Surfing
Surfing
After a tragedy and jet ski ban, a famous big wave begins to fade away
In Episode 2 of Made In Central California, filmmaker Graham Nash tells the untold story of how a legend's tragic drowning and a new jet ski law signaled the beginning of the end of Ghost Tree's fame.
Part of this story
9 мин
Eulogy
Find out more about the history of the Ghost Tree big wave surf spot.
It was a tight-knit, tight-lipped pack who called Ghost Tree their local spot. Years before the first cameras showed up, these men paddled Ghost Tree's huge, imperfect waves, seeking nothing but the extreme rush of adrenaline that only big wave surfing can provide.
One of the best-known and beloved longtime Ghost Tree locals was Peter Davi. And while there were plenty of frustrations that erupted amongst the local crew when the Central Californian break was suddenly thrust into the big wave spotlight, Davi seemed unfazed by all the attention. When the new surfers called the place Ghost Tree, Davi politely, but enthusiastically, corrected them. It's called Pescadero Point he'd tell them, before turning around and paddling into a bomb.
In Episode 2 of Made In Central California, filmmaker Graham Nash, who was there through Ghost Tree's halcyon days, relives the tragic day that Peter Davi passed away doing what he loved – surfing Ghost Tree's big, gnarled waves.
The jet ski brigade at Ghost Tree
© Nate Lawrence
Alex Gray became a regular during Ghost Tree's heyday
© Nate Lawrence
In the mid-2000s, Snips and Ger were a legendary tow-surfing team
© Nate Lawrence
Russell Smith descends a Ghost Tree mountain
© Nate Lawrence
After Davi's death, changing winds began to blow at Ghost Tree and California's other famous big wave, Mavericks. Both waves were located in the state's marine protected areas, where jet skis were prohibited. When the state decided that they'd allow one spot to be exempted from the jet ski ban, a group made up of California's most visible big wave surfers chose Mavericks. Suddenly, Ghost Tree slipped into the shadows. What no one could have guessed however was that decision helped spark a revolution.
See how it all went down in the second episode of Made In Central California in the player above.
Part of this story
