Steamer Lane Cliff Breaks After One Too Many Acid Drops - Stab Mag

'Vacation Presented By Monster Energy' Drops 5pm on Thurs, March 30 (PT)

1669 Views
The surfer on this wave caught it inside the impact zone before the cliff collapsed. Heavy. Framegrab: Surfline

Steamer Lane Cliff Breaks After One Too Many Acid Drops

Coastal erosion heads north.

elsewhere // Feb 11, 2023
Words by August Howell
Reading Time: < 1 minutes

Steamer Lane has been home to many remarkable surfing moments. 

At this historic venue, Flea and the West Siders assaulted all things above the lip and all things monochrome. Local hero Nat Young won the O’Neill Coldwater Classic at his home break in 2008. Just last year, a handful of Monster-fueled savages competed for glory here, risking limb and board while flinging themselves (and attempting to land) off the fabled cliff.

Oh yeah, and even otters love this place. 

Yesterday morning just before 11 a.m., a large portion of the cliff gave way. A decent-sized crowd was in the water at the time, and one surfer was lucky enough to catch a wave from inside the impact zone before it was detonated. The Surfline cam caught the footy. Fortunately, there was no carnage.

After the Black’s Beach cliff toppled over, this is the second large sea bluff collapse at a renowned surf spot in less than a month. Are the flurry of atmospheric rivers rushing California to blame?

How exactly this will change the wave below Jacob Szekely’s favorite diving board is still unclear. Maybe it will make a wedge. Or destroy the slot for good. Only time (and swell) will tell. One thing is for sure, however: the Santa Cruz groms will find another slippery, treacherous path down the cliff to jump off. And they’ll land in the lineup deeper than you.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

6:59

Why You Should Never Not Paddle Out

How an impromptu 30 minute session made a Jamaican surfer $1,000 richer.

Mar 30, 2023

9:38

“I’ve Had Two Concussions Surfing Here”

Chronicles of a Newport shore-hound.

Mar 29, 2023

Rio Waida Has Been Surfing Onshore, Oversized Bells Alone

...and he might not go home all year.

Mar 29, 2023

18:19

John Florence Releases Long-Form Piece On The 243km Great Ocean Squiggle

Tourism Victoria going, ‘he just did our job for us’.

Mar 29, 2023

7:01

Japanese Rice Farmer Enjoys Frightening Sumatran West Bowls

Kaito Ohashi is on his best behavior.

Mar 28, 2023

Watch: When People Like This Speak, We Listen

Raw, extended conversations with Clyde Aikau and Eddie Aikau winner Luke Shepardson.

Mar 28, 2023

6:20

Diamond Tail = Diamond Hands?

We'll explain everything in the Rusty D-Min Joyride.

Mar 27, 2023

Behold Australia’s Nine & NZ’s Two Challenger Series Qualifiers*

May the Southern Cross smile upon you at Snapper.

Mar 27, 2023

An Unordinary Life Structured Around A Tidal Bore

Long Read: The life and times of Pete Beachy.

Mar 26, 2023

17:08

Watch: ‘Haiku’

Scenes From a Remote Reality, by Vans & Karina Rozunko

Mar 25, 2023

Sun Room: The Overnight Success Of A Young Surf Band

What's it like touring the world and living off of McDonald's?

Mar 25, 2023

How Surfers Get Paid, Episode 6

An instructional manual for the modern professional surfer

Mar 23, 2023

7:03

Caity Simmers — Extreme Competitive Surf Vlogger

Cool is chemical.

Mar 23, 2023

Globe Pulls Out Of The Apparel Game

…and, Taj Burrow and Dion Agius are now looking for new main sponsors.

Mar 22, 2023

Owen Wright Announces Retirement From Competitive And Heavy-Water Surfing

But will surf final CT event at Bells.

Mar 22, 2023

29:05

Fancy An Ale, Some Good Music, And A Bunch Of Tubes?

Ballet's minimalist full-length will satiate your needs.

Mar 22, 2023

João Chianca Spent Seven Years On The QS Without A Sponsor

And look where he is now.

Mar 22, 2023

Take Stab’s 2023 Audience Survey, Win A 3-Board Quiver

Stab towels and Premium subscriptions also up or grabs.

Mar 21, 2023
Advertisement