Pacific Ocean Surfing at Westport, Washington
Northwest Surfers Find Good Waves near Seattle and Portland, USA
Oct 23, 2008
Westport, a small town on the central Washington state Pacific coast an hour's drive from Olympia - has 18 miles of beachbreak waves - starting at the Grays Harbor South Jetty and stretching all the way south to Grayland.
Surfers also find waves at The Groins - a series of five finger jetties that jut out from the Westport Harbor breakwater - and at nearby Half Moon Bay.,
Most surfers cluster near the South Jetty at Westhaven State Park, which is just outside Westport.
When to Surf the Pacific Ocean Near Westport, Washington
Westport surfers keep a close eye on Pacific Ocean swells and weather - and they head right for the South Jetty and other Westhaven State Park beach breaks when the swells are small and winds light.
Westport's waves are often too big to surf in the winter - except for expert surfers - as North Pacific storms brew up giant swells and send them booming into the Northwest coast. The same storms often pack high onshore winds, which blow the surf into a churning, roiling mess.
Late spring and summer bring smaller waves, lighter breezes - and surfers, said Al Perlee, longtime local surfer - since the 1970s - and owner of The Surf Shop.
"Spring through fall is the time for most surfers," Perlee said. "In the spring, the surf starts to dial down, and in fall it starts to dial up again."
No matter the season, surfers need full wetsuits - including gloves, hoods and booties - as the water is always in the 50-degree range. It's even colder during the winter.
The Jetty and Westhaven State Park - Surfing for Beginners to Experts
Many Northwest surfers stood up on a board for the first time at The Jetty, Perlee said.
"It has lots of nice whitewater waves, and those are the best to learn on," Perlee said.
The Jetty and Westhaven State Park are at their best on swells from knee-high to head-high, and when the wind is calm or blowing offshore. Wind from the east blows offshore at Westport.
On the right day, especially in summer and early fall, the beachbreaks at The Jetty and south to Grayland are world-class waves.
Westhaven State Park is Surf Central at Westport. The park has plenty of parking, bathrooms and hot showers.
Other Options for Surfing Near Westport, Washington - The Groins and Half Moon Bay
If the surf is too big or blown-out at The Jetty, Westport surfers head to the Groins or Half Moon Bay.
The Groins catches northwest or west swells that flow into Grays Harbor. The finger jetties and sandbars turn the swells into point-break waves that can give a long ride.
But tides in and out of Grays Harbor can create strong currents - rips - at The Groins, Perlee said.
Beginners can try The Groins, but low slack tide is best, as the waves are good and the rip currents calm for an hour or so. Slack tide is the period between low tide and when the incoming tide starts.
Half-Moon Bay, also known as The Cove, is Westport's fickle, tricky wave. Half-Moon Bay is inside Grays Harbor and is near The Groins.
Half Moon Bay faces slightly north, and big storm west swells get cleaned up and whittled down to size during the journey through the Grays Harbor Jetty walls and into Grays Harbor.
But be warned: Half Moon Bay's waves are often hollow and powerful and break in very shallow water. This is usually a place for experts to get tube rides - and break surfboards.
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