The Mavericks Surf Contest ran today in epic, clean conditions at Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay, CA at one of the world’s heaviest and biggest waves. Results were: 1st - Chris Bertish (South Africa), 2nd - Shane Desmond (Hawaii), 3rd - Anthony Tashnick (Santa Cruz). The Mavericks Contest was webcast on Ustream and they provided updates throughout the contest on Twitter and Facebook. They shot some great photos from the line-up and posted them via Twitter (see below).
The Mavericks contest is held semi-annually at Mavericks (between 1999 and 2010, there have been 7 contests). Contest organizers wait until the swell is sufficiently big (40 ft. minimum) before calling the contest. Invitees fly from all over the world within a few days notice to compete. Previous years winners have included Darryl “Flea” Virostko (1999, 2000, 2004), Anthony Tashnick (2005), Grant “Twiggy” Baker (2006), and Greg Long (2007). Check the photos below (full gallery at SFGate.com). Photos: Ben Margot/AP.
Josh Loya paddles into a giant
Diagram of the wave at Mavericks
Evan Slater drops in late on a macking wave as Darryl "Flea" Virostko looks on.
View from the boat of the Mavericks Surf Contest - This photo posted via Twitter
More photos of the Mavericks Surf Contest after the jump
Jaws (Maui) was macking on Monday with dozens of teams of tow-ins vying for position. One particularly unlucky surfer hit a few chops on the face that Jaws is notorious for and got worked in a devastating manner. Here’s the video:
Billabong’s XXL contest (official site) has become a regular in encouraging and recording the biggest and best of the world’s waves as surfers charge for the chance at $50,000 to ride the biggest wave of the year (other awards given for Monster Tube, Monster Paddle Wave, and Ride of the Year). So far, the results have been impressive with the Aussie clocking in some serious waves from Shipstern’s Bluff in Tasmania, all them coming from what some are calling the Biggest Shipsterns Ridden. Here’s the video of the biggest wave submissions so far to the Billabong XXL.
This happened in 2005 at Teahupoo, Tahiti, but is still incredible to watch. The surfer is Tahitian, Raimana Van Bastoloer, as he is towed into a wave by his tow partner, Reef McIntosh. Neither were injured, though it was probably the last time Reef piloted a jet ski.
Big wave season is coming to an end with the North Pacific in a funk sending more rain than waves at the big wave breaks of Hawaii and California. Check this years entries at the contest site. Here’s a video of last year’s bombs including the winning wave of Mike Parsons at Cortez Bank.
Hellmen, Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll, take on insane waves in storm conditions at Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Check the fullframe slideshow at Surfermag.com along with a full sequence of what has to be the wipe-out of the year (Ross Clarke-Jones). Shot of sequence below:
Surf Photographer - Tim McKenna - narrates a selection of photos of Teahupoo courtesy of Surfer Magazine. Tim has shot Teahupoo for close to a decade and has some incredible images.
A high pressure sitting over California and a big West-Northwest Swell driving toward California could set up ideal conditions for the Mavericks contest this Friday. The Swell is expected to be in the 15-20 ft. range, which is on the smaller side for Mavericks, but ideal conditions with warm weather and off-shores could have the contest going for Friday. Forecast courtesy of Stormsurf.com. Check the Mavericks Surf Contest home page for updates.
