Wipeouts and shout-outs

When the Cold Water Classic returns to Santa Cruz’s famed Steamer Lane on Wednesday through Sunday, chilly temperatures won’t be the only challenge for the world-class surfers competing in this final mainland contest of the year. Call it arena rock. Cliffs surrounding the competition area form a natural amphitheater, 20 feet high, for spectators. And if tide conditions force surfers to line up at the cliff’s edge, contestants, like Tim Reyes of Huntington Beach, below, can get an earful of encouragement and commentary -- whether they want it or not. “The people are only 20 feet away from you, and there’s a lot of shouting,” says 31-year-old Kieran Horn of Santa Cruz, who won the most recent Classic in 2003. “You can feel the presence of people, and they shout even when you’re taking off on a wave. It can be nerve-racking, especially if you’re not local.” The terrain presents other problems as well. Surfers sometimes crash into the cliff as they attempt to get into position for a wave, and Steamer Lane breaks in at least four different spots. “The key point is identifying the swell and where the waves are,” Horn says. Last year’s event was canceled because of poor surf. To prevent a repeat, organizers have secured the option to hold the contest at another break 30 minutes north of Santa Cruz. The event is one of three major mainland surfing contests -- known as the California Trifecta Surf Series -- held each year to determine eligibility for surfing’s big league, the World Championship Tour. FUEL-TV will broadcast the Cold Water Classic on Nov. 28. Visit www.oneillcwc.asglive.com.

-- Emmett Berg