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Mavericks Big Wave Surfing Competition Annual Half Moon Bay Surf Event

 

mavericks big wave surfing contest

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MAVERICKS - Half Moon Bay - An elite group of the world's top surfers drop what they're doing and rush to Mavericks for this once-in-a-lifetime surfing competition. It's huge, it's wild and only 24 men will get to try it out in 2008.  The waves are ranging in the 30 feet category, according to reports. That's a little less than they like, but they don't want to miss the chance, so they're going for it today. Time: approx. 8:30 - 3:30 (final heat in afternoon). Viewing is difficult. Hotels sold out, etc. 50,000 or more attend. Held by invitation only, this event was broadcast on myspace.com.

 

 

2008 Winners of Mavericks

Mavericks 2008 champs

    Greg Long      Grant Baker     Jamie Sterling     Tyler Smith   Grant Washburn   Evan Slater

Results were left to right in photos above:

1- Greg Long San Clemente 27.4 (wore an orange jersey)
2 - Grant Twiggy Baker South Africa 26.6  - yellow jersey
3 Jamie Sterling - Home town is Santa Cruz  - red
4 Tyler Smith of Santa Cruz - blue
5 Grant Washburn - Half Moon Bay  - white
6 Evan Slater - San Clemente/Vista - green

 Slater is editor of Surfer Mag. had been out of surfing with a back injury and had just returned to surfing. His hometown is San Clemente, but he has lived for several years in Vista with his wife and family.
 

Sponsors included: Save the Wave, Surfer Magazine, Myspace
Clifbar Green Room best tube of the day - environmental efforts, barrel or closest to barrel Grant Twiggy Baker $500/ $500 save the waves. Greg Long took his $30,000 winnings and combined it with the earnings of the other 6 finalists, which they split equally for a take home of $9500/each.

Greg Long: Wow! This has been one of the biggest things since I started surfing. Guys in water have been idols of mine. These guys are the best watermen in the world. I am very humbled. It was an amazing day. The first 10 minutes, we were getting antsy. It's not about the money, but the love it. It was anybody's game out there. Thanks for making me feel so welcome every time I come back up here. - end

 

    2007 Mavericks Surf Contest at Half Moon Bay Was Not Held

 

Jan. 3, 2007 - The 2007 Mavericks Surf Contest, the season's most anticipated big-wave surf event, is in holding pattern until the waves are just right. On just 24-hours notice between January 1 and March 31, 2007, 24 legendary big-wave surfers will make the pilgrimage to the treacherous Mavericks surf break to compete for the famed title. This year, the invitees will compete for an impressive $75,000 prize purse. The purse breakdown awards $30,000 for first place, $12,000 for second place, $7,500 for third place, $3,500 for fourth, $2,500 for fifth and $1,500 for sixth place.

When the ideal confluence of swell and storms hit Half Moon Bay last year generating 50 foot waves and ideal weather, a keyed up crowd of 50,000 spectators experienced the surprise win from South Africa's Grant "Twiggy" Baker. This year these extraordinary watermen will again risk their lives in the hollow, shark-infested waters for the pride of conquering this storied wave.

When a contest-worthy swell, born from the storms off the coast of Japan, approaches the Mavericks break, the 24 invited surfers get the contest greenlight and have a mere 24 hours to be onsite and ready to go. This year's contest aims to accommodate the tremendous audience interest while respecting the fragile surroundings of this natural wonder by implementing a number of soon-to-be-announced initiatives. These include a groundbreaking live webcast on CBS SportsLine.com, a unique webcast viewing event at "baseball's perfect address" and the home of the San Francisco Giants -- AT&T Park and a "greenlight alert" SMS campaign for Mavericks fans. Surfers can track the waves and stay informed on contest announcements at the official website  maverickssurf.com

2007 Mavericks Invitees:
Ion Banner
Matt Ambrose
Ross Clarke-Jones
Kenny "Skindog" Collins
Grant "Twiggy" Baker
Shane Desmond
Randy Cone
Danilo Couto
Brock Little
Greg Long
Josh Loya
Peter Mel
Evan Slater
Tyler Smith
Russell Smith
Jamie Sterling,
Shawn Rhodes
Ryan Seelbach
Anthony Tashnick
Darryl "Flea" Virostko
Garrett McNamara
Grant Washburn
Zach Wormhoudt
John Whittle

 

 

 

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