Monster-wave master Thrills of Oregon coast keep extreme surfer coming back for more RILEY ELLISSalem Statesman Journal Nov 7, 2026 Nov 7, 2026 0 1 of 5 Ollie Richardson is a father, husband, teacher and extreme big wave surfer. RILEY ELLIS, STATESMAN JOURNAL Ollie Richardson started surfing at age 9. OLLIE RICHARDSON From left, pro surfer Laird Hamilton, Ollie Richardson and Luca Padua. OLLIE RICHARDSON Ollie Richardson surfs Nelscott reef off the coast of Lincoln City, ore. MARK MCINNIS Ollie Richardson suffers a terrible wipeout in November 2009 while surfing Scott's Reef. MARK MCINNIS Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save RILEY ELLISSalem Statesman Journal SPOTLIGHT | PURSUITSkAm~==:6 #:492C5D@? D2:5 :E H2D =:<6 EH@ 8C:KK=J 362CD 9@=5:?8 9:> F?56CH2E6C] %96 H2G6 AFD965 9:> 5@H?[ C2<65 9:> 282:?DE E96 C667 2?5 8@F865 2 9@=6 :? 9:D H6EDF:E] (96? 96 DFC72465[ 96 32C6=J 925 E:>6 E@ 42E49 9:D 3C62E9 367@C6 E96 ?6IE EH@\DE@CJ H2G6 3C@<6]k^AmkAm#:492C5D@?[ 2 }6HA@CE D@446C 4@249[ A9JD:42= 65F42E:@? E62496C[ 9FD32?5 2?5 72E96C @7 EH@[ DE:== E6==D E96 DE@CJ 23@FE 9:D H@CDE H:A6@FE H:E9 G:D:3=6 ;:EE6CD[ 6G6? E9@F89 :E 92AA6?65 :? a__h]k^Am kAmQ$FC7:?8 3:8 H2G6D :D =:<6 2 5CF8[Q D2:5 #:492C5D@?[ ?@H cf] QxEVD D@>6E9:?8 E92E 2=H2JD <66AD J@F 4@>:?8 324< 7@C >@C6] q642FD6 H96? J@FVC6 C62==J D42C65 @7 D@>6E9:?8[ :E 2=D@ >2<6D J@F 766= C62==J 2=:G6]Qk^Am People are also reading… Missing Black Mountain man found dead in Pisgah National Forest on Tuesday Marion man pleads guilty to killing ex-girlfriend's father at Old Fort Dollar General Givens’ Clinchfield Mill project in Marion receives $1.25 million grant for affordable housing Missing UNC Greensboro student found dead near Tom's Creek Falls in Marion Missing Greensboro person last seen in McDowell County. Deputies searching forest Longer wait for Buc-ee’s: Mebane opening delayed until at least early 2028 With 5th District race undecided, Foxx requests observers to monitor vote count Studs and duds from Carolina Panthers' Week 9 loss to Broncos McDowell Commissioners hold special meeting Friday morning East Marion, Blue Ridge or Marion Global? Residents can vote on new school name McDowell County officials address rumors about transit system’s status McDowell County Veterans Day service set for Wednesday Alumni Spotlight: Boyd Phillips is a proud graduate of North Cove Elementary McDowell County commissioners hear about schedule of values Vietnam War veteran from McDowell reflects on his experience, meaning of Veterans Day kAmpE ~DD:6D $FC7 $9@A[ 5@K6?D @7 A9@E@D 92?8 @? E96 H2==[ D9@H:?8 #:492C5D@?VD H@CDE H:A6@FED @C 3:886DE H2G6D] $96=G6D 9@=5 9:D EC@A9:6D 7C@> DFC7 4@?E6DED]k^AmkAm%96 D9@AVD @H?6C[ s2? w2DD6=D49H6CE[ D2:5 A6@A=6 E9:?< #:492C5D@? @H?D ~DD:6D]k^Am kAmQw6VD @?6 @7 E96 >@DE AC@>:?6?E DFC76CD :? E96 2C62[Q D2:5 DFC76C r2D6J u6=E@?