More than a dozen spectators were bowled over by the sea surge onto the rocky shore at the Mavericks competition in Half Moon Bay, a California harbour town 25 miles south of San Francisco.
Scores had gathered to watch the world’s top surfers battle it out for a $150,000 prize.
The injuries included broken limbs and a punctured lung.
Waves up to six feet high also knocked over barricades, a spectator stand and scaffolding holding loudspeakers that were broadcasting the contest.
At high tide, two more rogue breakers hit the shore, knocking down more spectators and causing others to flee in panic.
Nobody was injured or swept out to sea in the second bout of tidal chaos, but spectators did lose cameras, mobile phones, and backpacks.
The contest continued despite waves
Firefighters had been about to clear the beach due to the wild weather but arrived too late to prevent the spectators being swept under.
Authorities had been pleading with bystanders to move away from the shoreline, but could not properly address the public because the speaker system had already been washed out to sea.
Before the competition had started, those attending were warned of “record-breaking tall waves” and “dangerously strong winds”.
The show went on, however, and some volunteers even reportedly posted a makeshift leader board to keep up with scorekeeping.
South African Chris Bertish won this year’s competition.
FUll contest report coming soon.
