Commentary
by Deniece Watkins Smith

Creator/Editor, Rescue Voices

            As life would have it, since 2006 I have had an eye opening opportunity to spend time with some of the most humble yet heroic people I have ever met.

            Having a passion for outstanding personal feats, I went to the big wave surf contest at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay.  I had gone one year and seen the waves with little dots racing down them from the shore.  Seeing waves that size is fascinating in itself.  However, seeing a surfer negotiating a ten foot board down a forty to sixy foot wave face is absolutely amazing to me.  Seeing that the surfer was such a small part of the wave gave a perspective of just how huge the waves were.

            The next year I reserved a spot on a charter boat and got to see these awesome athletes navigating themselves through the waves from a much closer and more clear perspective.  These courageous surfers chose to paddle unassisted through the waves, catch the wave if possible, then surf the wave while attempting to not get completely pummeled.

            The surfers who caught the wave would pick up such speed so quickly, that they would go straight down a drop off with their arms in the air like they were flying.  When their board landed they had to establish balance, then control.  Then as this huge wall of water came crashing behind them, they had to be aware of what was trailing and plan an exit that was the least damaging.  Most of them turned their surf board sharply, cutting over the wave, risking getting taken out by the next wave in the set. 

            Some of the not so lucky lost balance somewhere along the way and had the water eat them up in its powerful jaws and spin them around like they were an ingredient in some kind of blended drink. Hopefully, within a few minutes, they would pop up from the tumbling. 

            After all this, these amazing human beings would take a breath for just enough time to get ready to paddle right back out there and try to catch the next one.

            Well in 2006 I had the chance to go to an after party with the contestants.  My cousin is Assistant Harbor Master at Pillar Point and introduced me to the surfers, as well as a friend of his whom he works with, Cary Smith.  I ended up hanging out with this friend of his quite a bit. 

            As they talk about their stories, I get to hear.  I am always shocked to learn how many of these people effect the public in such a positive, yet unnoticed way.  More surprisingly, I hear stories about how few people appreciate the work of these warm hearted heroes.  There are people whose lives were saved by these daring and dedicated water patrol folks, who don't ever send a thank you note!    They are saved and go on their merry way.  Some people (more times than you would believe) actually yell obscenities  at the  water patrol because they are so embarrassed.  They actually blame the person who just saved them!!