Okay, so I’ve been itching to catch some waves, and living near Western Washington, I figured it was time to finally give it a shot. I’d heard mixed things – some say it’s epic, others say it’s a total wash. But hey, I had to see for myself.
Gearing Up
First things first, I needed gear. I’m a total newbie, so I hit up a local surf shop. Rented a wetsuit, boots, gloves, and a big ol’ foam board. The guy at the shop gave me the lowdown on thickness. He said about my wetsuit that I needed for the chilly water and how to not freeze my butt off. We talked about different surf spots like, you know a lot of local beaches. But, I’m keeping those secret for now! I don’t want everyone to know what’s the best, haha.
Hitting the Beach
I woke up super early, like, before the sun was even thinking about rising. Packed my car with the board and all my gear, fueled up on coffee and a breakfast burrito, and I was off. The drive was beautiful, all misty forests and winding roads. Finally made it to the beach, and… wow.
It was pretty empty, just a few other die-hards out there. The waves looked… well, they looked like waves. Not giant, scary ones, but definitely surfable. I suited up, which was a hilarious struggle in itself. Imagine trying to wrestle yourself into a full-body rubber suit. Good times.
The Wipeout (and Repeat)
Paddled out, feeling like a total dork on my giant foam board. I Tried to remember everything I’d watched in those YouTube tutorials. Pop up, stay low, look ahead… yeah, easier said than done. I got smashed. Face full of saltwater, board flying everywhere. Classic.
But, you know, it was actually kind of fun. I got back on, paddled out again, and… wiped out again. This happened, like, a million times. It was a cycle like wash, rinse, repeat, but with more saltwater up my nose. It was funny.
The Small Victories
Then, after what felt like hours, I actually caught a wave. For, like, maybe five seconds. I stood up, wobbled like crazy, and rode that thing for a short, glorious moment. It was the best feeling ever! I was so stoked that I hooted like an idiot, probably scaring the seagulls.
The Aftermath
After a few hours, I was exhausted, freezing, and totally waterlogged. But, I felt amazing. My arms were like noodles, my face was numb, and I’m pretty sure I swallowed half the Pacific Ocean. But I’d done it. I’d surfed in Western Washington.
What I Learned:
- Western Washington surfing is definitely cold. Like, really cold.
- Wetsuits are a necessary evil.
- Surfing is hard. Way harder than it looks.
- Even the smallest wave can make you feel like a champion.
- It is not very easy for a newbie to surf.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Maybe I’ll even graduate from that foam board someday. But for now, I’m happy to be a total beginner, embracing the wipeouts and celebrating the small victories. I’m hooked!
