Newport

Newport encompasses several breaks spread along the central Oregon coast rather than a single point. South Beach is the most accessible beach break, consistently producing left-handers and working best with west swell combined with east wind. The Peak, north of South Beach, is a reef break offering both rights and lefts over rock and sand, usable from 3 to 8 feet and working year-round with swells from southwest through northwest. Conditions are optimal around mid tide, particularly on a rising tide. The area caters to various skill levels, from mellow beach sections to more demanding reef sections.

Organized surfing arrived at Newport in the mid-1960s when Scott Blackman began surfing Agate Beach after returning from Air Force service in Guam. The early local scene included families like the Scribers, who surfed as early as the 1960s, and shaper John Kelsey established a board-making presence in the area. Nearby Nelscott Reef became a major milestone when surfers including John Forse first paddled it in 1995, leading to the creation of the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic, which made history in 2010 as the first big wave competition to include a women's division. The Agate Beach Surf Classic, held in September, has long served the community as a youth scholarship fundraiser.

South Beach State Park at the South Jetty provides public access to the primary championship venue for the Oregon State Surfing Championship. Agate Beach offers another nearby access point. Both locations are administered by Oregon Parks and Recreation with standard state park facilities and coastal parking available. Hazards include cold water, rip currents, and sharks typical to the Oregon coast.