Mavericks big-wave surfing contest

All conditions go for Mavericks on Friday

Bruce Jenkins

The Mavericks big-wave surfing contest is on for Friday, thanks to the only factor that really matters in this sport: Mother Nature.

There was deep concern among the organizers Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, because of a forecast of southerly winds - an element that turns Mavericks into a jumbled, virtually unrideable mess. Everything changed Wednesday afternoon, prompting contest director Jeff Clark to give the go-ahead for an 8 a.m. start Friday.

"There was a low-pressure system over Central California that was forecast to give us south winds," Clark said, "but that system disappeared. We're looking at (favorable) light offshore winds now, along with the big swell we know is coming. This is the best we could hope for."

For those unfamiliar with the spot near Half Moon Bay's Princeton Harbor and eager to witness the contest in person, it's important to realize that you can't. The beach will be closed, because of environmental concerns, as will the roads leading to Pillar Point. All spectators will be directed to the Mavericks Viewing Festival, to be held on the grounds of the Oceano Hotel & Spa just outside the harbor. Contest action will be shown on large video screens, and it also can be watched at home through two webcasts and the Universal television network.

As the 24 invited surfers ponder an incoming swell arriving from a westerly direction, they feel a combination of excitement and anxiety. West swells produce the most powerful, compressed waves at Mavericks, and they are especially dangerous because they produce a south-to-north current. For surfers who have lost their boards or find themselves caught in the inside-whitewater madness, this almost surely means a trip through an enormous rock formation, with very specific gaps allowed for passage.

There couldn't be a more capable group of men to deal with Mavericks' savage elements (and we'll throw in sharks and icy waters, just for good measure). Shane Dorian, Greg Long, Grant (Twiggy) Baker and Mark Healey are probably the most respected surfers in the world when it comes to paddling into big waves (tow-surfing, featuring personal-watercraft assistance, is not allowed at this contest). Long and Baker each own titles in Mavericks contests.

Carlos Burle of Brazil is believed to have set a record for the biggest wave ever ridden. That came on an October tow-surfing expedition at Nazare, a small fishing village off the coast of Portugal, and the wave was estimated to be at least 90 feet high (the official measurement of his feat remains on hold).

Shawn Dollar, a Santa Cruz surfer recently profiled in the Chronicle, has set two biggest-wave world records for paddle surfing. Peter Mel, Grant Washburn, Kenny Collins, Zach Wormhoudt and Ryan Seelbach represent Mavericks' legendary over-40 contingent, while Nic Lamb (Santa Cruz) and Colin Dwyer (San Francisco) are the best up-and-comers. Add Nathan Fletcher, 2010 contest winner Chris Bertish and a Hawaiian contingent featuring Kohl Christensen, Dave Wassel and Jamie Sterling - the list goes on and on.

Clark said he expects all 24 entrants to be on hand, although Alex Martins' status remains in doubt after a brutal wipeout during Tuesday's free-surfing session. "He took a really heavy one," said Clark, noting that Santa Cruz's Shane Desmond, the most accomplished goofy-footer (riding backside) at Mavericks over the years, is the No. 1 alternate.


More details on the competition and competitors is at http://blog.sfgate.com/threedotblog/ or at www.mavericksinvitational.com

If you're not familiar with the event or want to watch, here's a quick primer:

What is Mavericks? The Body Glove Mavericks Invitational is one of the world's premier big-wave surfing contests, named after the offshore break near Half Moon Bay where waves can roar with faces as high as 60 feet.

When is it? Starts at 8 a.m. Friday. Organizers try to coordinate the event with the most ideal surfing conditions, sometimes giving surfers only a day's notice to attend.

Can I watch the surfing in person? Not really. Watching the contest from shore is difficult and frowned upon. The waves break more than a half mile off the coast, making the surfers difficult to see, and there are a limited number of beaches and bluffs open to the public in the area. If you do try to watch, expect big crowds as well as higher-than-normal surf along the coast. (Note: the Pillar Point beach, where crowds have gathered before, was closed during last year's contest - because 13 spectators were hurt by a large wave in 2010 - and will be off-limits again this year.)

Are there other options for viewing? Yes. Event organizers are selling tickets, starting at $15, to view a live feed of the contest on big screens at the Oceano Hotel & Spa at Harbor Village in Half Moon Bay. More details on the event website.

Is the contest televised? Yes. For the first time, the event will be aired live on cable's Universal Sports Network (though most in the Bay Area don't get that channel.) You can also watch a live Internet stream at mavericksinvitational.com.