be HI??? Lame yourself.
There are so few of us Alaskan’s that surf I feel it is great that you have created this web site. I’ll even share two of my favorite spots: Jeannie Cove on Montague Island and the head of Puget Bay fronting the Gulf.I’ve never seen another human surfer at these spots. A few very territorial male Sea Lions and huge male Brown Bears checking out my kayak. Good luck finding the freeway turnoffs for these sites.Alaska is not at all like Southern California, or Oahu. Surfers in Alaska need each other.
I’ve visited Sitka. Heard there was a surf scene there. After a week scrambling and hiking and boating all over Baranof and Kruzof I saw one board on the top of a jeep in town, but mine was the only one in the water.
We store and fix our boards and don’t carry them on top of our cars!
Ha! So I guess it was a hallucination seeing a board on a jeep with local plates in Sitka (I think I have a pic of it too)? Maybe it was one of the kind-hearted locals helping a tourist find a good place to surf? But I don’t see why you need to fix them if they’re not being used… I saw none on the water, certainly no signs of crowding.
Sphnxh, you had a board in the water here? Wow, your so cool. My friends and I avoided you by boating, and hiking miles so we could surf alone. I bet you carry your dry board on your car all the time to look cool. (Along with your cool picture of it) You are exactly the type of visitor we will go to all costs to avoid. Surfing a board frequently requires maintenance, but I guess you dont have to worry about that.
Exactly. Cause guess what’s going on there for the majority of the surfing season…? The few numbers of surfers are wrapped up big time in the fishing/tourism industry and put in long hours, days at a time, making their money for the year and don’t surf nearly as much as they talk about surfing. Yeah, the few drive up spots get hit up more occasionally, but the remote sites take planning, several willing people to put forth the effort of securing a boat, than having a full day to blow pulling off the session. In the mean time what’s happening to all that surf? In Hawaii it’s called Mela au pulaa’ (waves with no man).
That’s why this whole thread is a joke.
What makes you think you know what is going on here the majority of the season? You got it all wrong. We dont have “a few drive up spots”, we have ONE. Planning to go to the remote sites is, well, easy if your serious about it. Weather is the issue, not rounding up “several willing people and securing a boat”. If your serious about surfing here, you own a boat, and you do not need “several people”. Alaska is a place of great beauty and special places that is preferable to share it with just a few friends, birds, sea lions and bears. If you dont think so stay in the lower 48. I’ve explored these islands my whole life, and have always been stoked to share a wave, and see a new person in the water. For years were had a great vibe, and now as I watch my son grow and his interest in the ocean expand, I’m sad to see the changes that greed has brought, as it’s harder to find uncrowded surf around the globe. The last frontier??? Not for long thanks to people like you and this site that doesnt’ want the next generation to have the chance to explore on their own and reap the rewards of discovery… without a map from the internet. I grew up here working hard for what I have and love….. that’s what Alaska is about. Help us keep our stoke, stay away.
You think you know what goes on here? Obviously not. I grew up here exploring these islands and have always welcomed a new face. This crap is what changes that. We have ONE drive up spot, so any serious surfer has a skiff and does not need “several willing people to put forth the effort”. That is what we do, it takes effort and knowledge to know when and where to go. Conditions dont line up all that often, but when they do we are surfing, not blogging, posting pictures, and selling out someone else’s community. We will be off the radar, not talking to you, as you are not worth our time. Enjoy your bitching, while were surfing.
surfers are travelers and everybody is local somewhere. so grab your stick and let’s see how good you are.
Several issues here:
1) no AK spots are localized. There is no pervasive ugly vibe. While every few years some cheechako will try and vibe someone they usually return to the lower 48 shortly thereafter. Alaskans are respectful and inviting in the line up ( whenever there is a “line up”). This issue of “localism” should not be confused with the issue of “giving away the goods”…which Scott is guilty of.
2)When I read your article published in Surfers Path I was very disappointed to see you name Southcentrals best and easiest access spot. Granted, it still involves a drive and a boat ride, but for those of us who had been routinely riding there for years prior in small groups of 2 to 4, it really sucked. Surfers Path runs great articles and stories and very rarely names spots, so for you to go out of your way and be disrespectful of one of the many unwritten rules of surfing is unconsiderate.
