See Spot Write: First Person Account Of Rogue Mavericks Waves That Injured 13
Previously: Beach At Mavericks Closed After Waves Injure Spectators My friend Katherine has never had any interest in surfing but she "likes beaches." So she...
These are the comments for See Spot Write: First Person Account Of Rogue Mavericks Waves That Injured 13
(9)
News Headlines
- SFPD Uppting DUI Patrols, Planning Checkpoint Memorial Day Weekend
- Shuttle Buses, Longer Trains Promised During Tonight's Long Muni Shutdown
- Court Workers Union Votes To Authorize Strike
- SF Beaches Get A Clean Bill Of Health
- Suspects In FiDi Carjacking Of Elderly Woman Identified
- Beach Chalet Synthetic Turf Plan Up For Discussion At Meeting Thursday Night
- Man Robs Two Laurel Village Shopping Center Banks Thursday Afternoon
- Golden Gate Bridge Celebrations Expected To Snarl Traffic Throughout SF
sfmike said:
February 13, 2010 2:47 PM
Reply
Not half as interesting as yours. How great that you were there for The Infamous Mavericks Rogue Wave. And way to keep your cool, not to mention getting the hell out of there in time.
cv said:
February 13, 2010 3:11 PM
Reply
I actually surf (I'm a complete barney -- I surf Linda Mar on smaller days) so I am *well* aware of the danger at Maverick's, even on the beach. I have been there on big, non-contest days, and you cannot turn your back to the water.
It's not really worth going to see the contest. The traffic and crowds alone are enough to make it a dealbreaker for me. Plus, you really can't see much, unless you have some really powerful binoculars.
In any case, there are plenty of other days where there are no crowds and equally gigantic waves with world-class surfers.
The National Weather Service issued a high-surf advisory, effective until 8am tomorrow (Sunday). This is serious stuff.
I enjoyed watching the contest from the comfort of my living room: better vantage point. I watched the mayhem unfold this morning on the live streaming video from Ustream.
At least you didn't break any bones or lose your phone.
Nina said:
February 13, 2010 3:13 PM
Reply
Like, totally tubular!
Erik said:
February 13, 2010 3:16 PM
Reply
It wasn't a rogue wave it was a perfectly predictable high tide with a high surf warning that the NWS announced on Friday.
cv replied to comment from Erik
February 13, 2010 3:32 PM
Reply
OMG, the winter ocean behaving like the winter ocean!
Spot on, Erik.
Richmondsfblog said:
February 13, 2010 9:31 PM
Reply
So glad you're ok!
Da Truff said:
February 14, 2010 9:27 AM
Reply
Going to a crowded beach in the middle of winter to "see" a surfing contest that can't be seen from that beach is my definition of stupidity. Washing these people out to sea would have increased our state's average IQ dramatically...
KG said:
February 14, 2010 9:55 AM
Reply
I don't believe those organizing the event thought the tide would have come in just as far as it did. About 9am, when the waves started coming really high, a wave took out the awards stage area, part of a food stand, and the announcers audio equipment. I don't think any of those things would have been placed there, if they thought a wave would come and flood them.
cv replied to comment from KG
February 14, 2010 3:00 PM
Reply
"I don't believe those organizing the event thought the tide would have come in just as far as it did."
This is why Jeff Clark should be running this event.
If you know this break, you'd know that a 5.8 ft. high tide + NWS High Surf Advisory + new moon = big shore pound. The guy that runs the Mavericks surf contest is an East Coast lawyer who doesn't even surf. Yes, the waves don't always do that, but sometimes they do. Anyone who regularly walks along this beach has seen it like yesterday. Some of us have seen it far worse.
If you are going to safely enjoy the coastline, you really must have a tide table handy. Before I got an iPod touch, I used to keep a tide table in the glove compartment of my car.
The contest organizers were fools. The spectators who got caught in the shore pound were fools. Mother Nature was just doing her thing; this was not extraordinary behavior.