Lack of waves likely wiping out Mavericks
By: Tamara Barak Aparton
Examiner Staff Writer
March 26, 2009
Big-wave surfers are preparing themselves for a major bummer as the world-renowned Mavericks Surf Contest near Half Moon Bay appears to be a no-go.
Weather conditions simply have not been right for producing the large swells necessary for the competition. The window for the contest ends Tuesday.
“Something really strange is going to have to happen for us to get in this contest window. We hope it happens, but it doesn’t look good for this year,” contest director Jeff Clark said Tuesday.
Last weekend’s high winds raised the hopes of the 24 surfers chosen from around the world to compete.
“The wind was here, but the waves never made it,” Clark said. “I check the waves every day, but it looks like we’ve missed the peak of winter and spring is already upon us.”
If perfect conditions converge in the next week, Clark will notify the contestants, who will then have
24 hours to arrive and greet the thunderous waves.
If Mavericks is held, this year’s purse is $150,000, double the amount from 2008.
If the contest is not held, it will be the second cancellation in three years due to a lack of world-class swells.
A cancellation will also have a negative impact on local business owners who have come to count on the tens of thousands of spectators who visit Half Moon Bay for the event.
tbarak@sfexaminer.com
