Posts Tagged ‘big waves’

Nelscott Reef is in Oregon – in the North Pacific which means really cold water and towering waves (bnqt). Sharks too, but they’re not your main problem. The main problem are the killer waves. Only the best take part in this competition.

Nelscott Reef Tow-in Classic’s waiting period starts today – 1st October. The competition will take place in Lincoln City, Oregon, sometime between 1st October and 31st December.  As is traditional for ‘big wave’ events, the competition has to wait for the wave to be right. When that happens, surfers get 48 hours notice before the start of the competition.  Once the green light goes on, surfers from all over the world rush to Lincoln City. Last year, the green light went on when the waves hit heights of 20 to 30 feet. That was the end of November.

This year things are looking good for early swells and the North Pacific is anticipating El Nino situations.

On Saturday, 12th September , Oregon’s coast was hit with a pre-season NW swell which delivered a steady punch of unbelievable waves for the entire day. From first light to sunset, the conditions were fantastic with tons of waves, light off shores, warm skies and water temps in the high 50′ to low 60’s. Local Oregan surfers had a fine time with the waves getting bigger and better as the day progressed.

This is not Nelscott Reef – merely a reminder of the type of wave they will be waiting for…

We are currently travelling and finding it difficult to make consistent internet connections – we are in Italy staying in a town called Sorrento in the bay of Naples on what is called the Amalfi coast on the west side of the country under the forbidding shadow of Mount Vesuvius.

But the only chance of finding any surf in the Mediterranean would be if Vesuvius blew its top – which it hasn’t done in a meaningful way since Roman times – remember Pompeii and Herculaneum, reference Caius Plinius?!

But that is a red herring – we were listening today to a bloke who was learning how to surf – and what we heard was something that we strongly believe in – if not always the best at practising such good advice.

What the tutor was saying to his pupil was – ‘you gotta get out there – whatever the conditions – be it good surf or bad surf.’ In other words you gotta spend time in the water if you want to get good at riding the waves.

This applies to any sport – any ‘thing’ that you may wish to become very good at. We refer to it as ‘bum hours in the saddle’ – the more you practice the better you get at doing what you are trying to do – and lets face it there is no point in doing something badly.

Anyway to help you with your surfing we thought we would find a video of instruction and so we turned to our old friends expertvillage – well of course we have opened a can of worms as they, with the help of John Hickey from Florida, have taken the subjest very seriously and professionally. What we are saying is that this will just be the beginning of some surfing lessons.

And be you an expert or a beginner it is always worth your while looking at what is said – you are being given some good advice.

Then when you have moved from the ranks of amateur you will be looking to take on some of the more serious waves as seen in the following video from marcomaui

Wow – spectacular – what can we say….hard work equals fun?

Well that’s bad news, but it seems to be the case.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, there is the possibility of a very small south 2- to 3-foot wind swell appearing Friday afternoon, which will be your best bet for a surf session before the upcoming doldrums.

So, as it’s Saturday and we’re off to do something exciting (though not surfing as the sea today is like a swimming pool down here in the Med), I thought I would just put a couple of teasers on the page for you… something you can dream about… for the next time.

It’s cheating rather as these fabulous waves are, of course, Teahupoo, with thanks to skatesurfsnowcom, and Teahupoo3.

For a bit of variety, have a look at some extreme Tasmanian slabs (AshBur7).

And we’ll end with a video from nzheraldtv showing the Billabong XXL nominees for 2009 on big extreme waves around the world:

Did I say a couple of teasers? Sorry, just couldn’t resist them…

I thought I had fairly comprehensively covered this catagory, but on a subject like this one, I don’t think you ever can. So here are a few more seriously gnarly waves to keep you entertained…

Desert Point, Lombok, Indonesia

Desert Point is a beautiful lefthand pointbreak breaking over coral. On a good day, it is one of the longest waves in the world, some say maybe even the best left in the world. This wave is for experts. However, the wave is not guaranteed and there can be long periods of flat spells – and there is very little to do there besides surf! But when it’s good – it’s very very good – long, hollow barreling, warm and consistent.