Now many will say ” there will never be crowds in AK” “you guys are just rusty old farts who hate change”, bla bla bla, but I have a suspicion that these folks are the same ones who never do the trail breaking work,figure out the best conditions through trial and error or who sacrifice the time and money to enjoy these spots with a friend or two or alone. They whine about those who are protective of hard earned knowledge but never do the work or indeed never just go up and ask those people for information. I have never met an Alaskan surfer( myself included) who did not immediately offer up good information and invite someone to their spot, no matter how “secret/unknown” when asked. Publishing all of this to the internet is a whole other situation, it removes the human element of surfing, the human element that breeds respect.
3) you have started a business out of your passion, congratulations…maybe….when people start to give out endless information to anyone in order to promote sales their perspective of what is right becomes skewed by the desire to put food on the table.
Scott: if I had a great fishing hole, and fishing came up in conversation with someone, I’d probably invite them over and we’d fish together and I ‘d know that they’d eventually tell and take their friends there. I’d know that 30 or 40 years down the road it might not be the same fishing hole, but I’d be OK with that, such is the world, such is human sharing. If however, said friend had a business selling fishing gear and published this info on the internet to anyone, whatever their intentions, I’d be pissed. There is livelihood and there is way of life. Surfing in Alaska is not easy, nor frequent but it is rewarding on most days in ways particular to AK, so to have our most accessible waves pimped out so you can sell more gear is counter to the Alaskan surf culture that some here dismiss as “localism”(see above point #1)
I think most Alaskan surfers don’t mind Montague or harder access( plane) spots being discussed but rallying crowds on the internet to road accessible or short boat ride spots while trying to sell surf gear leaves this surfer with a bad taste in his mouth.
In the meantime, I have enjoyed your photography for a while and am always stoked to see folks “get after it”. I have no beef with the person only some actions. Look forward to sharing a wave with you one of these days.
Sincerly
Thomas
1) This issue of “localism” should not be confused with the issue of “giving away the goods”…which Scott is guilty of.”
Concern that someone has “given away the goods” is the very definition of localism.
It’s hardly the case that anyone’s shared any secrets. I first heard about Sealion Cove years ago while living in Australia. And it’s really not hard find a place like these for those of us you can read a map, even if it’s taken the locals a while to find it and stake out their corner of the playground.
2) “Now many will say ” there will never be crowds in AK” “you guys are just rusty old farts who hate change”, bla bla bla, but I have a suspicion that these folks are the same ones who never do the trail breaking work,figure out the best conditions through trial and error or who sacrifice the time and money to enjoy these spots with a friend or two or alone. They whine about those who are protective of hard earned knowledge but never do the work or indeed never just go up and ask those people for information.”
Your suspicions are unwarranted.
3) That’s your opinion.
If you don’t like what someone is doing, find a way to do it better, it’s the American way… complaining and selfishness are not.
Anyway, you can’t have a “human element that breeds respect” without the humans. Sitka’s not the North Shore, but surfers will come. When they do you have not only the chance to learn from those who might be better than you, but also the right and the privilege to teach travelers and future surfing generations those skills and virtues necessary to preserve surfing in Alaska and abroad.
Who knows, you just might find a way to promote respect, conservation and the local economy at the same time. And at what cost? that you might have the occasional line up? A small price to pay.
Very nicely said, Thomas.
There’s an old snowboarder who pioneered most of the spots from Seward to Montague and we surfed most of these waves with no crowds, we owe him dearly. I never saw him publish a map although pics have been posted. The best spot around with the easiest access can have multiple boats and many heads in the water these days. We will never have a crowd problem when the waves are good because 90% of the local surfers cant make the drop on their 9′ longboards if the waves are over 4 feet and most of our “great Alaskan windswells” have 2 good waves per set so the other 10% who can make the drop have plenty of waves. Wider and thicker, not longer!
