Listy Time: top 15 scariest surf spots in the world

If you choose to ride a wave it means you’re putting your life at risk, regardless of what you ride, and even on small days. That said, there are surf spots that command respect because they are a notch above the rest in terms of danger and the prospects of severe injury or death. I’d made a list in a long abandoned blog and felt that it was time to update the list…. Only to find that many of these haven’t changed because fear is something that does not waver much in life.

So here we go.

15. Frontón – Canary Islands

One of the most high performance bodyboarding waves on the planet is also one of the most treacherous. Either left or right, this place demands respect. Sure, people have seen the beautiful lineup, but the reef is shallow and can tackle 15-foot surf to ask the question, do you feel lucky?

14. Luna Park – Australia

I once asked current bodyboarding world champion Jared Houston what were some of the scariest spots he’d ever surfed and he said Luna Park. Although not as popular as other big wave spots, just one look and you see it’s a cold water maelstrom begging for flesh.

13. Waimea Bay – North Shore of Oahu

After people were able to tackle huge Makaha, they pondered about Waimea. It wasn’t until Greg Knoll and a bunch of other crazy people decided to dance with Lady Luck that this wave showed what big wave riding was originally about, going big or going home. During huge swells, 40-50 foot sets have been known to close out the bay and it is a wave that can punish you in a variety of ways, from pitching full throttle on the takeoff, to that treacherous inside shorebreak that can easily handle double overhead closeouts to reward you for your effort.

12. Cave Rock - South Africa

I remember the caption from a bodyboarding magazine as if it was today. The picture? A perfect 8 foot right hand wave. The text: 14 shark attacks in 14 weeks. Although South Africa is notorious for shark attacks, few places put surfers as much at risk as Cave Rock. The temptation is high, but the consequences can be dire with many a fatal attack recorded in this pristine and beautiful break.

11. Dungeons – South Africa

Big Waves AND Sharks. Plus, the place is called DUNGEONS. Seriously, this is for people who like Russian Roulette AND Surf. It packs a punch and a bite in more ways than one, being a true Great White breeding ground.

10. Cortes Bank – Pacific Ocean

This is NOT California. 100 miles off the coast is NOWHERE. Yet this sea bank represents an island that would rather play at being a reef. The potential of big waves here is as high as it gets. Pretty much if you have the right wind, that place can handle anything thrown at it. The challenge are the conditions, since it is so exposed and so far off, catching it just right is the biggest hurdle. Oh and you know HUGE SURF. But people have ridden it and it still creeps me out. It has a generous amount of seals, also known as Great White food not to mention the fact that you’re in the open ocean, so who knows what the hell is swimming around that lineup?

9. Ghost Trees – California

Seriously, someone is an expert at naming ominous surf spots. Located in California, this huge right hander means that you will get misty lineups and huge waves. I’m pretty sure the PWC ban still remains, but this place could tackle huge waves and unfortunately claimed a couple of lives in the process.

8. Shipstern’s Bluff – Tasmania

It’s all about the notorious step at Shipstern’s. It’s not enough you’re riding waves that are in the 15-20+ foot range, you have to negotiate a step that can either line you up perfectly for the ride of your life or absolutely destroy you. Plenty of people have also found out how easy it is to get injured at this place. Oh and did I mention the step? Yeah. That step is nasty.

7. Pea’Hi AKA “Jaws” – Maui

Pretty much the biggest barrels you can get in the world are at this world-renowned Maui break commonly known as JAWS. Pushing big wave riding to the extreme, Pea’Hi is the rare big wave that allows riders to get barreled if they’re willing to pull into a wave where a MAC Truck can easily fit through. Wipeouts here are often described as “violent” and when you see the amount of water that is moving, you can’t help but believe every single word, while still insisting that it’s better to watch from shore.

6. El Gringo – Arica, Chile

There are few if any waves on the planet that have injured more people in contests than El Gringo. With a heavy right hander that can give you the biggest ramps to air off, and a left hander that ends up on borderline dry and jagged reef. A couple of year’s back Ripcurl held a standup surf contest and there were about 4 injuries. They haven’t been too keen to return, and for good reason: it is one mean ass wave.

5. Nazare – Portugal

When you see waves the size of ten-story buildings breaking, you stand in awe on the cliff next to the break. That anyone thinks it’s a good idea to head out on the big days shows just how hard big wave surfers are pushing it. I mean, just look at the picture and tell me you think that’s a good idea.

4. Teahupoo – Tahiti

Perfection meets destructive force. Teahupoo is the type of wave you draw in your notebooks. It is unreal, beautiful, and completely intimidating. Sucking at times 12 and 15 ft. below sea level, and with lips as thick as the biggest waves many people have ridden in their lives, Teahupoo is a hydro-kinetic freak of nature that has injured countless people and I think the only spot I know of that has killed surfers from the impact on the reef alone.

3. Mavericks – California

One of the premier big wave spots in California, Mavericks has murky, cold, brown water, sharks, a sketchy paddle out and shall forever be known as the spot where Mark Foo, a very well known and well liked big wave surfer, lost his life. People have been left hanging on the rocks gripping to not be taken by the surge. It is a place not to be taken lightly. Even so, Jeff Clark used to surf this place alone for years. What a hellman. 

