Massive Surf Pounds Northern California

A huge swell rolled into Half Moon Bay (Mavericks)in Northern... or Central California (depending on how you view it) October 18, 2023.
Surfers from across the world showed up at Mavericks to charge these early season big waves. I unfortunately couldn't make it but luckily my friend (and fellow videographer) Austin Jet was there and shared his clips and stories with us.
Thanks Austin!
Thanks for watching. I'm Brad Jacobson and I'll sea ya on the sand.

[@edvincent]

I live in HMB. The water here is COLD and it's dark. When a wave that size hits you. It pushes you down twenty or thirty feet (if not deeper). So not only do you need to contend with pressure and darkness, but also which way is up? When you do get up, there's usually another wave right there to push you down again. These guys train hard and have my utmost respect 🙏

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

Lucky enough to live here biking the cliffs and watching. Magnificent

[@tracydubose265]

Used to be that if you surfed big waves you could avoid the crowds. Looks like those days are over.

[@ddean8395]

I've been surfing since 1986 but these waves are way above my skill level. Respect.

[@titou1again]

I panic in 6 feet waves at Hossegor… mad respect for the riders!

[@totalt6600]

1994ish,made me see, and OMG hear Maverick's at 40-50ft. Just being at that spot, convinced me the Ocean didnt want Humans in Her there,and actually held them under,,and spit them out. Regardless,its beautiful. Ty for sharing.❤️🏄

[@richardelliott8352]

once fear is over come, friendship is a possibility. However the ocean is so great she needs a reason to acknowledge your life. If I went out in such water, I would self identify as a fool, since I know enough not to try it.

[@squatch2461]

Thanks for sharing this video without a lot of music or talking over it. I can't imagine anyone looking at surf like that and thinking anything about it would be easy, from surfing to swimming. The worst I've experienced was when you finally get back up, the foam is so thick and deep, you still can't breathe, but you can't swim or float up higher. Full respect to anyone who goes out on days like this.

[@laurat1129]

I imagine some people think it looks just like skiing or snowboarding. Yeah, right. Maybe if it’s a ravine in an avalanche with 60 other people climbing up or going down at the same time. Some of these surfers look decent, but it’s hard to tell when they’re just so totally selfish and reckless out there. Look at all of them dropping in on each other.🙄

[@squatch2461]

@@laurat1129 It's a trip to see folks acting like it's a chest high day in town, or at Malibu.

[@laurat1129]

@@squatch2461 One has to be a good enough surfer just to get out there, no doubt about that. What's striking, though, is the lack of respect some of them seem to show for each other and the wave itself, nevermind their own safety.

[@JohnBurkhertJr]

People getting their clock cleaned along with gnarly surfing. This is not a Disney ride though, mid-air collisions as too many surfers crowd the lineup. Once word gets out, I guess it's everyone for themselves. All the same, you bet I'm subscribing on the spot! Keep sharing Brad, you have my attention.

[@waynehearst317]

Every time I see a wipeout at Mavericks I imagine Mark Foo's last wave and am reminded of just how easy it can happen.

[@cg00000]

Wow! So beautiful. Thanks.

[@KensGarage1]

Very impressive indeed. These people are just a bit nutz but that is really cool stuff.

[@jonahhex9620]

Glad to see some Mav's coverage.

[@anotherworldviewispossible]

And really...this is pretty manageable size for mortals, at Maverick's. It gets much bigger and much scarier.

[@brendoncassidy1316]

That’s pretty big Yes it’s been bigger Any years you think much bigger than this?

[@anotherworldviewispossible]

@@latentsea If you got a 9' Epoxy - true dat. Look at how quickly the shoulders are softening up. Perfect for big p-shaw's...And you could definitely get pitted... So pitted.

[@anotherworldviewispossible]

@@brendoncassidy1316 I replied to you - but for some reason the reply disappeared. Censorship? Very odd. Another KZbin Channel that has a lot of videos on Mav's has a day from last year called January 10th Dimension, that is positively massive. Peter Mel got a tow-in wave, not too long back, that he called the wave of his life, and he's been surfing there consistently for decades now. And I've seen lots of XXXL footage there, over the years. This is XL, I'd say on the bigger waves, L on the rest. I've ridden/swam it at L to XXL in 2015 and 2016's El Niño years. February 2016 had a big/beautiful XXL day that stands out. Getting caught inside a couple of times was a legit 'Underwater adventure'. One rider got a helicopter ride out of the deal.

[@brendoncassidy1316]

@@anotherworldviewispossible 2007 and 2009 and 2001 all huge

[@brendoncassidy1316]

@@anotherworldviewispossible kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoXCZ3udq5eNmdUsi=MllBSOpTNIi99fyo

[@BlacksBeachBoogieBurner]

Insane!

[@dennispratt3021]

Awesome Brad! My Uncle lived in H B for years. Before Mavericks discovery. "California..." Joni Mitchell

[@bctesla]

Absolutely perfect conditions

[@edvincent]

We called this the typhoon swell. At the HMB jetty the incoming sets would peel over the top of the jetty as they came towards the shore. It was probably a good 5 to 10 feet that day. It was fun to watch.

[@MrIsomer]

Can't wait to see the Powerlines edit of this day. Always nice to see the water angle of this place and rider credits...

[@richardelliott8352]

normal people can stand close to the power of those waves down at Morrow Rock. The waves break on a shore on the left side of the rock, , where they have dug out a spoon like depression in the coastline rocks. As the water flows back to sea level, one can feel and hear great boulders rolling around under the retreating sea, like a giant version of retreating water making the sand hiss.

