Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic enters holding period

Nelscott Reef promoters revealed the new web page for the 2010 Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic, confirming that this year’s event will indeed be a paddle in only event. The web page launch also coincides with the opening of the 3 month holding period.

As previously announced, the Nelscott Reef contest changed from a tow in event to a paddle in event. This change was brought on from pressure from the competitors after the previous years contests gave them a taste of paddling in to some Nelscott bombs.

“The guys would rather paddle than tow, and they proved it can be done”, said event founder, John Forse. The 2010 Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic is also participating as a stop on Gary Linden’s Big Wave World Tour. The tour includes four other events in Chile, Peru, Mexico, and California. 2010 will be the second season for the tour, which will grow from 4 events to 5, including Nelscott Reef.

The Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic continues to attract the top names in big wave surfing from around the world. Changing from a tow in event to a paddle in event offers organizers some new talent for this year. Along with Nelscott veterans, there are a lot of surfers competing at Nelscott for the first time.

“I have a lot of respect for some of the older guys we invited that have chosen to step aside and let some of the up and coming talent take a turn”, said John Forse. “People like Gary Linden and Ross Clarke Jones have given up their spots for younger surfers to have a chance. It is the ultimate show of sportsmanship in my opinion.”

The Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic will continue to operate on a traffic light system during the holding period. Red represents no favorable conditions in the near future. Organizers will change to yellow status if they spot a forecast for favorable conditions. If the event is called, the status will change to green and competitors will have 48 hours to make it to Lincoln City, OR. This system has worked well in the past, as the event has been held on what turned out to be the best days of each of the past five years.

The Nelscott Reef web page contains the most up to date information on the event. People can sign up for email alerts as well. The Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic is honored and proud be a part of the Big Wave World Tour and promote big wave surfing internationally. For more info go to and www.nelscottreef.com and www.bigwaveworldtour.com

This years invitees are:
Carlos Burle
Mark Healey
Chris Bertish
Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker
Peter Mel
Shane Desmond
Greg Long
Shane Dorian
Grant Washburn
Jamie Sterling
Anthony Tashnick
Ramon Navarro
Gabriel Villaran
Tim West
Danilo Couto
Tyler Smith
Shawn Dollar
Travis Payne
Josiah Schmucker
Chad Jackson
Steve Harnack
Rusty Long
Zach Wormhoudt
Tyler Fox