Dangerous waves along the coast put life guards on high patrol
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- With high surf advisory along the coast, lifeguards are urging beachgoers and surfers to be cautious while around the water.
Conditions out at steamer lane are intense with high waves.
"You have really low tides during the king tides, but you also have high tides," Brendan Daly Marine Safety Officer Santa Cruz Fire said. "That's when your chance of getting washed off a cliff is a lot higher during those high tides."
Many surfers haven’t seen the waves this high in a few years and so they came out to hit the waves.
"My friend who lives here, he says he's never seen it like this in three years," William Michels visiting from Colorado said. "I just got one of the ways in my life about it for like 200 yards, I think and I'm super stoked right now."
Lifeguards are out in full force ensuring that people understand the risks of such big waves, as well as how to protect themselves.
"We have extra lifeguards on duty today," Daly said. "Patrol and we have a jet ski available to respond as needed, just trying to get out there and talk to the public and be preventive and educate them before they get in trouble or put themselves at risk."
While some surfers are out catching some of the biggest waves of the season, other are taking extra precautions with this high surf advisory.
"You got to pay attention," Michels said. "Don't turn your back to the waves because you'll get smashed against the rocks if you do, other than that sand hard foul into the biggest wave, you see and and just drive."
"Just know your limits and surf on the inside," Eno Riley Humboldt County said.
A local surfer shared his own experience of a near death encounter during very similar hazardous conditions.
"When I went to the university here, we used to surf out here all the time and I got taught my lesson more than one time in the waves are big and they're powerful and they'll hold you down deep in the water," Jeff Eckert from Santa Cruz said.
The high surf advisory goes is in effect until Saturday morning.