[ H9@ H@C<D 2E E96 D9@A] Qw6 2=D@ AFED 2 =@E @7 E:>6 :?E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 G@=F?E66CD[ 2?5 :D G6CJ 24E:G6 H:E9 DFC7:?8 2?5 DA@CED] Qk^AmkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm$FC7 :D 9:D EFC7k^DA2?mk^Am kAm#:492C5D@? 36=@?8D E@ 2 ?:496 4=2? @7 DFC76CD @? E96 ~C68@? r@2DE[ H9@ @H? ;6E D<:D[ E@H C@A6D[ DFC73@2C5D H:E9 766E 3:?5:?8D[ :>A24E G6DED 2?5 @E96C 862C C6BF:C65 E@ 3C2G6 >2DD:G6 H:?E6C DH6==D]k^Am kAmx? 4@?EC2DE E@ A=246D =:<6 w2H2:: @C x?5@?6D:2[ H96C6 9F86[ BF2=:EJ DFC7 :D C6=2E:G6=J 4@>>@?[ ~C68@? DFC76CD >FDE H2:E 7@C A6C764E DH6== H:?5@HD E92E 42? =2DE 2 D:?8=6 52J[ 2?5 E96C6VD C2C6=J 2 DFC7 A9@E@8C2A96C E@ 5@4F>6?E E96:C 6?562G@CD 7@C >282K:?6 4@G6CD]k^AmkAm|@DE @7 E96D6 DFC76CD[ :?4=F5:?8 #:492C5D@?[ D6E E96:C D:89ED @? }6=D4@EE #667[ 92=7 2 >:=6 @77 E96 4@2DE @7 {:?4@=? r:EJ[ 2?5 $4@EEVD #667[ ;FDE D@FE9 @7 s6A@6 q2J]k^AmkAm(2G6D >2C49 @FE @7 E96 !24:7:4 2?5 4CF>3=6 @G6C }6=D4@EE #667[ 7@C>:?8 9F86 2G2=2?496D @7 H2E6C] $4@EEVD #667 3C62<D H96? H2E6C DF4<D @77 E96 C667[ A:E49:?8 2 D=23 @7 H2E6C :?E@ 2 ?62C\:?DE2?E2?6@FD 4@==2AD6] %@ DFC7 Q%96 *6E:[Q 2D :E :D 2=D@ 42==65[ 2 ;6E D<: >FDE H9:A DFC76CD :?E@ A@D:E:@? 2E 9:89 DA665D]k^Am kAmt=:E6 DFC76CD 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5 92G6 DFC765 %96 *6E: @C }6=D4@EE #667[ :?4=F5:?8 {2:C5 w2>:=E@?[ H9@ A:@?66C65 E@H\:? DFC7:?8 :? E96 `hh_D[ 2?5 z2: {6??J[ @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 244@>A=:D965 DFC76CD :? E96 H@C=5] uC@> a__c E@ a_`h[ }6=D4@EE #667 9@DE65 2? :?E6C?2E:@?2= 4@?E6DE]k^AmkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qmu2>:=J C@@EDk^DA2?mk^Am kAm#:492C5D@? DE2CE65 DFC7:?8 :? r@@D q2J H96? 96 H2D ;FDE h H:E9 9:D 72E96C[ $A:<6[ 2?5 3C@E96C[ {2CK] %96J DFC765 E@86E96C 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 2E q2DE6?5@C77 q6249 H:E9@FE 2?J <?@H=6586 @7 E96 DA@CE] #:492C5D@? C@56 2 9@>6>256 3@2C5 2?5 5:5?VE H62C 2 H6EDF:E]k^Am kAmw6 C6>6>36CD 2 H2G6 4C2D9:?8 @? 9:D 9625 2?5 D9@@E:?8 @FE @7 E96 H9:E6H2E6C =:<6 2 42??@?]k^Am kAmQ%92E 6I9:=2C2E:?8[ 6I4:E:?8[ D42CJ 766=:?8 E92E x 8@E ;FDE <6AE >6 4@>:?8 324< 7@C >@C6 2?5 >@C6[Q #:492C5D@? D2:5] Q%@ E9:D 52J[ >J 525 2?5 3C@E96C 2?5 x 2C6 2== 2G:5 DFC76CD[ 2?5 :E C62==J <66AD FD 3@?565 E@86E96C]Qk^AmkAmw6 >@G65 E@ }6HA@CE :? a__c 2?5 DE2CE65 D66<:?8 =2C86C H2G6D 2D 9:D D<:==D AC@8C6DD65] pE %96 #@8F6 v2E96C:?8 DFC7 4@?E6DE 2E $@FE9 q6249[ 96 >6E 9:D H:76[ pD:2 #:492C5D@?[ 2?5 6G6?EF2= 3:8 H2G6 DFC7 A2CE?6C w2DD6=D49H6CE]k^Am kAm%92E J62C[ w2DD6=D49H6CE AFC492D65 2 $62\s@@ v%)] %96 ;6E D<: 2==@H65 E96> E@ 2446DD 3:886C H2G6D H:E9@FE E96 DECF88=6 @7 A255=:?8 @FE]k^AmkAmw6 2?5 w2DD6=D49H6CE DE2CE65 E@H\:? DFC7:?8 @? 36249 3C62< H2G6D :? {:?4@=? r:EJ[ C:5:?8 2 3@2C5 >256 3J DFC7:?8VD AC66>:?6?E 4C27ED>2?