Surfing legend Gerry Lopez hits the Bend waves

Some know Gerry Lopez from his stint as an actor as “Subatio,” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s companion in the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian. But most people know him for his amazing surfing skills.

The Hawaiian-born surf legend became the state of Hawaii Junior Surfing Champion at the age of 14, and was named the Master of Pipeline in 1972.

Now, Lopez spends his days in Central Oregon at the Bend Whitewater Park.

“A lot of my old surfer friends would probably laugh when comparing the pipeline to the wave here,” Lopez said Tuesday. “But the guys who have been surfing a long time understand and embrace the concept that any wave will do.”

Lopez started surfing back in 1958, when he was just 10 years old.

“You know, surfing, when I started, was a very small sport. I mean, there weren’t a lot of surfers in the world. We had no idea it would become as popular as it did,” Lopez said.

Lopez believes even if you’re not a surfer, Central Oregonians are surfing every day.

“A lot of the surfers here in Bend, they’re surfing the snow on the mountain, they’re surfing using the wind, they’re here in the river,” Lopez said.

For Lopez, the times and tides may have changed, but surfing is more than a way of life, it has helped him conquer it.

“And eventually there will be a lull, just like in life, and that’s when you make your move,” he said. “Meanwhile, you have to keep your position, keep paddling, keep trying and eventually you will overcome whatever adversity you are dealing with.”

And coming up this weekend, Gerry Lopez is hosting an event called “The Big Wave Challenge” at Mt. Bachelor. The snowboarding event will feature big, sweeping snow features meant to look, and feel, like waves. For more information, visit mt.bachelor.com/events/big-wave-challenge.