Giant surf wreaks havoc at Rip Curl Search World Tour surfing event

Stormy seas and onshore winds have forced another postponement of the Rip Curl Search at Peniche, Portugal, but that's not all: The massive surf destroyed the event structure at Supertubos, forcing relocation to nearby Lagido.

Pictured is Taylor Knox, who was towed on to the shoulder of a bomb near Lagido during a free-surf session. Knox, 38, of Carlsbad, is seeded directly into the second round of the event.

"We really wanted to run today, but the site structure at Supertubos is too badly damaged today and the conditions at Lagido never materialized,” contest director Damien Hardman said. “We’re still seeing plenty of swell on the fore, and better weather, so we’ll be back at Supertubos at 8 a.m. tomorrow.”

Hardman will make the call Thursday on whether to begin competition. The Rip Curl Search is the ninth of 10 ASP World Tour contests. Australia's Mick Fanning is the ratings leader.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Taylor Knox tows into a large wave near the backup site of Lagido today. Credit: ASP / CI / Scholtz via Getty Images