Drawbacks? the crowds are getting worse every year, you have to guard yourself against maleria, and it is adviseable to take a first aid kit with you as the closest medical access is hours away.

The Cave, Ericeira, Portugal

One of Europe’s premiere surfing destinations, Ericeira has a high density of quality surf-spots. Actually, the whole Portuguese coastline is peppered with undiscovered surfing spots, and one of the best things about surfing in this country is that it is easy to escape the crowds and find your own fabulous wave. The Cave stands out as a fine wave with all the ingredients that a dangerous wave should have, including a shallow reef. It has been described as Europe’s heaviest wave and is becoming popular with the international surfing aficianados. Thanks to ZonaRad1cal for this video.

Lunada Bay, California, USA

Lunada is a wave for experienced surfers and martial arts experts! Does that sound a bit wierd? Well, apparently the natives aren’t very friendly and the police force less than interested – you have been warned! However, back to the wave… this is a world class wave and perhaps one of the best right handers in California. It is not a particularly dangerous wave but it is a great performance wave at 6ft up to 20ft swells with the length on a normal day being 50 – 150m, but on a good day 150 – 300m. It is on a rocky reef with boulders underneath.

The main drawback to this wave is that it can be very crowded. And then of course we get back to the … locals. There have been reports of slashed tyres, rocks thrown and fist fights. Sounds like a full day out!

Thanks to tfisher29 for this brief video.

El Gringo, Arica, Chili

“You first have to understand the set-up of El Gringo. It is a full slab set-up, a right and left ledger slamming down on a jagged rock reef. Entry and exit is via a narrow, dog-leg keyhole, with surging tides and sets that, on occasion, actually unload into the slot. There’s spiny sea-urchins on the jagged rocks. Razor sharp mussels. And a territorial pack of seals. So when you’re caught on the inside, you’re left crab-walking the jagged guts and praying the sets stop pouring in. Which, in Chile, they don’t. And if you haven’t got a board to assist your outward scramble, you’re pretty much bummed.” according to Surfing Magazine.

This is a very dangerous wave as you only have 2ft of water beneath you. It is a left and right reef break which breaks over rock. There is a very big tube/pipeline to the left – at least a 30ft ride, and a longer ride to the right – about 120ft. During the 2007’s WCT event on Gringos, pro surfers suffered broken boards, battered heads and embedded urchin spines – and these guys know what they are doing, so beware – definitely a wave for expert surfers only. GreenSurfTour posted this video. Needless to say, crowding is not a problem here!

Tarqua Bay, Lagos, Nigeria

Tarqua Bay is considered to be a regional classic and suitable for all surfers. There are virtually no surfers during the week, and the crowds at the weekend are thin. This wave is a right handed break onto a sandy bottom at the entrance to the Lagoon of Iddo in Lagos and is often a fun, wedging peak with a length of 50m. The waves are at the western end of the beach. It’s best to surf this wave between July to October, but any time a solid swell hits, it barrels.

The drawback to this wave is the pollution. 60 million litres of raw sewage and tonnes of industrial waste produced by the 8 million inhabitants of Lagos every year, flows out into the ocean. Other hazards include floating carcasses, rubbish and the occasional mugging on the beach! Not recommended for travellers but if you happen to be stuck in this part of the world, going surfing is about the only relaxing thing you will find to do. Oh dear…

I cannot find a photograph or a video for this wave… but I would suggest that the only reason it is considered a ‘dangerous’ wave is not because of its force (as it hasn’t much) but because of what might happen to you if you spend too much time in the water!

The Wedge, Newport Beach, California, USA

And I’ll draw this article to a close with a monster.

