Waves knock N. Calif. surfing spectators to beach

[UpInArms]

Source: Associated Press

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. — Chris Bertish traveled 21 hours from his South Africa home to Northern California (to) win one of surfing's most storied competitions, a contest overshadowed by more than a dozen spectator injuries.

Bertish had just 48 hours' notice that huge waves were breaking off the coast and the Mavericks Surf Contest was on. He arrived in time to surf waves that contestants say reached 25 feet measured from the back, with 40-foot faces.

<snip>

The contest 25 miles south of San Francisco was marred when dozens of spectators were swept from a seawall by unexpected waves. Thirteen people had significant injuries, mostly broken bones, while others were treated for cuts and bruises. Three were hospitalized.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j3pJDnHrNexDZVBsqURne0I8t_7gD9DRJBS80

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you should go to the link and see the pictures associated with these waves - beyond scary

[demosincebirth]

1. Awesome!

[pundaint]

2. Wow, that water is pretty cold for surfing without a full wetsuit there.

[gristy]

3. Oh, my. Here's a video. Pretty awful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCLZ9Z3gJQ8&feature=youtu.be

[xxqqqzme]

4. gnarly

Thanks for the video.

[mulsh]

5. "Dangerous waves at all times" is clearly posted on the red sign

that's anchored on that beach. That should be enough of a clue that the surf there is "dangerous". Many of our beaches have a count of the people known to have died in the surf in their warning sighs.

What part of High Surf warning do these people not understand? I'm a Nor Cal native. I've spent half my life on the northern coast. I learned very early never to turn my back on the sea. I also learned first hand about sleeper waves and dangerous high surf. The best place to observe something like Mavericks is on a big screen TV in a bar.