Shortboard in Oregon

Oregon's coast is a hard, beautiful place to surf. Cliffs drop into the Pacific, long sand beaches run between headlands, and evergreens crowd the bluffs right down to the tideline. The water is cold and stays cold, which is exactly why the crowds thin out, dedicated surfers trade comfort for consistent swell and breaks they can have nearly to themselves. Roughly 363 miles of coastline run from the Columbia River south to the California border, and along that stretch the spots range from mellow to serious, usually with mist hanging over the whole thing.

The culture here is built around the elements rather than against them. Pacific City, Lincoln City, and Newport anchor the scene, with the shops, rentals, and easygoing local feel that surf towns need. Thick wetsuits are the price of admission year-round (booties, gloves, and a hood included), and the payoff is empty lineups and scenery that stops you mid-paddle. It's a scene that keeps drawing people who'd rather earn their waves in a cold, wild place than share warm ones with a crowd.