Photo: Doug Acton

Ken Bradshaw’s infamous Outer Logs wave, 1998. Photo: Hank

Outer Log Cabins (top right) January 28th, 1998 – the day later called “Condition Black.” Photo: Tom Servais

Maverick’s saw plenty of action in 1997/98 – lots of south wind, too, but some banner days in between. Photo: Doug Acton

Significant wave height anomaly for January through March, 1983.

Taylor Knox's K2 winner in 1998 at Todos Santos. Knox earned $50,000 for the 52-foot wave. Photo: Rob Brown

Kevin Billy, Orange County, 1983 El Nino. Photo: Larry "Flame" Moore/A-Frame

Black's in full effect during the 1983 El Nino. Photo: Mark Johnson

Peter Mel has been charging Mav’s since the early ‘90s; here he is in early 1998. Photo: Doug Acton

Last weekend's opening swell along the North Shore: a harbinger of things to come? Here's hoping. Photo: Shane Grace