Mavericks surf contest gets underway

By Caitlin Cassady

January 12, 2008

A north-northwest swell was bringing in sets of waves just before 9 a.m. today for the second heat of surfers at the infamous Mavericks Surf Competition in Half Moon Bay.

Six surfers were in the water at about 8 a.m. for the first 45-minute heat. Surfer are trying to catch at least two good waves to score in the selection.

At the same time, surfers are trying to avoid getting smashed against the rocks, commonly referred to as the Bone Yard, which is located at the end of the wave break.

Contest announcers said surfers are facing difficult conditions today, but local surfboard shaper and competitor Randy Cone said the direction of the swell doesn't matter.

"If you wipe out you are going to get slammed," Cone said.

Throngs of spectators descended on a tiny beach just north of Half Moon Bay in anticipation of the competition before it began at 8 a.m. Surfers were in the water preparing as sets of waves with 20-foot faces broke a few hundred yards off the beach.

There were patchy clouds at about 9 a.m. and contest organizers said it should be a good day for a competition.

San Mateo County sheriff's deputies posted barricades warning about the dangers of the loose, wet rocks, but a few visitors scaled the cliff anyway in search of the perfect view.

Twenty-four of the world's best big wave surfers are competing. They come from as far Australia, South Africa and Brazil to catch the monster waves.

The Mavericks Surf Contest began in February 1999. Each year the window for the contest runs for three to four months. During that time surfers are on-call for when the "perfect" system passes through. When that happens, competitors are given 48 hours to get to Half Moon Bay for the start of the competition.

Editor's Note: You can watch the competition live online here.

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