Dangerous Mysto-reef - Chase Reef Boils to the Surface in Nor Cal Tow-teams have been tackling some giants lately in Northern California, with Mavericks and Ghost Tree both producing surf over 20 feet on January 4th . The week before New Years, south winds ruined spots like Ghost Tree and Mavericks. For a few true seekers, they found more than they could tow a stick at. Traveling up somewhere on the North Coast, Don Curry, Tyler Fox, Shane Desmond, and a few others witnessed waves so dangerous, that every wave was a test of fate. An hour later, that fate was revealed, with a PWC ski blasted on the rocks, a daring save by Don Curry, and a hundred spectators left dialing 911. A gallon-drive from the fabled waters of Mavericks, it is obvious that this place has some hazards. Dry rocks, sharks, rip-currents, the whole package. Shane Desmond, Tyler Fox, and Don Curry show what it takes to survive with your life over dry rocks. How dangerous? Check out Chase Reef, the latest big-wave discovery from the eerie waters of Northern California. When I first arrived on the scene, the tide was high. I could see huge sections, over 10-feet Hawaiian-scale, loading up on a near-dry rock boil. The rocks left scars in the wave-face, forming multiple ledges and cartoon-esque mutations. The wind was straight offshore, and I could tell by the lighthouse flag that the wind was going to stay offshore. The two PWCs, one driven by Shane Desmond/ Tyler Fox and the other by Don Curry (with no partner) came around the corner as a large set reared up. The rocks did unnatural things to the waves. Steep ledges and mean divots in the face -- not friendly at all – made appearances rather suddenly. These guys watched it for a long time, and I almost thought they were going to leave. They didn't. Shane was the first one up, weaving some good turns right in the pocket. This wave wraps real hard as it comes in, pushing from the back bowl. Shane knew where to be, laying down some tight turns right in the hook of the beast. As the tide, it was as if the tow crew had reached a new ‘level’ in a XXXL video game, the rock and ledge hazards increased. Shane made some daring bottom-turns around some mean ledges- right on the rocks. Tyler Fox was up next, getting some bombs on the outside, but unable to get one that connected through the inside section. Don Curry took his turn, catching one at least 300 yards from the outside through many incredible sections, all the way around the corner. These guys were basically kicking the crap out of it, carving through the unruly sections and unpredictable rock-boils. The swell began to get bigger, with sets feathering way outside of the previously assumed impact-zone. Tyler Fox was up again, getting dragged into the biggest wave ridden for the day. He rushes through a giant section, which connects with a rock-boil. The wave throws up a big end-section, which looks completely out of control and unmakeable. The wave wraps from every direction, all focusing right onto Tyler. He gets swatted, and then engulfed by the mutant beast. He takes a heavy beating, in which many on the cliff were nervous for his life. Then he takes another, right on the head. When it looked like the situation couldn’t get any worse for Tyler, Shane’s ski stalled. Kelp fouled the impeller on the ski, and it lost propulsion. Shane dove off the ski, right before getting mowed by a mean set-wave. The ski began to get dragged on the rocks, but Don Curry was in position to attempt a rescue. He picked up Shane first, and then the two managed to rig a tow-rope to the failed ski, and pull it out of the impact zone. The three make it back to the cove, where they all got out of the water safely. To the distress of the spectators, someone had called 911. Fire trucks and rescue vehicles started to show up at the scene. Someone had obviously called pretty excited, as there were more rescue vehicles on the way as I left. The tow crew had fled the scene only moments before. As I left, I witnessed a set that was at least 10 feet bigger, possibly even reaching contestable sizes for the Billabong XXL. Chase Reef had just begun to flex its muscle.--Wayne Kelly |
