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Monster waves roll in, rescues reported
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More from Other NewsThe monster waves that were predicted for this week started rolling in today, bringing endless joy to those brave enough to surf them and warnings from lifeguards for landlubbers to be careful.
Waves are 10 feet and bigger and only expected to get larger over the next 24 hours, when they are predicted to get as high as 20 feet.
At least five rescues have been made to keep surfers from washing into the Ventura Pier, said Griff Hutton, the supervising lifeguard for the California State Parks Channel Islands district.
He warned people to stay off jetties and not to let their children into the ocean because the waves and the currents are so strong.
“When it gets this large, something exponentially bad can happen,” he said.
But for those with the skills and bravado to paddle out in the surf, it’s a great day.
The wind is picking up slightly, but the faces are still clean, he said. Surfer’s Point, more commonly called C Street, is relatively uncrowded, he said, in part because paddling out past the breaking waves is so hard, he said. West-facing breaks are the best spots for the biggest surf.
The swell is expected to continue through Friday, peaking tomorrow.
Posted by GuideDog on December 4, 2007 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw Moondoggy hanging ten and shooting the curl near Rincon today. Gidget was a no show!
Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on December 4, 2007 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The danger is out there --- and we all know what it is. Nevertheless, some idiot will walk out on a jetty, a wave will knock 'em off --- and a lawyer will look for deep pockets because a warning sign was not posted in Inner Mongolian, or whatever.
Some years back there was such a suit in Ventura. Thankfully, that one didn't go anyplace.
Posted by del on December 4, 2007 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You're right TimeArrow. Since we outlawed 'natural selection', the lawyers have taken over.
Posted by surfmedic91 on December 4, 2007 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the valley kooks would stay home during these days we wouldn't have to make the rescues. The guys getting rescued are the nature lovers who don't own tv's or listen to the radio because they mess up your mind. Silver Strand was blown out and the tide didn't even look that high at lunch today. Let's see if the Vta. Pier can handle it....
Posted by Old_Fart on December 4, 2007 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Those Dee Dee Dee's need to stay in the shallow end of the gene pool where they belong...
Posted by star on December 4, 2007 at 11:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen!
While we're at it, let's get rid of the fire department, and all those noisy ambulances. And the police. I mean, if you're so stupid as to get yourself shot dead when criminals invade your home, I got a little posthumous plaque for your family. It's called the Darwin Award.
In all seriousness, those were some big waves today. Of course I didn't take my five year old out on the groin to look at them up close. But people do screw up, get themselves in dangerous situations. Rarely was that their intent.
I've never been rescued, never needed it, but I'm not so fatuous as to think it's because I have superior genes. Stupidity kills, but so does bad luck, and everybody plays the bonehead from time to time. Everybody. Maybe you've driven into a pole, or lost a thumb to a tablesaw, or been caught in surf that's far beyond your abilities. And maybe you haven't -- at least, not yet. But if you don't wise up and realize that you occasionally rely on luck or karma or angels to save you from your boneheaded self, you're one of the Dee Dee Dees. You just haven't had to face it yet.
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