For years, I have been itching to surf the bore tide in Alaska, but I never thought the opportunity would arise, but today was the day! By some miracle I was in Alaska and had the opportunity to surf the bore tide with a college buddy, so we inflated his paddle boards and headed out in the Turnagain Arm for some bore tide surfing. The joke was kinda on me as I epically failed, but you have to watch this video to find out how I failed!
Along the Seward Highway, just south of Anchorage, Alaska, there is a surfable wave created by the Bore Tide in the Turnagain Arm. Surfing the bore tide takes a mix of skill, luck, and local knowledge but this friendly wave is accessible to all. This wave is created by the changing of the tide and can be ridden one time a day.
Where to catch the bore tide?
You can catch the bore tide in several locations along the Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm. Some of the most popular places to catch the wave are the 4th and 5th turn outs along the highway. Many surfers will put in at a turnout further down the arm and float towards the bore tide tide. Then ride back to their car.
What board is needed to surf the bore tide?
The bore tide in the Turnagain Arm changes in its size daily, so which board to chose is a difficult question. Most people will have success surfing the board tide on a longer and more buoyant board. Many people will use an inflatable stand up paddle-board. However, when the wave is large you will see several people surfing shortboard and making turns while on the wave.
Who can surf the bore tide?
Surfing the bore tide takes practice, however there is only one wave a day, so practice is few and far between. However, if you know how to surf, riding this wave won’t be an issue for you. The bore tide is an average size wave that requires local knowledge of where and when the wave will break. So, to surf the bore tide, you need a little luck on your side and local knowledge.
Bore tide surf report:
If you are in the area and looking for the surf report for the bore tide, click here.
What is a Bore Tide?
The Turnagain Arm bore tide is a wave formed when a super low tide and a super high tide crash into each other in the narrow and shallow waters of the Turnagain Arm.
The wave can come twice a day, typically only one is ridable, and is often surfed by local riders who are sometimes able to surf a very long time. Some have recorded the wave to be as long as two miles and as large as 5-10 foot faces. Usually, a minus low tide and a high tide of about 27 feet are required to make a wave big enough to surf.
