Nelscott Reef, Oregon is a wave that is breathtaking to bear witness. From the shore you can feel its raw power, and from the water the sheer magnificence and thundering sound of this break is indescribable.
The beginning of the 2016 New Year saw an El Nino swell hit much of the Pacific. Oregon didn’t miss out on the energy that traveled miles and miles to hit this one lone point off the central coast. What makes this break unique is that not only do some of the greatest surfers from around the globe make the journey to stand on its steep face , but there is also a Marine Reserve just a short distance to the north. A marine reserve is a location in the ocean protected through legislation with ongoing scientific research. Some of the research we see being conducted includes monitoring the health of native fish populations, plant ecosystems, and other wildlife that thrive in Oregon’s ocean environment. Globally there is evidence of ocean acidification, rising water levels and temperatures, and human induced pollution; Oregon has not gone unscathed. However, conservation is reversing some of these effects and helping bring back balance.
Even though the Nelscott is just outside the reserve itself, the effects of this conservation effort will be felt. The reef existed long before surfers rode the gigantic waves above, and we hope now it will be there long after with continued support from the local and community.
The swell brought a great crew such as Will and Cliff Skudin, Damien Hobgood, Jamie Mitchell, Jeremy Rasmussen, Eric Akiskalian, Matt Rott, Tony Perez, and Ian Wallace, to name a few. Although the day was about surfing, the ocean shared the keys to health if one only bent their ears to listen…