"But what are you going to do in California all the time Hannah's studying for her MBA?" was the most common question asked before we moved here. "Learn to surf," was always my reply, delivered with a cheeky wink and a toss of my (soon to be sun-bleached) hair.
The plan didn't quite work out, mainly because I'm all talk and also because if you surf at our local beach you're more likely to catch cholera than a wave.
But today I did get to be near some real surfers when we drove down the Pacific Coast Highway to Half Moon Bay for the Mavericks 2010 Surf Contest. This was actually the delayed 2009 contest, when the required conditions for giant waves failed to appear. This year there were waves aplenty, with some unfortunate spectators getting in on the act as well (and making the UK papers).
Surfing competitions are strange things. We joined a huge group of spectators up on a cliff-top, where the best view of events happening half a mile out to see could be found. Every now and again one of the imperceptibly tiny dots in the vast blue would scoot along a wave, everyone would cheer, then we'd go back to waiting.
After a while we wandered down to the beach, where the competition sponsors had set up tents and it was even harder to see what was happening. Luckily they had a big screen showing highlights, but the intensity wasn't much higher (about one surfer doing something exciting every 15 minutes or so). All the waves looked catchable to me!
The main excitement occurred when one of the competitors paddled back to the beach and wandered ashore carrying his board. "It's big out there, but makeable," was his quote, which is exactly what I'll be telling everyone back home when they ask how my surfing's coming along.
Following the crowd.
Grandstand seating on the cliff top.
Those that could afford it ($300 each!) opted to be closer to the action.
Look closely...they are out there...
And yes, one of them actually surfs!
Heading down to the beach area, on the other side of the headland.
Spectators.
About as good as my view got from this side.
Some people who know how to do it properly.
This is more like it! A comfortable seat and a big screen.
If you can't see the sport, check out the sponsors' tents. Here's my best freebie of the day.
The view at lunch, on the harbour beach.
Hannah, too hot in the February sun.
Duly warned.
Here's a genuine surfer! Wow.
Some familiar-looking surf fans.
A slightly less crowded beach on the way home, but whoever named this ocean Pacific needs to relearn their Latin.
