Over a half-dozen surfers are visible in this photo during a normal surf day.
Small waves.
This is the Pipeline on a big wave day. Lots and lots of video and photos going on, along with an appreciative crowd just watching.
A normal surfing day with lots of "average" surfers out.
View larger -- there are a dozen heads out there bobbing in the water on a normal surf day. Beaches are empty of spectators, though.
Big swells from the Ehukai Beach Park grounds above the beach. The entire beach was swept by a shallow wave just before I took this photo; be careful out there. The sea is treacherous.
20121028-FoleyBeach-33-Edit-2
20121028-FoleyBeach-9-Edit
Santa-Cruz-Beach-Sunset_DSC7896
Santa-Cruz-Beach-Sunset_DSC7896
Santa-Cruz-Beach-Sunset_DSC7896
Santa-Cruz-Beach-Sunset_DSC7896
See photo in original gallery.