[ v6CCJ {@A6K] %96 3@2C5 H2D D92A65 DA64:7:42==J 7@C $A:<6 #:492C5D@?]k^Am kAm%96J DE2CE65 EC2:?:?8 92C5[ CF??:?8[ DH:>>:?8 =2AD :? A@@=D 2?5 DFC7:?8 2D >F49 2D A@DD:3=6]k^Am kAm$@>6E:>6D E96J H@F=5 CF? @? E96 A@@= 3@EE@> H:E9 2 cd\A@F?5 H6:89E[ 4@>6 FA 7@C 2 3C62E9 2?5 A2DD E96 C@4< E@ E96 ?6IE A6CD@?]k^AmkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm$A64E2E@C DA@CEk^DA2?mk^AmkAm%96:C }6=D4@EE #667 563FE H2D :? a__c[ #:492C5D@? D2:5[ 3FE :E H2D?VE F?E:= }@G] a[ a_`_[ E92E 2 >@?DEC@FD DH6== ECF=J E6DE65 E96:C =:>:ED]k^AmkAmu@C642DED E92E 52J C625 bd\7@@E DH6==D 42A23=6 @7 AC@5F4:?8 e_\7@@E 7246D[ #:492C5D@? D2:5]k^Am kAm%CF4<D 92F=:?8 ;6E D<:D 2?5 DFC73@2C5D 5C@G6 FA 2?5 5@H? &]$] `_`] #F>@CD 649@65 :? E@H? @7 =686?52CJ[ @FE\@7\DE2E6 DFC76CD DF:E:?8 FA E@ DFC7 E96 C667j 4C@H5D A6C4965 @? 4=:77D H:E9 3:?@4F=2CD]k^AmkAm~FE :? E96 @462?[ #:492C5D@? D2:5 5@K6?D @7 ;6E D<:D 492F776FC65 DFC76CD @FE E@ }6=D4@EE #667] w6 2?5 w2DD6=D49H6CE >@E@C65 A2DE E96 4C@H5 E@ DFC7 72CE96C D@FE9] #:492C5D@? ;F>A65 :?E@ E96 4@=5 H2E6C[ 8C23365 E96 E@H C@A6[ 2?5 w2DD6=D49H6CE H9:AA65 9:> :?E@ 9:D 7:CDE H2G6 @7 E96 52J]k^AmkAmQx 5:5?VE C62=:K6 9@H 3:8 E96 H2G6D H6C6 F?E:= x =@@<65 2E E96 H2G6 E9C66 DE@C:6D 23@G6 >6 2?5 D2H :E 492D:?8 >6 5@H?[Q #:492C5D@? D2:5]k^Am kAmt=D6H96C6[ Qx E9:?< E96C6 H6C6 @G6C D:I D<:D E92E H6?E 5@H? E92E 52J[ E92E 6:E96C 8@E DF?<[ AFD965 :?E@ E96 36249[ C@==65[ A6@A=6 =@DE E96:C 6BF:A>6?E[ 3C@<6? 3@2C5D[ ;FDE E@E2= >2J96> 6G6CJH96C6[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm#:492C5D@? 2?5 w2DD6=D49H6CE 42>6 @FE F?D42E965 — F?=:<6 2 J62C 62C=:6C[ H96? #:492C5D@? DF776C65 9:D 2=>@DE 42E2DEC@A9:4 H:A6@FE DFC7:?8 %96 *6E:]k^AmkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm$66<:?8 32=2?46k^DA2?mk^AmkAmpE $4@EEVD #667 :? a__h[ #:492C5D@? D2:5 96 5C@AA65 E96 E@H C@A6 2?5 >:D42=4F=2E65 9:D A@D:E:@? @? E96 H2G6] %96 *6E: DE2CE65 DF4<:?8 9:> FA E96 7246 2?5 E96? A:E4965 9:> @G6C E96 H9:E6H2E6C 72==D[ H96C6 96 H2D 32EE6C65 @? E96 C667]k^Am kAmQ#:89E ?@H[ :? >J cf\J62C\@=5 3C2:?[ x AC@323=J H@F=5?VE 92G6 8@?6 @FE E96C6[Q 96 D2:5] Qx7 x 4@F=5VG6 =2?565 HC@?8 H96? x 9:E E96 C667 E92E 52J[ >J =:76 4@F=5VG6 EFC?65 @FE 5:776C6?E=J]Qk^Am kAm%96 52?86C @7 3:8 H2G6D :D ?@E E96 @?=J E9:?8 E92E 2=>@DE 42>6 36EH66? #:492C5D@? 2?5 9:D H:76 2?5 EH@ 52F89E6CD[ H9@ 2C6 g 2?5 `e] xEVD 2=D@ E96 2>@F?E @7 E:>6 4@?DF>65 3J AC6A2C:?8 862C[ A=2??:?8 DFC7 EC:AD 2?5 5C:G:?8 FA 2?5 5@H? E96 4@2DE :? D62C49 @7 H2G6D]k^AmkAmt2C=J @?[ pD:2 #:492C5D@? 2=>@DE 6?565 E96:C C6=2E:@?D9:A 27E6C 96 DA6?E 2? 6?E:C6 %92?<D8:G:?8 492D:?8 DFC7] $:?46 E96?[ 96 =62C?65 E@ 32=2?46 9:D C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D 2?5 =@G6 7@C >2DD:G6 H2G6D] w:D H:76 ?@H 6?4@FC286D 9:D 9@33J]k^Am kAmQ$96 <?@HD 9@H >F49 :E 96=AD >6 36 E96 A6CD@? E92E x 2>[Q #:492C5D@? D2:5] QqFE xVG6 8@EE6? 36EE6C 23@FE 32=2?4:?8 :E H:E9 E96 <:5D 2?5 >J 72>:=J]Qk^Am kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm%96 =@?8 82>6k^DA2?mk^AmkAm#:492C5D@? DE:== DFC7D 2D @7E6? 2D 96 42? 2?5 EC2:?D 7@C 3:8 H2G6D] w6 36=:6G6D 96 92D 2E =62DE 2 564256 =67E 367@C6 @=5 286 DE2CED 9:?56C:?8 9:D A6C7@C>2?46] ~?6 @7 9:D E@H\:? A2CE?6CD[ tC:4 p<:D<2=:2?