Spectators focused on N. Calif. surfing contest knocked to beach by waves ‘out of nowhere’

Waves knock N. Calif. surfing spectators to beach

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. — Chris Bertish traveled 21 hours from his South Africa home to Northern California win one of surfing’s most storied competitions, a contest overshadowed by more than a dozen spectator injuries.

Bertish had just 48 hours’ notice that huge waves were breaking off the coast and the Mavericks Surf Contest was on. He arrived in time to surf waves that contestants say reached 25 feet measured from the back, with 40-foot faces.

Second place in Saturday’s contest went to Shane Desmond of Santa Cruz.

The contest 25 miles south of San Francisco was marred when dozens of spectators were swept from a seawall by unexpected waves. Thirteen people had significant injuries, mostly broken bones, while others were treated for cuts and bruises. Three were hospitalized.