Maverick's claims the life of a surfer

blancoh2o · Since 15 Mar 2005 1154 Posts Oregon Phishy

SAN FRANCISCO — A big wave rider died Tuesday at the unforgiving surf break known as Ghost Trees, a Monterey County spot known for its fast-moving waves, in a powerful swell reported as high as 37 feet.

Peter Davi, 45, of Monterey, lost his surfboard and was attempting to swim to shore, but never made it, witnesses told authorities. Friends of Davi lost sight of him and later found him floating in the water unconscious.

Monterey County Sheriff's Sgt. Dennis English said a department search and rescue team responded to a report of a surfer in distress, but that Davi was dead by the time the team got to Pebble Beach.

Additional photos, videos and reporting from KTVU FOX San Francisco

View the latest surf conditions and forecast for Mavericks

"It's just extremely high surf. Waves are crashing against the rocks, kind of dangerous," he said. "It's primo conditions for surfers."

According to the official Mavericks Web site, Davi was one of the early pack of brave surfers to test themselves at Mavericks after word got around about its massive waves.

Jeff Clark, the founder of the Mavericks surf contest, surfed Mavericks alone for 15 years before sharing his secret with close friends — including Davi. Clark described Davi as a "rambunctious big wave rider" and the two took a few surf trips together.

"He was one of the early guys that I was able to convince to come up and surf Mavericks with me. He was like blown away at how big a wave it was," Clark said.

Davi's death came just days before the waiting period was set to open for the big wave surf contest at Mavericks off the shore of Half Moon Bay, where equally large swells rolled in Tuesday.

The scary surf also attracted spectators who had to be chased off cliffside property in exclusive Pebble Beach, English said. California Highway Patrol officers were called in to ticket motorists who flooded the scenic 17-mile Drive.

A high surf advisory was in place for the coastal Bay Area Tuesday, issued by the National Weather Service. That meant dangerous surf and eager surfers along the popular Central Coast breaks.

In Santa Cruz, lifeguards had to evacuate at least four surfers from the Mitchell's Cove surf spot after high tide rolled in. Authorities confirmed they also rescued a nearly hypothermic man found face down about a quarter-mile off the coast of Capitola, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Further north, the U.S. Coast Guard and the San Mateo Sheriff's Department searched for a fishing vessel with two people aboard off Pillar Point.

Clark spoke about the dangers of taking to the waves on a day when advisories were in effect and rough swells were the norm along the coast.

"The ocean is a place that really has no conscience. It's something you have to be prepared for. You live your life to the fullest, do the best you can and keep going," a solemn Clark said.

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

Mark Foo also died there - I think it was in the winter of 1994.

Onad · Thu Dec 06, 07 10:22 am

Video from KTVU FOX San Francisco

http://www.ktvu.com/video/14784077/index.html

marina c · Thu Dec 06, 07 12:01 pm

hi guys,
FYI, Maverick's is different from Ghost Tree. Maverick's is in Half Moon Bay and Ghost Tree is a spot off of 17-mile drive in Pebble Beach (Monterey area).

We've had monster swell in California since Tuesday. Every surfer that I have spoken to from San Diego to the Bay area has said the surf has never been this huge in at least 25 years. First day was incredibe with clean, down the line waves breaking up to triple overhead. Just insane. Kiting was happening at Pismo Beach and mile long, down the line waves at Arroyo Laguna but everybody was too busy riding and trying to survive so no pictures.

May Peter Davi RIP.

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

"The ocean is a place that really has no conscience. It's something you have to be prepared for. You live your life to the fullest, do the best you can and keep going,"

true that...... or the world for that matter