“if you don’t surf don’t start, if you surf don’t stop”.
I just had to say that it was in marketing thing back in the ninety’s surf rags. I am a bit of an old fart now but still can’t stop surfing. Although the cold is keeping me out until I get new rubber, I/we would appreciate leaving the agro local vibe back in the lower forty8. In the summer we got enough hecticnesity from ted and betty touroid. Winter is mellow time.
Adam – You hit the nail on the head with your closing line.
“Help us keep our stoke, stay away.”
That says it all. Duke is rolling in his grave. The only part of that sentence that is correct is the part of your needing help with stoke. Because you and your local crews bashing here don’t have it.
In the mid 80’s I had the chance to live and surf on Kodiak Island for 9 months. Two surfer’s took the time to show me the ropes, their friendship and insight to surfing the wild frontier of Alaska has permeated the rest of my surfing life. These many years later as I work, surf and live my life in Los Angeles it is painful to read this email thread. It has been with great anticipation that I go to this site to see the pics and read the stories. The incredible opportunity to take on the full intensity of nature during your surfing experience is a true treasure. It will not be preserved by hate or local vibe nor will it be ruined by Lower 48er’s. I know the feelings run strong up there because of the sacrifice, I still have friends up there. Anyway, just wanted to throw in a little perspective. Alaska is so breathtaking, enjoy the moments!
Sean
November 17th, 2010 on 10:44 am,
“Sphnxh, you had a board in the water here?”
Yes.
“Wow, your[sic] so cool.”
Only compared to some.
“My friends and I avoided you by boating, and hiking miles so we could surf alone.”
Really, where did you go? And when was this?
“I bet you carry your dry board on your car all the time to look cool.”
No, I don’t need to do that to look cool.
“(Along with your cool picture of it)”
Read more carefully before you comment. The picture is of a Jeep with Sitka plates carrying a board. I don’t have a Jeep, nor do I have a vehicle registered in Sitka. Unless your referring to another picture, then I’m not sure what you’re talking about.
“You are exactly the type of visitor we will go to all costs to avoid.”
And what kind is that? The kind that respects the locals enough to talk seek them out and make some new friends, learn about the local culture and support the local economy? The kind that doesn’t respond to blog comments with loads of assumptions and ad hominem?
“Surfing a board frequently requires maintenance, but I guess you dont have to worry about that.”
That can depend a lot on your skills, maybe you have to fix your board more than others, I don’t know, but at the moment I only have one board and it’s in the process of getting patched up so I guess I can relate. but I’ve always enjoyed the building and repairing process so it’s cool.
Now, I’m open to hearing your opinion if you have anything remotely related to the topic to share?
why is it that coastal alaskans tend to be rude and people from the interior are as nice as can be?
I’ve never surfed Sitka, but I do know that Sandy Beach and Sea Lion Cove are listed on multiple sites as established surf breaks. You can even book B&B’s, join surf adventure trips, and visit the local surf shop. If a community wanted to establish itself as ‘Surf City Alaska’ Sitka would have the foremost argument. Yak may attempt to argue that fact though…. Surfline’s LOLA even has a forecast for the Wall!
Quite the spirited discussion! I hope that the underlying reasoning behind all our opinions isn’t forgotten. Simply put, riding a wave is fun. How, where, and when we ride them is secondary. As we make the M/V Milo ready for departure to points further north, I would like to thank the Surfers of Sitka for their hospitality during our stay. I hope that the winter brings you all plentiful swells. Hopefully in our travels we will be able to find some alternative surf spots within reach to help ease the pressure on the established ones. If not, it won’t be from lack of effort!
To all, we have been given a gift, please keep the Aloha!
wave break man surf!
As I walked outside the hockey rink and across the street, while my son was on the ice and watched 4 or 5 guys paddle out in some pretty soupy water at a mere 24 degrees with an on shore biting wind with ice particles hitting me in the face I had to think back at this thread and laugh. It wasn’t too crowded.
Yes, I respect everyones opinion and passion on this subject. However, where the heck is all the negativity coming from?
