LAPUSH — The threat of snow and 30 degree-temperatures don’t usually make for ideal surfing conditions.
But the annual LaPush Pummel and Surf Frolic, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, isn’t your typical surf event.
Since the early 1980s, the extreme sporting event has attracted hundreds of adventure-hungry surf kayakers and curious onlookers to the Quileute Reservation in LaPush.
In years past waves have reached as high as 20 feet, but this year they aren’t expected to top more than 10 feet, making them ideal for surf kayaking, said Ken Debonte, co-organizer of this year’s Surf Frolic.
“Right now it looks like it might snow, which should make it interesting,” Debonte said Thursday.
“But that’s part of the fun.”
Only in exiting the water
Debonte, who lives in Seattle, has been surf kayaking at LaPush for nine years. He says the cold water and winds don’t turn into serious factors for surfers until it’s time to get out of the water.
“As soon as you go out of the ocean, you need to run to the cabins because the water on you starts to turn to ice,” he said.
“That is similar to what we’re going to get this year.”
About 30 surf kayakers are planning to ride the cold waves on LaPush’s Friday Beach this weekend, Debonte said.
