hellwoman
02-14-2007, 08:14 PM
Watch for the waves
Window for surf contest narrowing
Melissa McRobbie / Daily News
The Pacific Ocean, viewed from a spot in Half Moon Bay near the famous Maverick's swell, was calm Tuesday. Organizers of the Mavericks Surf Contest are hoping waves will get big enough by the end of March to hold this year's contest.
By Melissa McRobbie / Daily News Staff Writer
It was a beautiful day along the coast of Half Moon Bay on Tuesday: The sun was shining, the air was warm and the ocean was a smooth blue plane extending to the horizon. In other words, it was a big-wave surfer's nightmare.
The organizers of the Mavericks Surf Contest are only about halfway through the period of time in which they can call the contest on 24 hours' notice -- the window opened Jan. 1 and will close March 31.
But at least one of the 24 surfers slated to participate in the contest is not optimistic.
"We're having trouble with the waves, actually," said Grant Washburn, who has participated in the Maverick's contest each year since it began. "They're just not showing up."
While Washburn seemed nearly ready to throw in the towel, the contest's founder and Maverick's legend Jeff Clark is keeping a bit more upbeat.
"Waiting for waves is a never-ending thing for us," said Clark, who is the one in charge of giving the green light. "I really hope we get the conditions to have a great contest."
Clark has not only surfed the harrowing swell for more than 30 years; he has also ridden the wave of change that came with the spot gaining popularity over the years. Sometimes, he misses the early days when he had the water all to himself.
Clark first surfed the wave as a teenager in 1975 after spending many hours watching it from the bluffs. When he describes that first day, his eyes light up. He says people often ask him, "How scared were you?"
The answer: not at all. "I was ready for it, I wanted this," he said.
"This is about as excited and amped up and alive as you can possibly be," he said. "Talk about living in the moment."
Clark is no longer alone; surfers from around the world have become mesmerized by Maverick's.
"To tell you the truth, when I first went there, I was very scared because I saw all those movies and pictures in magazines," said renowned Brazilian surfer Carlos Burle.
Tales of the area's dark water, dangerous rocks and great white sharks didn't help, he said.
But after years of surfing Maverick's, Burle, who is on the alternate list for this year's contest, can now anticipate how each wave will develop.
"If you know that wave, you know that's where it's gonna break," he said. "You can get a barrel."
Washburn, who has surfed for as long as he can remember, said the geology beneath the wave -- which includes a canyon and a reef -- is a lot of what makes the Mavericks swell so unique. Even with all of his experience at the spot, he says, he doesn't let his guard down.
"On a small Maverick's day, you still have to be very careful because that wave is still big enough to kill you," he said.
These days, Washburn, Burle and Clark are on standby mode, waiting for the moment when the elements come together to create contest conditions.
In past years, the time frame for calling the contest was longer -- it began in December or even November, Washburn said. Keir Beadling, managing partner of Mavericks Surf Ventures, which puts on the contest in partnership with Clark, said having a larger window would add complications in terms of things like permits, and would impact those who put their lives on hold for the contest.
"I think we feel pretty good with the window we have right now," Beadling said.
As for whether the contest will happen this year, Beadling said, "The bottom line is that no one knows; we're very dependent on Mother Nature and she's been very good to us in the past."
Clark is keeping an eye on his weather maps and scouring for signs that the big waves are coming.
"As a surfer you're always an optimist," he said.
E-mail Melissa McRobbie at mmcrobbie@dailynewsgroup.com.
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Window for surf contest narrowing
Melissa McRobbie / Daily News
The Pacific Ocean, viewed from a spot in Half Moon Bay near the famous Maverick's swell, was calm Tuesday. Organizers of the Mavericks Surf Contest are hoping waves will get big enough by the end of March to hold this year's contest.
By Melissa McRobbie / Daily News Staff Writer
It was a beautiful day along the coast of Half Moon Bay on Tuesday: The sun was shining, the air was warm and the ocean was a smooth blue plane extending to the horizon. In other words, it was a big-wave surfer's nightmare.
The organizers of the Mavericks Surf Contest are only about halfway through the period of time in which they can call the contest on 24 hours' notice -- the window opened Jan. 1 and will close March 31.
But at least one of the 24 surfers slated to participate in the contest is not optimistic.
"We're having trouble with the waves, actually," said Grant Washburn, who has participated in the Maverick's contest each year since it began. "They're just not showing up."
While Washburn seemed nearly ready to throw in the towel, the contest's founder and Maverick's legend Jeff Clark is keeping a bit more upbeat.
"Waiting for waves is a never-ending thing for us," said Clark, who is the one in charge of giving the green light. "I really hope we get the conditions to have a great contest."
Clark has not only surfed the harrowing swell for more than 30 years; he has also ridden the wave of change that came with the spot gaining popularity over the years. Sometimes, he misses the early days when he had the water all to himself.
Clark first surfed the wave as a teenager in 1975 after spending many hours watching it from the bluffs. When he describes that first day, his eyes light up. He says people often ask him, "How scared were you?"
The answer: not at all. "I was ready for it, I wanted this," he said.
"This is about as excited and amped up and alive as you can possibly be," he said. "Talk about living in the moment."
Clark is no longer alone; surfers from around the world have become mesmerized by Maverick's.
"To tell you the truth, when I first went there, I was very scared because I saw all those movies and pictures in magazines," said renowned Brazilian surfer Carlos Burle.
Tales of the area's dark water, dangerous rocks and great white sharks didn't help, he said.
But after years of surfing Maverick's, Burle, who is on the alternate list for this year's contest, can now anticipate how each wave will develop.
"If you know that wave, you know that's where it's gonna break," he said. "You can get a barrel."
Washburn, who has surfed for as long as he can remember, said the geology beneath the wave -- which includes a canyon and a reef -- is a lot of what makes the Mavericks swell so unique. Even with all of his experience at the spot, he says, he doesn't let his guard down.
"On a small Maverick's day, you still have to be very careful because that wave is still big enough to kill you," he said.
These days, Washburn, Burle and Clark are on standby mode, waiting for the moment when the elements come together to create contest conditions.
In past years, the time frame for calling the contest was longer -- it began in December or even November, Washburn said. Keir Beadling, managing partner of Mavericks Surf Ventures, which puts on the contest in partnership with Clark, said having a larger window would add complications in terms of things like permits, and would impact those who put their lives on hold for the contest.
"I think we feel pretty good with the window we have right now," Beadling said.
As for whether the contest will happen this year, Beadling said, "The bottom line is that no one knows; we're very dependent on Mother Nature and she's been very good to us in the past."
Clark is keeping an eye on his weather maps and scouring for signs that the big waves are coming.
"As a surfer you're always an optimist," he said.
E-mail Melissa McRobbie at mmcrobbie@dailynewsgroup.com.
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