A surfer carves out a massive cutback on a wave he rides next to the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor jetty on Thursday. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
A surfer kicks out off the back of a crashing overhead wave at Natural Bridges Thursday. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
A surfer ducks under the falling lip of an overhead wave off Natural Bridges Thursday morning. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
Sentinel reporter Stephen Baxter got out in the water with the GoPro camera to get this shot from a big surf weekend in Santa Cruz, Jan. 7, 2011.
A surfer looks for his exit as this middle peak wave face crashes in front of him. Dan Coyro/Sentinel
After running out of wave face going left on this middle peak bomb, Tuesday, a surfer dives off the back of the crashing wave. Dan Coyro/Sentinel
Tuesday's large swell out of the West claimed another surfboard at Steamer Lane.
Jimmy Herrick surfs in the finals of the locals trials at the O'Neill Coldwater Classic at Steamer Lane on Wednesday. Locals Randy Bonds and Matt Myers advanced from the trials to gain spots in the main event. Shmuel Thaler/Sentinel
Local longboarder stylist and star of Endless Summer II Robert 'Wingnut' Weaver yucks it up with legendary surfer Joel Tudor before the start of the Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational longboard contest at Steamer Lane Friday morning. The contest continues through Saturday with some of the best longboarders in the world. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
Jason 'Ratboy' Collins of Santa Cruz shows off his most precarious move of the first day of the Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational longboard contest Friday at Steamer Lane. The contest sontinues through Saturday with some of the best longboarders in the world. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
Surfers brave the mid-30 degree temperatures Wednesday morning to grab some crisp, clean waves held up by an off-shore breeze blowing icey spray off the lip as waves roll into Middle Peak and Indicators surf breaks. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
The pot of gold seems to be at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz as a rainbow colors the sky as a winter swell arrives on December 9. (Shmuel Thaler/Sentinel)
A surfer negotiates a bumpy, back-lit ride rushing through Indicators Tuesday morning as the firt big swell of the season arrived. Waves up to 20 feet in stand-out locations will continue through Wednesday. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
A surfer kicks out of this middle peak wave before it closes out Tuesday morning off West Cliff as the biggest swell of the fall season rolled into Santa Cruz. Waves in stad out spots could reach 20 feet Wednesday. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
Highlights from Friday at the Cold Water Classic. Photos by Shmuel Thaler/Sentinel
Santa Cruz phenom Nat Young pulls off a 360 maneuver during his 1st place finish in the opening heat of the round of 48 at the Cold Water Classic on Friday morning. (Shmuel Thaler/Sentinel)
