On Saturday, February 2nd, a fairly routine 30-foot swell rolled into the Nelscott Reef. Officials for the Nelscott Reef Tow-In Classic green lighted their annual big wave competition.
Riders from around the world flew in on short notice to compete on the sizeable swell.
If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone. This break isn’t in Hawaii. It isn’t in 
California. This is a big wave break in Oregon.
Half a mile off the coast of Lincoln City, the double overhead surf that pounds down on the shallow reef isn’t the only danger. There are great white sharks. And not just the occasional siting: Big wave surfer Steve Harnack had a bite taken out of his board last year.
But the Nelscott Tow-In Classic went off without a shark this year. Hawaiian Jamie Sterling won first place in the event, and took home $2,000 for the win. Acclaimed photographer Richard Hallman captured the event and you can see more of his killer shots here.
