Heartbreak in the other Surf City.

Let’s just be real honest with each other, here, this Christmas Eve. Santa Cruz has always been a superior Surf City, USA to Huntington Beach. Sure, the Southern California burgh won right to use the moniker, legally, but has none of the history, the grit, he homespun surf charm of Holy Cross. Santa Cruz is where surfing was first introduced to the USA mainland, it is where Jack O’Neill invented the wetsuit, it is where I traveled to write my very first surf magazine feature about a kindly man named Anthony Ruffo.

I remember that time fondly, taking Ruffo and his friends Flea, Anthony Tashnick and Nathan Fletcher out to a sushi dinner very near the town’s iconic pier. Very stately with quaint little buildings etc. etc. and I gazed upon it thinking, “Santa Cruz über Huntington.”

Well, heartbreak today as the landmark got smashed and bashed by the mega surf California is currently experiencing. Washed right into the sea. Three workers were whipped into the angry Pacific along with it.

Mercifully two were rescued while one rescued himself.

Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker commented on the oceanic fury, declaring, “We continue to see that winter season over winter season. Each year it’s really blowing through our forecast.”

The Los Angeles Times reported, “Gov. Gavin Newsom was also briefed about the partial collapse, his office said in a statement on social media.”

When I first saw, I thought it read, “Gov. Gavin Newsom was also bereft about the partial collapse…” and had a long wonder about why the pier meant so much to him. Maybe where he asked for Kimberly Guilfoyle’s hand in marriage? Donald Trump Jr.’s ex-girlfriend is now set to be USA ambassador to Greece.

Πολύ κουλ.

Back to you, though, and if you just so happen to live in California, are you getting any mega surf?

Share your story!

Supply and demand.

With the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational officially in the record books, surf fans yearning for live North Shore surf watching are feeling a little blue this morning. It was quite a show, taking in Kaipo, Rocky and the rest on the broadcast, but how much better to be on the bluff experiencing history in the flesh? The answer is “much better” but now it is too late. The Eddie is over and, with it, the possibility to watch it with eyeballs.

The World Surfing League, though entirely unaffiliated with the Eddie, must be feeling the market vibe and is offering up a brand new Lexus Pipe Pro VIP Experience for the upcoming Lexus Pipe Pro which will run sometime between Jan. 27 and Feb. 8 of the just-around-corner 2025.

“Enjoy VIP access to Pipe Pro and a local’s welcome to the North Shore,” the breathless promotion begins. “This exclusive experience provides an insider take on the Championship Tour’s opening event – from seats in the VIP area for every heat and opportunities to connect with WSL athletes away from the competition to surf guiding on off days with locals like 2011 WSL Big Wave champion Jamie Sterling, Kalani Chapman, and Dom Del Rosario and surf filmmaker Marco Arellano there to capture the moments.”

A sunset mingle with Seth Moniz is also included alongside a bed at the iconic Turtle Bay.

Scott, from the United States, declared, “I’ve been a bunch of times, but I’ve never really been dialed-in on the North Shore. To me, that was the coolest thing – there’s nobody else offering this kind of experience.”

Now, how much would you pay for this one-of-a-kind adventure?

$50,000?

$25,000?

There’s only 12 tickets available and include spending time with championship tour surfers when they are not competing.

$12,000?

No, no and no.

The deal of all deals swinging in at $6495.

Book here and now.

"People drowning in both water and tears..."

While tens of thousands of surf fans made the trek to Waimea Bay in order to witness the historic running of the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, locals were shocked at the overall lack of traffic. The chaotic mess of last year’s Eddie wherein bumper to bumper traffic extended from Haleiwa all the way to Waimea but a vague memory.

Hawaii News Now reporters on the ground credited the smooth flow to county officials not allowing parking at Waimea, itself, and also the horror surf fan wipeout that left many wet and scared.

Watch here.

“City officials and community groups encouraged people to watch the competition from home and online,” the newscaster declared with the encouragement apparently working. Surf fans watching from home noticing thinner than usual crowds on the bluffs and beach of the iconic bay.

A man on vacation with his family and from Tennessee, however, needed to see the show in person so parked in Haleiwa and they all began the six mile march before thinking better of it, returning to their vehicle and trying to find a spot closer to the action. “We’re just trying to drive up, drop them off and then if I have to park the car three miles away and hike it I’ll do it. That’s fine. This is a once in a lifetime thing,” he shared.

Which brings up two important questions:

1. What is the farthest you have ever walked in order to watch a surfing competition?

2. What is the farthest you would theoretically walk?

More as the story develops.

The bay calls the day.