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Cortes Bank. Eric Theriault and Mike Plantarich. General Info. Cortes Bank is located 100 miles off the coast of southern California. Underwater bathymetry ranges from 1000 feet to 6 feet deep (Bishop Rock)
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Cortes Bank Eric Theriault and Mike Plantarich
General Info • Cortes Bank is located 100 miles off the coast of southern California. • Underwater bathymetry ranges from 1000 feet to 6 feet deep (Bishop Rock) • Originally known by sailors who would avoid the spot at any cost due to the danger. • Waves get so big they show up on radar. • Waves may only break a few times a year or not at all.
Bathymetry • The point itself runs about 20 miles long. • 3 different bowls: north, middle, and west bowls. • The west bowl is more popular for surfers because it curves around and comes from the SW, so waves tend to be larger here. • Waves traveling 20 miles over underwater bathymetry make the waves wrap different ways (refraction) • The reef consists entirely of kelp and rock.
Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz97moE41Xo • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz97moE41Xo
To produce big waves… • Light winds (10 knots max) • Low tides • Big storm swells from a storm about 600 miles away • All of the above must happen at the same time. • Only 1 in 5 planned trips to Cortes Bank pays off
Mike Parsons • Surfed the biggest wave ever ridden at Cortes in 2008. • The wave measured over 70 feet from trough to peak. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8_38LHTeDg
What you need… • Jet ski for tow-in, with a fearless rider • A very fast board • Boat to take you to the bank • Nerves of steel • Friends just as nuts as you
Travel Costs • Plane Ticket from AC to San Diego: $600 • Boat Rental for a day: $1600 • Hotel for the night: $40 • Almost killing yourself on the most massive wave in the world: Priceless • Total Cost: $2240
Works cited • Pfeiffer, Jeremy, and Marc Beaty, prod. How it works: Cortes bank. Writ. Marc Beaty and Sean Collins. Surfline, 2009. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. • Boulware, Jack. "Big-Wave Surfing at Cortes Bank." jackboulware. Ed. Jack Boulware. N.p., 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2011.