Around The World In 80 Waves

I have gone down to Venice beach to see if the naff surf is any better there. It is, but not much, so I don’t go in. Instead I watch all the wildlife hanging around the pier as well as a local nutter who is surfing through the pier itself. He is swerving around the pilings as he goes an it is known as shooting the pier. From above you watch him charge in from one side and then race over to the other to see if he comes out intact, like a giant human version of Pooh sticks. As you can see the dolphins were back, but I also saw seals, sea lions and even a couple of grey whales breaching just past the end of the pier.

Just when I think things cannot get any wilder a bloke wearing only his underpants sprints past me on the pier. He runs to the end of the pier and without pausing launches himself straight over the side belly flopping on to the water. Before I know it there is a full Baywatch style rescue going on but sadly no Pamela Anderson involved. This boat comes flying out of the marina down the coast, three lifeguard trucks tear up the beach from the nearby towers, and one guy starts knee paddling his lifesaver surfboard out.

Seconds later the Police helicopter is overhead but despite that on the pier you can hear the conversation between the lifeguards and the jumper who doesnt appear to be severely harmed. “Hey buddy, you’re in your underwear. Are you allright in the head.” He eventually gets dragged in to the beach where three police cars have now shown up (all of which seems a wee bit overkill) and after turning his back on the officers in a ‘its a fair cop’ stance is handcuffed and carted off.

It brings some excitement into what would otherwise be a very grey day.