This is a wave for advanced surfers only and is considered deadly at all tides. “The Wedge is not a wave — it’s a 20-foot-plus meat grinder dreamed up by the devil himself. It heaves, bends and pulverizes in ways that good little waves aren’t supposed to act.” says Surfline.com

When supplied with a south swell of the proper size and direction, it can produce huge waves as spectacular and intimidating as any in Hawaii, Tahiti or Australia. It is a combination of two waves that merge together, creating a powerful wave which refracts the swell energy off the jetty and creates a sideways wave that slings across the beach and collides with the next wave in the set. The result is what locals fittingly call a “humping effect,” where the set waves jack, expand and release in unimaginable ways. This wave is the best known bodysurfing wave in the world, but stand-up surfers are less welcome, in fact, throughout the summer, no boards of any kind are allowed in the water except in the early morning and late evening. Thanks to ctowersey1 for this video.

From blue waves (yesterday’s blog) to blue snow…

That’s quite some snowboarding isn’t it? Thanks to Zanman819 for publishing it.

We were down on the famous St. Tropez beach yesterday, Pampelonne for those of you who know it, and had the most impressive waves… minimum of 12ft and thundering in, one on top of the other – that might not sound much to an avid surfer, but for us here in the Med, it’s HUGE. The gusts of wind were so strong that we were able to lean back into them at a 45 degree angle and still stand on our feet! We had a wonderful walk and then took refuge in one of the (tongue-in-cheek) wonderfully expensive beach restaurants to recover!

But, we were here to talk about SNOW not WAVES, so back to the mountains…

Where are the REALLY FUN places to go skiing and snowboarding this season?

Whistler must be somewhere at the top of everyone’s list, despite their recent unlucky lift accident – where happily there were NO casualites. Where Whistler has been so clever is in its constant improvements and progressions to stay ahead of the game and cater for all new fads. Its funparks are the best in the business, its pistes are always corduroy in the mornings, its freeriding terrain is easily accessible and – due to the proximity of the Pacific – often blessed with powder. This year’s newest offering is the Peak-To-Peak gondola which will directly link Whistler and Blackcomb mountains for the first time and further increase the scope of the place. This is not the gondola which collapsed on 17th December – that one was on the Blackcomb mountain side – not that that should worry you now… they will be making damn sure it doesn’t happen again!

Whistler is also the site for the 2010 Winter Olympics, so the forward-thinking park shapers will be experimenting with their snow shaping tools in readiness for the upcoming event.

Whistler’s highest lift is 2,284m. There are 40 pistes for beginners, 110 for intermediate level and 50 for advanced.

Check out our Interactive Trail Map:

Explore over 8,100 acres of terrain, Terrain Parks and Half Pipes, Tree forts, Kids Adventure Parks, 200 marked trails from beginner to advanced, restaurants and chair lifts. Trail Map

That’s one destination for Canada.

How’s about America? Well, there’s Mammoth Mountain in California. The highest lift here is 3,369m and there are 19 pistes for beginners, 63 for intermediate level and 53 for advanced. Mammoth offers a very long season – lifts open at end of October and continue until early to mid-June. Some of the best riders come here to get ready for the forthcoming season – there’s cheap accommodation, three world-class parks and two fully-maintained superpipes. And, most importantly for Mammoth’s credibility… Shaun White has a yearly season pass. What further credentials do you need, hmmm?

Download Trail Map (2mb)

Now, across to Europe.

The choice is enormous and an individual’s opinion of the ‘best of…’ in each country will vary enormously. Enormously. However, I’m going to go for Val d’Isere. It’s high. It’s varied pistes are wonderful. The aprés ski is second to none. It’s season is long. And for a little more precise detail… Val d’Isere shares its ski area with Tignes. Tignes offers a fabulous choice but it is a modern purpose-built resort. Val d’Isere, on the other hand, has managed to retain its old world charm with wooden chalets in abundance and high-rise apartment blocks are definitely not ‘de riguer’. The highest lift is at 3,450 m, and there are 80 beginners’ pistes, 35 intermediate runs and 16 advanced. Between them, the two resorts share an incredible rideable area, complete with two fantastic funparks, the most well-maintained half-pipe in France and some unbelievable off-piste. Tignes is cheaper than Val d’Isere… for the moment. This is a dream skiing area accessible to everyone… from 1550 m to 3456 m, 300 km of slopes, 2 glaciers and 94 ultra-moderns ski lifts.

