Big wave surfers converge on Lincoln City
Spectators gather to watch the competitors. By Melica Johnson KATU News and KATU.com StaffLINCOLN CITY, Ore. - Waves the size of four- and five-story buildings are drawing dozens of surfers from around the world to the Oregon coast. The event is the Nelscott Reef Tow In Classic, where big wave surfers are competing to see who can conquer the waves at Lincoln City's Nelscott Reef, which surfers consider close to the top three most challegning and largest in the world. Many of the surfers spent thousands of dollars to travel here, even though the purse for the best surfer to ride a giant wave is just $1,000. Big wave surfing is extreme and not a lot of people do it. One surfer said it's like a brotherhood - they run into each other at big wave spots around the world. Chris Bertish traveled 40 hours from South Africa just to be here. We got a laugh out of him when we asked 'what happens if you fall off?' "Moral of the story is - don't fall off," he said. "But if you do, try and stay as relaxed and comfortable as possible when the world seems to be turning around you." |
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