Short Sands: Leave It Better Than You Found It

Short Sands: Leave It Better Than You Found It!

There are beaches you visit, and then there are places that slowly become part of who you are.

For me, Short Sands isn't just where I teach surfing. It's where I work, where I learn, where I reset, and where I'm reminded that the Oregon Coast doesn't belong to us—we're simply lucky enough to spend time here.

Nestled inside Oswald West State Park, Short Sands sits between towering old-growth forests and the rugged cliffs of Cape Falcon. The trail winds beneath massive Sitka spruce trees before opening onto one of the few naturally sandy coves on this stretch of coastline. Every walk in feels like entering a different world.

As a surf coach, I think of myself as more than an instructor.

I'm a steward of this coastline.

That means teaching people how to stand up on a surfboard, but it also means teaching them how to stand in a place with respect.

Before we paddle out, we talk about the unwritten rules of surfing. Respect the lineup. Respect each other. Respect the ocean.

But we also talk about another group of locals.

The Roosevelt elk that wander the forest.

The banana slugs crossing the trail after the rain.

The bald eagles overhead.

The seals resting offshore.

The seabirds soaring around Cape Falcon.

They're the true locals.

We are the visitors.

First Wave Ever!

Every empty water bottle picked up, every piece of trash carried out, every person who stays on the trail instead of trampling sensitive vegetation—that all matters. These small choices help protect one of Oregon's most remarkable coastal ecosystems for the next family that comes to experience it.

Surfing has taught me something I never expected.

The better I become at reading waves, the more I realize this sport isn't about conquering nature.

It's about cooperating with it.

The ocean always gets the final say.

That lesson carries onto land.

We don't need to leave our mark everywhere we go. Sometimes the greatest compliment we can pay a place is leaving it exactly as we found it—or even a little better.

When students come to SurfLife Surf School, I hope they leave with more than a wave or a few good photos.

I hope they leave understanding that this coastline isn't just beautiful.

It's alive.

Every lesson is an opportunity to create a surfer, but more importantly, it's an opportunity to create a steward—someone who understands that respect for the ocean begins long before you paddle out.

So the next time you hike down to Short Sands, slow down for a minute.

Listen to the creek.

Smell the salt air.

Watch the trees sway above the trail.

Wave to the locals—even the ones with feathers, fur, or flippers.

Because we're all just sharing this incredible corner of the Pacific.

Let's leave it better than we found it.

If you'd like to experience Short Sands the way locals do, I'd be honored to share it with you. SurfLife Surf School is about more than catching waves—it's about learning to respect the ocean, the coastline, and the incredible wildlife that calls this place home.

Learn more or book a lesson: https://surfingteacher.com

Come surf. Come learn. Leave the coast better than you found it. Coast Like A Local.

South Falcon Wall at Short Sands Beach