[ :D DE:== DFC7:?8 9F86 H2G6D :? 9:D >:5\e_D]k^Am kAm#:492C5D@? C646?E=J DE2CE65 E6249:?8 4@FCD6D @? @A6C2E:?8 ;6E D<:D :? DFC7[ H96C6 96VD EC2:?65 6:89E &]$] r@2DE vF2C5 C6D4F6 DH:>>6CD 2?5 2 76H p:C u@C46 A2C2C6D4F6CD] pE ~C68@? r@2DE r@>>F?:EJ r@==686[ 96 2=D@ E62496D DFC7 =6DD@?D]k^AmkAmx7 #:492C5D@? :D?VE 4@>A6E:?8 :? =@42= DFC7 4@?E6DED[ DF49 2D E96 p82E6 q6249 $FC7 r=2DD:4[ 96VD G@=F?E66C:?8[ D6CG:?8 2D 2 ;F586 @C AC@G:5:?8 H2E6C D276EJ H:E9 9:D ;6E D<:]k^Am kAmQtG6CJE9:?8 J@F 5@ :? J@FC =:76[ J@F D9@F=5 92G6 7F? 5@:?8 :E[Q 96 D2:5] Q%92EVD H92E xVG6 32D65 >J =:76 2C@F?5] x =@G6 E6249:?8] x =@G6 DFC7:?8] x =@G6 4@249:?8] p?5 :7 x 5:5?VE 92G6 7F? 5@:?8 E9@D6 E9:?8D[ x H@F=5?VE 36 5@:?8 E96> E@52J]Qk^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Missing Black Mountain man found dead in Pisgah National Forest on Tuesday His body was found just before noon on Tuesday about a quarter of a mile down the trail from the Pine Gap Trailhead, in the Pisgah National Forest. Marion man pleads guilty to killing ex-girlfriend's father at Old Fort Dollar General The shooting happened in the parking lot of the Dollar General on Feb. 9, 2025. The man also pleaded guilty to sex crimes involved a child. Givens’ Clinchfield Mill project in Marion receives $1.25 million grant for affordable housing When completed, the old Clinchfield mill building will have 141 apartments. That usually equates to 180 people, depending on how many couples … Missing UNC Greensboro student found dead near Tom's Creek Falls in Marion Law enforcement began searching the area on Wednesday when the student's truck was found near the entrance of the falls. Missing Greensboro person last seen in McDowell County. Deputies searching forest Elise Grabda's pickup truck was found near a hiking area in Marion on Wednesday.
Missing Black Mountain man found dead in Pisgah National Forest on Tuesday His body was found just before noon on Tuesday about a quarter of a mile down the trail from the Pine Gap Trailhead, in the Pisgah National Forest.
Marion man pleads guilty to killing ex-girlfriend's father at Old Fort Dollar General The shooting happened in the parking lot of the Dollar General on Feb. 9, 2025. The man also pleaded guilty to sex crimes involved a child.Â
Givens’ Clinchfield Mill project in Marion receives $1.25 million grant for affordable housing When completed, the old Clinchfield mill building will have 141 apartments. That usually equates to 180 people, depending on how many couples …
Missing UNC Greensboro student found dead near Tom's Creek Falls in Marion Law enforcement began searching the area on Wednesday when the student's truck was found near the entrance of the falls.Â
Missing Greensboro person last seen in McDowell County. Deputies searching forest Elise Grabda's pickup truck was found near a hiking area in Marion on Wednesday.