Most SCARY Surf of my Life (Northern California)

We all know that Northern California is known for having shark infested waters, but for some reason this surf session took the cake for the most scary surf of my life. From the beach this wave looked like a roping sand point of perfection. I knew there were a few obstacles to be had while paddling out & maybe some active sea life, but actually following through with the session proved to be the most scary thing ever. I hope everyone is enjoying the road trip, thank you for the stoke! - Ben

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[justineaves]

I've been out in that dark sharky water and it is definitely a spooky feeling especially on an overcast day

[AceBaseKingOfSpace]

I used to surf alone in sharky waters around South Australia. I didn't intend it to be that way but I was living in a van for 12 months back in the 80's and camping in remote areas where nobody would be during the week. There were some eerie sessions with visits from seals, tuna schools, pilot whales and surfing dolphins...never saw whitey, but it certainly did my head in at times.

[ExploringTheWestCoast]

Always trust that erie feeling you get when out in Northern California surf! ... 🤙

[Jonty]

I surfed near the Redwood National Park a while back. I was out alone, not even anyone on the beach. It was glassy, shoulder to head high and throwing barrels off a consistent a frame bowl. I was getting stoked out of my gord, but I could not handle the feeling in my gut. So, I started paddling in after just 45min. There was a rip in a deep trench just before the shore pulling me back out where I saw a seal swimming right on the edge of the beach looking at me with these big scared eyes that said, "dude? do you seriously not see what's going on here?" I was really glad to get my feet back on the beach. The next day, standing on the beach I saw the silhouette of a big white through the back of a wave.

[Regulus]

Northern California/oregon surf baby. Welcome to the real surf world baby! Dark water norcal eariness, nailed it. Once you cross the golden gate and head north youre now in old school hard core surfer land. All hail the ocean, respect to all its creatures.

[aurora_occidentalis]

That Goonies vibe. Thanks for the stoke. I could never have paddled out into that seal-infested, Jaws 5 scenario. Invite me, please next time you surf Lake Tahoe.

[ejbj-jv]

I had an minor incident in Australia with a shark, it was the middle of the day, perfect and sunny. Saw the big black fin from ages away cruising into shore with myself between it and the shoreline. Being young and inexperienced, I began panicking, paddling fast and frantic while other surfers stayed cool and quiet. The shark sank underwater heading into the shore towards me. I tried to paddle onto a wave that was full and even though I was positive the shark couldn’t make up that distance decided to tuck my legs up onto the board. Just at that moment a large deep black body went under me within in a split second and disappeared. When I got the shore the adrenaline was like nothing I had experienced. It took a few days before I could get back in the water.

[Joneshing]

Lol, Steamer Lane is similar; it's the most heavily seal populated spot I've been at. Seals chill on the mini-gibraltar there just off the point where people jump into the water. Seals constantly play, swim, and pop up around you while you go for waves. And there's hella birds as well, dropping deuce bombs around you.

The breaks of NorCal have some spooky spots indeed; spookiest place I ever surfed was 10 miles outside of Santa Cruz. Before I entered the water, saw an elephant seal corpse with the face eaten off. Got in the and the waves were terrible and a low hanging fog rolled in, to where I couldn't see 20 ft. in front of me; like surfing in a dream and the ghostly silhouettes of other surfers would materialize in and out of the haze. After an hour, noticed I was alone and saw the huge bulk of an elephant seal pass through an incoming wave in front of me. Took the next wave in, called it a day and went got some tacos.

Last thing I'll say, from watching other shark attack stories, and listening to people talk about their encounters, is that it's more worrisome when you see Seals stay OUT of the water then if they get in. If you go into the water, and they don't go with you or they stay grouped up around the shore or on a sandbar, you know for sure there is a shark in the water, because they are trying to be where that shark isn't. The craziest attack that happened was up near Mavericks and some dude was doing research with a friend for a documentary. Before he got in the water, he noticed all the seals were grouped on one side of the beach, staying out of the shallows. He and his friend got in the water, the seals didn't and when he he was 100 yards offshore, a great white torpedoed his board from the bottom and launched him into the air. He somehow survived. Either way, it's always risk surfing up here, but just my two cents.

If you've read this far, thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

[blitztim]

Trust your feelings Ben. Use the force. Avoid sharks you must. 🦈

[yoyopg]

You needed TheMalibuArtist with his drone flying over watch for some piece of mind. Definitely a spooky spot.

[kerryabruzzo]

Thanks for the video Ben. It takes a different breed to surf those waters. The Jetty, Patrick’s Point, Camel Rock, Crescent City were our spots while we lived on the Hoopa Indian Reservation. Overcast, grey, misty, cold, and huge were the norm. And yet, some of the most incredible natural beauty you will ever witness.

[mikecraig-mtc]

OMG, Sketchy sesh.... glad everyone made it :) - Lov'n the vlog, keep up the good work!

[joshuaf]

Always trust the sharky/spooky feeling!

[LarissaMorgan]

I know that erie feeling every time I am out there and that overcast comes over, chills…….and I’m out, trust your gut 😉

[barrycox]

Truly amazing Ben, I've scuba dived that area and it is teeming with sharks awaiting for a seal dinner. Nads of steel :-)

[conornorris]

even if you didn't see the taxman he saw you, that feeling was probably a warning

[haydenharvey]

Ben bro my names Hayden Harvey i love your stuff bro truely i am from south Australia and i am a surfer and you really are a hero to me appreciate you.
“For the dream”

[johnsmith-ozkj]

This is one of your best videos ever. So great to see empty lineups and beautiful places!

[jeffroberts]

Makes my feel like I top water lure when I paddle out alone in the morning 😊

[surfingwavesoflight]

I'm from New Jersey coast, but I moved to a town very close to the Oregon border for a job. The friendliest surfers I ever met in my life were there. They gave me a board so they could have another friend to surf with. Great episode, the northern Cali, Oregon coast feels super wild. So sweet to see you guys travel up there.
PS- Did you stop at Confusion Hill?