I grew up surfing So Cal ( taught by a bunch of grommies) and then moved to Oahu. I understand the fear of crowded surf spots. I surfed every morning in Waikiki before work and still got my stoke on. The Beach Boys were nothing but respectful and were more than happy to pass on the surfing etiquette and share their love and stoke of surfing and protect me from swinging fists from a crazy new yorker ( thanks Rabbit!)
Upon moving here to AK Jack from Icy Waves went out of his way to get me surfing. He met me at the Anchorage airport with a wetsuit. I missed the one longboard festival ( Hichinbrook) due to 911 and there ended my surfing until I made the move to Homer, specifically to be on and in the ocean. But, while in Anchorage I desperately looked online to connect with anyone who was surfing. there was nothing! No one ( except Jack)!
Once in Homer, Scott was kind enough to call me every time a swell hit and he was going to surf. Randy Keller would physically come into my business and get me himself!
Isn’t that what surfing is all about? Sharing the stoke, the complete bliss? all you naysayers…have you never turned someone on to the sport with your contagious passion?
Why would you deny anyone of the incredible experience of surfing up here? Not that that many people are going to spend the money nor brave the elements to cold water surf.
I do not have the resources to get to hidden spots. I am a serious surfer who has a crappy boat. I do not have a plane, I am a mom who has to work with a husband gone most of the time on the north slope. I appreciate all of the contacts and information I can now obtain online. I appreciate Scott’s effort in keeping all of us informed. Just because I can now learn about some new killer breaks does not mean that I am going to ever be able to get to those spots. But, I sure enjoy the pictures and knowledge of where they are located.When I cannot be in the water blissing out I look at pictures and learn about new spots and daydream.
I also appreciate being able to buy a wetsuit or a board here locally now.
Hope to see you out in the water!
Kristi –
Too bad you missed the longboard festival. 911 kept all the bush planes grounded but when the ban lifted we managed to fly about twelve surfers out to the forest service cabin on Hitchenbrook, Island. We had great waves, friends, food, fires for three days.
From your post, it seems you have been lucky enough to experience the true aloha of what Alaska surfing has and still is in most corners of the state. It’s surfers going out of their way to share the stoke of exploring and getting in the water, and going the extra distance to help others. Working for Reeve Aleutian Airways in the ’90’s helped me search/surf the entire Aleutian chain from Akutan Island all the way out Attu, and when ever I ran into other surfers it was always a moment of pure stoke to be in the water with another human. It was the same searching out surf in the Cordova area from the east flats of the Copper River to Hitchenbrook. I keep in close touch with my old surfing buddies there and I guarantee it’s still the same stoke in all those areas and still just as much an adventure. I know Yakutat and the Sitka area are leading the charge it seems these days in surfing numbers and from the post you can see for yourself the attitudes have changed towards feelings on visiting surfers. That’s not how it was in the ’90’s and early 2000’s. But places and people change, sometimes for the worse, and growing crowds in any lineup will do that. I still condone the “stay away” mentality, no matter where it is in the world.
My family is thinking of a August 2011 trip to Cordova, if we do, Alaska Lonboard Festival II will be on. If so, just give a call to any of the surfers there, they’d be STOKED to go out of their way to help you make arrangments.
Mahalo
Hey Dave, It is Kristi in Homer. Checking in to see if your family is taking a trip to Cordova. Time for a festival of some sort…surfer’s, SUUP’ers and Kayakers!
Kristi,
Thank you for writing this.
I have had the last two weeks off of work and have been out on the water eleven of those days, in good surf and no surf with a stand up board. I am going to crowded Kauai for a surf vacation so I am trying to get into surfing shape. In the last two weeks I have not had to share a wave with anyone. I wish I had someone with me on mon on the spit I got pinned under a couple of times.
Last week and on monday there were surfers by the rink, and out of respect I went down the spit to stay out of their way and I still caught plenty of nice waves.
Sun the 7th we had good sized surf. I parked across from the rink and ended up down the spit after an hour and a half so I started walking back to the truck instead of paddleing back in the surf, when someone stopped to give me a ride his name is Don I have never met him before and thought it is was nice of him to offer me a ride. He then told me where they were going to surf when the water dropped a little.