Interactive ski map (Lifts opening conditions)

Switzerland. Oh Switzerland. How to choose a resort here. I suppose I would have to plump for Verbier although it’s a difficult one. Switzerland has so much to offer – it contains dozens of worthwhile ski resorts, but Verbier is the premier ski resort of French-speaking Switzerland, with an unpretentious panache and a fun-filled atmosphere, but don’t get me wrong here – as my memory recalls… it’s not cheap, and if you want to know what the chic-est of the chic will be wearing this year – go to Verbier. However, that said, it lies at the heart of a sprawling, high-tech network of cable cars and gondolas that will connect you to such relatively unknown satellite resorts as Veysonnaz and La Tzoumaz. The resort is favored by world-class athletes for the difficulty of many of its slopes and it has two snowparks.The skiing in and around Verbier can be broken up into 4 areas, namely: Verbier, La Tzoumaz/Savoleyres, Bruson and Mt Fort/4 Valleys. All areas are quite distinct from one to the other, offering different types of terrain of varied difficulty. Passes can be bought for each of the areas individually or one pass that covers all. It lays claim to 94 lifts in the Four Valleys, accessed via a fancy electronic hands-free pass system. There are 410km of pistes.

One report I read claims that Verbier is spiritually positioned somewhere between Zurich and the Fulham Road. That says it all!

Now here’s a resort I don’t know – in Austria. Mayrhofen. The highest lift is at 3,286 m and there are 45 runs for beginners, 90 for the intermediate level, and 22 for advanced. This is a resort for those of you who are young, hip and slightly cash-strapped. The Zillertal Valley near Innsbruck is rapidly gaining a reputation as Austria’s hottest snowboarding spot. Mayrhofen is the main resort and is the biggest draw thanks to a world-class funpark that sits next to a super-fast four-man chair and is serviced by the biggest shaping crew in Europe. But if that isn’t enough to hold your attention for a week’s trip, the next-door resort of Kaltenbach is rapidly turning into one of Europe’s best freeride spots. Zillertal is also one of the cheapest destinations in the Alps and for this reason it is popular with hordes of young seasonnaires and gap year riders.

and for a better idea, go to www.mayrhofen.at .

Livigno, Italy is next in line. Note here that I am doing one resort ONLY per country. If you feel there is a better resort than the one that I’ve written about please, please do tell me! Back to Livigno – the highest lift is 3000 m, and there are 28 beginners’ pistes, 36 intermediate, and 10 advanced runs. It is said that it’s Italy’s best resort with an incredibly well-maintained funpark, a huge area to explore (with few crowds), and with a very vibrant snowboard scene. An added advantage is that, due to an ancient law, the whole valley is tax free… and any help you can get against the strong Euro this winter should be fervently embraced!

Website

www.livigno.com/

And finally, here’s an off-the-wall one – Niseko, Japan. It doesn’t have many runs, but it is supposed to be the second most snowiest resort in the world. Which one is the first? Mount Baker in Washington… but it doesn’t offer what Niseko offers. Niseko’s highest lift is only 1,308 m, and there are not that many runs: 22 – beginners, 0 for intermediates!!! and 17 for advanced skiers. However, it has got two funparks, a pike, a rail park and incredible arctic conditions which ensure perfect powder. The slopes are open from 8:30 a.m. through to 8:30 p.m. every day through the season. And then of course there is the cultural diversity – après ski noodle bars, saki and hot onsens, and a volcano in the background of your photos. Now that’s different. Plus they have an ice bar which, apparently, is one of the places to party.

Click image for full sized version of the Niseko Hirafu pistemap

Wherever you go, I hope you have a wonderful winter holiday.

Another Christmas has been and gone – I hope you all had a wonderful time and although the forecast is bleak, let’s hope we can all prove it wrong and have a wonderful 2009… best wishes to everyone.

And whilst we’re on ‘bleak’… it’s a bleak midwinter day here, so to cheer ourselves up I thought I’d tempt the senses with some big wave videos:

This one was off the Billabong Odessey, the biggest wave ever surfed! Thanks adrenalinerush99 for posting it.

and another… with thanks to marcomaui.