[@F3502000]

Another spot I experienced close...really close...to giant surf was in southern Oregon. A place called The Three Sisters. Three huge rock formations that the waves would go by, and you could stand there and look down the barrel. Absolutely amazing! About 12 to 13 miles north of Gold Beach and the Rogue River. 🤙

[@mikebranch7928]

Shocked there are that many people fit enough to handle those hold downs.

[@Sp4wnK3lla]

Some really nice shots on those!

[@ladydjajda]

I live in Oakland, and ive always had this fantasy of being able to take a surfboard onto the waves in hall moon bay, and CV CV CV V hc

[@acg1189]

I always kinda find it funny this is 10 minutes from a notorious zoo of a beginner break and within site of an *even easier* beginner break.

[@da1newporter]

@6:41 ouch, nice footage Austin!

[@skb254]

Half Moon Bay is definitely Northern California about as NorCal as it gets. I don’t know why this is even a question. This is why that first guy (Clark) surfed Half Moon Bay alone for 15 years!!! I am totally shocked why somebody doesn’t die or get beheaded around the world somewhere every day. Only crazy people surf big waves.

[@sarahjane4908]

Anything between Santa Barbara and San Francisco I consider central California 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@brendoncassidy1316]

@@sarahjane4908central doesn’t start until you’re south of Monterey

[@michaelhuffman5456]

Crescent City is NorCal.

[@bctesla]

Omg same goofy foot caught bomb a little later . Surfed it magnificent. It’s got to be Healey ? Yellow board with lots of gorilla grip

[@davecoutts7024]

I’d like to see what Kai Lenny could do on these monsters. Mucho kudos to all of you.

[@GGGinJe]

Jeff Clark, the "first and only surfer at Mavericks for 15 years". Fast forward to today....Mavericks has become a big wave circus. Mr. Clark was a true big wave pioneer.....and a very blessed man.

[@laurat1129]

While I only know of it from what I've seen in videos such as these, it looks like the Wedge, Pipeline, or Mt. Everest now, just a free-for-all and a contest of egos.

[@GGGinJe]

@@laurat1129 Well said.

[@douglash9364]

What "I" think I am doing on a 3-4 day....this is what I picture it looks like as I drop down. I can't begin to guess at the control to hold back the panic after a fall on one of these.

[@rs6637]

i always liked the going left photos of mavericks more of a thrill

[@anthonybernal76]

That’s way too many people out. Something needs to change at all these overpacked spots.

[@LipRipper904]

yup, its an El Nino year..... saw this one coming... and they said it's going to be STRONG El Nino..... more are coming!!!

[@chrisnizer5702]

That's gotta be awful getting dragged back over the falls on a day like that. It's gonna put you right into the impact area. Mad respect for those who ride those waves 🌊. Thanks for the video my friend, Semper Fidelis!

[@brendoncassidy1316]

Can you imagine what it was like (danger wise)before jet skies and people filming every wipeout?

[@TheodoreJudah]

Jules Winnfield: Say ‘what’ again!!!

[@skykingimagery899]

I am always so utterly impressed with the courage it takes to ride these waves. But once again, too many surfers! How do you keep from slamming into each other? Another instance of social media creating a feeding frenzy. And these waves are not only huge but seems to me too chaotic to surf.

[@missinglinq]

All big waves are dangerous but there is something that feels especially dangerous about big mavericks. The fact you have to paddle it is so cool. The crew that surfs big Mavs have balls.

[@bctesla]

Kudos to all the goofyfoots who went over ledge

[@stevencole7331]

And a crowded lineup . I wonder how many surfers in that lineup actually catch a wave and complete the ride ?

[@jimmccarley9609]

I like the guy at 9:47, who makes the claim, only to be swallowed up by the freight train 2 seconds later, props.

[@ilkestander7990]

wow here in south africa its also huge

[@hectorputtergill1670]

Where in southafrica, western cape by george there hasnt been a wave all week

[@johnbrown1851]

At least it wasn't crowded 🙄

[@michaelfarar4232]

Central

[@brent1655]

The wipeout at 3:29 looked bad. He got drilled and flipped by his board on the way down. Close to the fins too

[@gr00vechamp]

Tons of clean lefts, and nobody was going except that one poor fella that got a wee bit behind, but then diarrhea went down his legs.

[@macscotsman51]

A serious question. In the olden days (60’s, 70’s, & remember leashes didn’t exist yet) big wave riders would prone out when the white water engulfed them. Why do these guys today just stand there and get annihilated?

[@TheInterwebzMan]

Because they have leashes

[@GamelanSinarSurya]

Amazing photography. IMHO it’d be nice to see it without all the commentary

[@theodorewallace-vc5tl]

hey brad, did you ever shape boards / know about the broach Boyz, I just picked up an 8 foot gun in San Francisco that has your name on it

[@mariohuerta6188]

Scary and speculatar watching people eating it.

[@williamparker6649]

Think of Jeff Clarke 10 plus years of surfing there alone!

[@sunsensational]

Yup. And zero flotation.

[@Barry101er]

Looks pretty hairy!

[@doctalksdude651]

ELVIS IS PASTOR BOB JOYCE NOW !

[@sneakyknight]

Why is everyone wearing red?

[@bctesla]

Dude at 6:30 going left goofy foot , had to be Mark Healey . He is only guy nuts enough to do it . If it wasn’t Healey then who was it? Please advise . 5:26

[@Sand831]

NO, I am not telling you anything.

[@kevinquigley4337]

Dude….. it’s not that rare. Maverick breaks off and on every single winter. I realize you really really want to say you saw something unbelievably rare….. you didn’t. That’s mavericks

[@sledge7583]

This is nothing new, my father used to take us to half moon bay in the early 70 in the winter. He would bring binoculars and let us use them describing just how big the waves were.