Scott,Mike and I went to A.P a month ago and out of respect I stayed away from them. I didn’t want to get in the way when both of them waved me in to the line up and said you aren’t going to catch much over there paddle in here.
My point is that so far no one in Homer has acted like they own anything they have been helpful and full of encouragement.
I am going to take the SUP out for a work out and I doubt That I will see anyone today.
Nathan
Dave, wow……I am hoping with all of my might that you and your family will indeed make the travels this summer.I think a longboard/shortboard/ even SUP festival is just what we all need! All these years later I now have a family and hope to have my kids turn into little grommies soon!
What an incredible experience that would be to get out to Hinchinbrook and share that with my family and fellow surfers. The husband could fish and I could surf….sounds like the honeymoon we never took! I am quite sure that you would have a good sized crowd! And personally, I love meeting other surfers! Who else am I going to tell surfing stories to> They get lost on my husband!
Nathan~ we need to meet up! I am NOT a good surfer here because I get carried away by the current up the spit 90% of the time before I can ever get out. Also, I promised my husband that I would never paddle out alone. ( with him being so far away working ). And on that note….I am putting my cell phone out here in public forum in hopes of contacting even more Homer surfers who would put up with a sucky female surfer paddling out with them! 441-5411
Mahalo.
No wories. The “longboard” word was used because it sounded good at the time. There were a handfull of shortboarders. Anything goes. I’m sure I’ll be on a standup if I can track one down.
Scott can hook you up! I am kicking myself in the butt for not bringing one back from Cali years ago! I’m still looking for a used one.
I’m that guy. I got back into surfing after a career spent in Alaska mountains. Surfing to me had so much more sould than skiing. I’ve been to these breaks. Homer, yakutat, Kodiak, Sitka. I also trip annually to O’ahu, and Cali. I suck. I can barely catch waves.
Know what? I was tol the person having the most fun is having the most fun. Duke was right.
A lot of what I have learned was from the SurfAlaska Crew and those who surf these breaks. For all of you who have showed me the spots and helped me along, mahalo. That is the energy I came for.
For the locals who are put off, bring the stink-eye. I have been in Alaska all my life, and you can push whatever luck you might think you have.
Now, let’s get in the water and get clean sets.
Props to Tony for putting a practical perspective on this, and recognizing an original Alaska surf pirate… I mean explorer.
Kelly Slater mentions something in the movie Black and White about recognizing those who have gone before you, and the respect that follows this realization. It was a point made by a young up and comer who had a maturity beyond his years. It does us good to remember those who went first, and often times that takes the form of a silent nod and pulling back.
In my years of surfing in AK, the only local vibe I’ve had to deal with was from a couple of 1 ton Steller Studs. Primarily during mating or feeding frenzies, basically when it was really good out!
Here is one of many good articles on the subject of selling out a spot:
http://outsideonline.com/outside/destinations/200708/big-idea-secret-spots.html
Oh and one other thing, like Tony said, and JC preaches… Short, Wide and Thick does the Trick.
Gid
Note to editor:
No matter what you do, there are going to be people who believe it’s not ok to share this public information. I run a local website here in Southern California, and I deal with this same kind of crap on a daily basis — when I am describing sessions and posting photos of breaks that are directly adjacent to one of the largest highways in the country. My best advice: ignore them. Often, the most outspoken “local” defenders are not even from the place they are so sensitive about. Nobody has the right to tell you what you can and cannot post. Just be sensible and sensitive. If posting about a “secret spot”, just don’t name the spot. The locals will know where the spot is, but the outsiders won’t, so WTF…
[…] my share of bad attitudes. You can read my thoughts about it from a few years ago in this post: Surfing Localism in Alaska. It’s safe to say that my attitude has matured a bit, but a lot of what I shared in that post […]
It appears the self righteous crowd promoters are always the ones out to make a buck off of ruining the surfing experience for others. And then they are the biggest whiners if anyone calls them on it. It’s all about profit for them and screw everyone else.