2. Banzai Pipeline – North Shore of Oahu

Everyone who has ever ridden a wave knows Pipeline. It is one of the most photographed waves on the planet and as beautiful as it is deadly. Last time I did this list, I put Mavericks in front of Pipeline. Taking a closer look at the death toll and the close calls the break has had in the last year alone, it got bumped up to #2 on the merits of reef caves, unpredictability, power, and deadliness.

1. Shark Island – Cronulla, Australia

Pound for pound, this shall forever be the scariest wave I think I’ve ever seen, simply because it is an unpredictable monster and you’re throwing the dice on every single ride. Super Shallow, super sketchy, a nasty end bowl called Surge, and has severely injured many riders. Although other spots have taken more lives, the Island is notorious for showing you a line that looks like heaven only to dump you into hell on the rocks.

So what do you think of this list? Anything else you'd like to see me list it up? Then drop a comment and let me know. 

Peace, love, and air maki rolls. 

Let’s Get Political

In an election year that is shaping up to be the biggest circus the electoral process has ever seen in the United States, I feel it is important to vote, and I will as I have for the past several elections. At the very least, that’s my carte blanche to complain, and at the most it’s my contribution to the democratic process, even if I'm in Puerto Rico (as a US territory, Puerto Ricans can vote in primaries although not in presidential elections, something I still don't quite understand).

Now I don’t expect everyone to agree with me on any of my stances, but I do expect my opinions to be respected as I would the opinion of anyone who is kind enough to read me. A lot of people want to keep their political views private, and I get it. I’m actually not one to mull over politics because I’ve noticed that a lot of people get very touchy when you don’t agree with them on everything. So to anyone who disagrees with my points of view, my apologies.

Off the bat, let me say that for demographic purposes, I’m 35, Hispanic, married, and mostly liberal. Some people may call me naïve, some people may think I have an idea of what I’m talking about, but the reality is that I’m just a human doing his best to be a good human, with whatever knowledge I may have. I pay my taxes, I try to recycle as much as I can, and I am sure people from all denominations are also doing their best and like anything, I welcome a healthy debate.

As I write this there are basically 4 remaining candidates in the electoral process for the presidency of the United States: Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders. (Not really counting John Kasich although he is a better candidate than both Trump and Cruz, from what little I've read. Let's face it, the other two make so much noise it's hard to break through the clutter).

First up, why I’m not voting for Donald Trump. I’ll admit it will take a lot of effort to not be snarky, but I want to make a point and don’t wish for a joke to get in the way of said point. Simply put, Donald Trump represents way too many things I can’t agree with: misogyny, elitism, racism, and what worries me is how much he incites violence and how eager people are to please. Bully tactics, smearing, and a severe lack of political intellect or a general sense of respect should make him the least likely choice to run for anything, yet he’s high up in the polls, as in VERY high. As a Puerto Rican, I’m worried. I’m genuinely worried and won’t deny I am fearful of even visiting pro Trump states. The slogan of Make America Great Again might as well be understood as Make America White again because that is the tone and manner in which he carries himself and his campaign. His ideas of foreign policy make Bush sound like a genius and his “make a wall” sound byte won’t happen for however much he barks. This has been a campaign run on violence, smoke, mirrors, and very little substance. “We’re going to get it done,” I often hear him say… but I rarely if ever hear HOW it will get done.

Secondly, why I’m not voting for Ted Cruz. When you have a video montage of how you cook bacon by wrapping it around a machine gun and release it the same week or week after a mass shooting, I have a problem with that. To say Climate Change is not science but religion is also a dangerous proposition because his campaign is running strongly on religious faith. I for one am for the complete and utter separation of Church and State, ESPECIALLY in the US, but that’s another matter altogether. I think it’s bad politics and can spark violence instead of harmony. He is the other Republican candidate that has made headway even if he’s way behind from Trump. Still, a Cruz presidency guarantees that nothing will be done to address the serious issue of gun violence in the US while more decisions will be made to appease lobbyists and large companies that focus on dollar signs instead of climate talks.

Thirdly, I’ll openly say that in the Democratic Primary between Clinton and Obama, I voted Clinton. I thought the US was due a woman president and I still stand by that vote, although I do think Obama has done as best as he can, even if I don’t agree with some of the decisions made, i.e. Iran invasion, Israel-Palestine situation, etc. Still, there has been a lot of progress and I think with all the challenges this administration faced coming in, they’ve done a good job, an opinion a lot of people don’t agree with me on. Although let’s be honest, we have NO idea what goes on in politics or international politics to be honest (meaning behind the scenes). But back to Clinton. Her experience and stances on minorities, equality, and other topics at that time were to my liking. But this election has cast an odd shadow over this potential Clinton administration. Simply put, it feels as if she’s playing with loaded dice and this does not feel like a fair race between her and the other democratic candidate. CNN and the media in general have played a rather odd hand. I think she has the qualifications to win on her own. I really do, but it does feel as if everyone wants to declare her victor and it feels odd and a little off.

