Big-wave surfer Ross Clarke-Jones lucky to survive terrifying Nazare drama
AUSTRALIAN surfer Ross Clarke-Jones has made a career out of taming monsters but he is fortunate to have escaped the green-lipped nemesis he tackled at Nazare — and a hair-raising 30m climb up a cliff to safety.
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DAREDEVIL Australian surfer Ross Clarke-Jones has made a career out of taming monsters but the green-lipped one he tackled at Nazare, Portugal, before a hair-raising 30m climb up a cliff, nearly claimed his life on Monday.
If you are going to wipe out at any wave location in the world, Nazare is the one to avoid with Clarke-Jones lucky to survive being dragged into a danger zone of ragged rocks and shallow water near the base of the famous lighthouse at Praia do Norte.
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The wave was a fifth of the size of the 130ft freak he rode at the same venue in January with tow partner Benjamin Sanchism but Clarke-Jones, 51, is lucky its aftermath did not kill him.
Clarke-Jones, wearing a helmet and an airlift flotation device, had one of his closest-ever calls with death when dragged into a zone so lethal and dangerous jet skis are unable to enter for rescues.
“The rip was fast and strong which dragged me straight into the danger zone — where no one can reach you on the jet skis as it’s shallow and covered in rocks. At this stage they said they couldn’t even see me,’’ said Clarke-Jones, now being treated for a concussion and leg injuries.
“I took another hit which washed me straight onto the rocks, hitting my side which rolled over the rocks. Completely out of breath, I put myself into a safer area and hid behind a rock.
“Another set came in which dragged me in and out, exactly like a washing machine.
An up-close view of Ross Clarke-Jones​' jaw-dropping wave at Nazaré #BigWaveAwards Video by Pedro Miranda pic.twitter.com/WNczmbkKyP
— World Surf League (@wsl) February 23, 2018
“Launching back into rocks I hit my head and side, forcing myself to stay conscious I had an instant flashback to when I was 12, my brother and I used to hide behind the rocks at Terrigal’s tube rock.
“Clutching to the rocks I stayed there for a minute to get my breath back and to orientate myself.
“As I watched the set coming towards me I waited then scrambled to the cliff to start scaling the 30m sheer drop up.’’
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Clarke-Jones said the close call, caught on video by German Alexander Triebel, was a reminder of how deadly Nazare, where waves far exceeding 100-foot (30m) have been surfed for world records, can be.
“You know what you sign up for when you surf Nazare,’’ he said.
“I always have a hell of a time but this was a nice reminder that you never take it for granted. Especially on the smaller days like today where you can get complacent ... it was a big mistake.”
Jet ski driver Axi Muniain said he had never seen anyone dragged into the danger zone.
“There was five us on jet skis trying to find him and we couldn’t reach him, or even see him,’’ he said.
“I personally think that there aren’t many surfers that could have gotten themselves out of this situation.
“It was RCJ’s age and wave knowledge that saved him. He used the waves and water to his advantage.’’
“I was so relieved to see the devilish grin on his face when he crawled up over the cliff with limbs intact.”
The man who captured the incident on film said he was shocked at what was unfolding in front of him.
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“I started analysing the sets to come, then I saw Ross get dragged 200m in a heavy rip, he was getting closer and closer to the rocks at the base of the lighthouse at Praia do Norte. Where no one could help rescue him,’’ Triebel said.
“It was now up to Ross to get himself out this situation, it was Ross against Mother Nature.
“I was so relieved to see the devilish grin on his face when he crawled up over the cliff with limbs intact.”
Clarke-Jones has been nominated for five XXL Big Wave awards this year.