Page 18, I would use the following info unless told otherwise:
Large wave photo - Michael Stuart / Stu Visuals
BW - Matt Paul Catalano
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WBM www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com MICHAEL STUART/STU VISUALS
MATT PAUL CATALANO
CATCHING A BIG WAVE
MASON BARNES, who grew up surfing the small waves off Wrightsville Beach,
dreams of being the best big wave surfer in the world. He can take a huge step toward
making that happen, thanks to the help of 3,500 of his friends.
Barnes, the son of Reggie and Kelly Barnes, is an alternate for the Nelscott Reef
Pro-Am, held off the Oregon coast. The top pros get in via invitation. Organizers like to have a large
pool of alternates ready to replace surfers who can’t compete. This year they held an online contest
for the 15 available spots. With a big assistance from get-out-the-vote appeals from the Wrightsville
Beach surfing community, Barnes finished third with 3,502.
“These contests only invite the top 20 or so best people in the world, so they are super hard to get
into,” says Barnes, who moved to California three years ago to become a professional surfer. “Even
being an alternate is a blessing. If I get in and do good, it will help my career immensely.”
The one-day event could be held anytime between Oct. 1 and March 31. Because conditions have
to be just right to produce the massive waves, organizers keep an eye on the weather and surf. When
the conditions are optimal the event is called on a three-day notice.
“In a normal contest, the waves are 2-5 feet. In a big wave, it’s 40-60 feet,” Barnes says. “It’s a
completely different sport. You want to get the wave and finish the wave without falling. You are not
worried about performance. It’s getting to the end and surviving.” —Simon Gonzalez
Mason Barnes, riding a big wave
off the West Coast, was voted in as
an alternate for the Nelscott Reef
Pro-Am in Oregon.