Surfing legend on riding the Oregon Coast's biggest waves

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast , host Zach Urness and intern Riley Ellis talk about big wave surfing and the people who chase 25 to 50 foot waves off the Oregon Coast.

Ellis interviews an Oregon surfing legend — Ollie Richardson. He's a Newport teacher, husband and father who also rides the state's largest waves.

Because of his extensive big wave resume, dating back to the early 2000s, Richardson is a local legend on the Oregon Coast.

Ellis, who grew up surfing in Lincoln City, remembers being a kid and watching Richardson tow-in to huge waves behind a jet ski.

The two talk about the thrill of riding big waves, the potential dangers, and complexity of balancing regular life with such an extreme hobby.

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The Explore Oregon Podcast is sponsored by:

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast . He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social .

Riley Ellis is an outdoor intern at the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at rellis@statesmanjournal.com .