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The Essential Guide to Alaska's Surf

Surfer Magazine recently spoke with Seward's Scott Reierson, owner-operator of Alaska Surf Guides, about how to brave surfing's frozen frontier. 

Born and raised in Seward, Scott Reierson isn't one for crowds. Inspired by Alaska surfing pioneers like Scott Liska, Mike McCune, and Scott Dickerson, Reierson started Alaska Surf Guides so that others could experience the thrill of remote, cold-water surfing in the Last Frontier. Dynamic conditions—and the possibility of discovering a spot that no one has ever surfed—makes each trip a unique experience. 

Reierson explains how his expedition-style trips utilize helicopters and bush planes to access backcountry beaches. He also dispenses valuable advice about the best time of year to surf out of Seward—spoiler alert: book your trip for the spring or fall—gear recommendations, travel tips, and more. 

In contrast to the cold-water reefs found in the Aleutians, Reierson travels to some of Alaska's most reliable and remote river mouths.

“I think the most common set-up you'll find is a river mouth-style break, because we have so much glacial runoff,” says Reierson. “We have a lot of sediment being pushed out of these rivers. During the summertime, it's a lot like Waimea, where sediment gets pushed out and creates a totally different sandbar...When you fly over, you fly over half a dozen spots in the process.”

Read the full article by Surfer author Davis Jones.

While in Seward, you can also paddle in tidewater glacial lagoon, go for a dogsled ride on an alpine glacier, view incredible wildlife in Kenai Fjords, climb to the top of an expansive ice field, and experience one of the toughest mountain races in the world

Photo: Chris Burkard

Categories: Things to Do
Author
Kelli Hatfield