Then there’s Bernie Sanders. A candidate who talks about the middle class, something I don’t think anyone has done and being middle class, that’s a welcome change. I hear informed answers, I hear and see a plan, I see the potential for change and I would like for change to happen. He flies coach, his donations come from ordinary people (like me), he has desisted from attacking candidates as much as he can, and he stays on topic. Oh, there’s also the small detail that his stance now is consistent with what it was 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and even 30 years ago. That definitely sets him apart from most candidates and is one of several reasons why I will vote Sanders in Puerto Rico.

Do I think Clinton is capable of running the country? Yes. Highly so. But my gut tells me to go with the other guy, for several reasons but I’ll sum it up this way: the difference between Hillary & Bernie is that Clinton looks in a mirror to know she wants to become president. Meanwhile, the same sentiment comes to Sanders but when he looks at people. Or at least that’s how it feels for me. Does that sound idealistic? Sure. But it is still my opinion, and you can have yours as well. Here’s to voting and regardless of the outcome to everyone doing their part to help the greater good.

Listy Time: top 10 Cosplays I want to see

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a fan of cosplay and cosplayers. I love when people invest their time and skill to bring a slice of fiction to real life and fully admit to that being one of my favorite parts of going to any convention. Does this mean I would love to see someone cosplay my characters someday? You betcha!!! But for now, why don’t we explore the top cosplays I haven’t seen in person and would love to see done right!

10. Synergy (from JEM): Since the movie was an insult to the 80’s, why not start making things right with a properly executed cosplay of the virtual console. How complicated you want to make it will definitely be up to the cosplayers although here's a hint, I'm looking to see someone with the ENTIRE console (Ok, not much of a hint, but you get what I mean). 

9. Mazinger/Voltron: I would love to see either of these iconic robots in all their splendor. As a kid I watched a LOT of cartoons and in this case, Mazinger, “El Festival de los Robots” (Puerto Rican 80’s programming), and Voltron were always among my favorites. I really think a properly made cosplay of either would look more than kick ass.

8. Dynamo from the Running Man: I LOVE obscure cosplays and the odder the better. That said, I’m surprised I haven't seen anyone take this cosplay on or at least that I have seen in person. Just for the sheer over-the-topness I think it could be quite awesome. Bonus points if they sing opera.

7. Silverhawks/Thunder Cats: ANY character from either of these series I want to see although I’ll admit I am partisan to the SilverHawks because I want to witness someone pull off that reflective armor. Iconic as they are, the challenges for each set of cosplays is as daunting as it should be alluring.

6. Cobra Commander: I want that reflective facemask and someone to do the voice. Am I weird? Did you JUST notice? Still, that doesn’t mean that this wouldn’t make an awesome cosplay and to be honest, one I haven’t seen done right yet.

5. Ghost Server (Blood Sword Comics): The main influence for the Gerald Order from my Human Cycle series is probably Ghost Server from the long defunct Jademan Comic series, The Blood Sword. These comics made an impact that will be with me all of my life and Ghost Server was a man who had both arms cut off, his face mutilated, and still they couldn't kill him. His lack of arms means he uses a long braid to wreak havoc, his speed was unparalleled, and only a handful of people had more kicking power than him. His face mask is the work of dreams and he still visits mine. I remember when I had an action figure lose two arms to wear and tear. It was one of the best things in my life. :D

4. Samus Aran: I don’t mean Zero Suit Samus, or a sexy Samus. I mean the orginal badass Samus Aran that forever made me love strong female characters (one of the best reveals of ANY video game). I want a Nerf Ball arm cannon. I want a retractable visor. I want a pet morph ball. I want it all!!!!!!

3. Ganondorf: there are SO many versions of Ganon that I can’t begin to choose one over the other. I just want to see one. Ocarina’s? Twilight Princess? Wind Waker? Skyward Sword? Whichever it is, THIS is one of the cosplays I most want to see.

2. Dream of the Endless: The main character from one of the literary works that has most shaken me, Dream can be a sight to behold if done properly. Although I’ve seen Death done beautifully, I’m still waiting for the real Dream. :D

1. The Three Storms from Big Trouble in Little China: Last but not least, if you read me, if you know me, or you hear me talk, you know Big Trouble in Little China is one of my favorite movies of all time. Case in point, I used to put on a laundry basket on my head as a kid as I made like one of the Three storms. Weapons, headgear, attitude… This could be so kick ass.

So let’s put it this way, if I’m ever at a Comic Con and you cosplay, and you do ANY of these, PLEASE come over and I promise to make it worth your time. Plus, how often do you get to hear a grown man giggle like a kid?

Peace, love, and maki rolls

Listy Time: INTRO

Lists have always been a great source of fun for me and I’ve done many a random lists in my life. For a while now I’d lost touch with that love but this is me laying it down that lists will be coming in full force and for several reasons:

1. They’re fun to make.

2. They’re even more fun to share. Admit it, you know your top 5/10/20 of many a random thing. Plus, it’s a good way to get to know someone and I’m all for comparing notes on our unique brands of weird.

I’ll keep this brief though, but stay tuned. Many lists to come. :D

Peace, love, and maki rolls