2008
I don’t surf. I just wish I did. I grew up on Puget Sound and any surf above my head intimidates me. That may explain my fascination with Mavericks, a world famous big wave surf contest, where the waves really are killer. Mavericks is taking place again this weekend in Half Moon Bay, Ca. As one surfer said, it is the ultimate rush. Media is given notice 24 hours prior to the event. It is all based on when the waves are ready. The science behind wave prediction is amazing, starts with Arctic storms traced across the Pacific Ocean. For awesome photos, click here.
Here are some places to watch the event via a live broadcast. They are encouraging folks not to come to the event. It is crowded, 50,000 people and the surf is about ½ mile from shore. Even my surfing friends don’t go. You can watch the event on a live broadcast from AT&T Park, Myspace and the Mavs Cam. If you are thinking about going, read this from the event organizers:
“We cannot stress it enough, don’t try to come watch the event. You won’t be able to see anything. If you can’t resist the urge to come out and you make it through traffic, respect the coastside residents and the surrounding areas. Maverick’s is located smack dab in the center of a very eco sensitive area. Use common sense, stay on the trails and pack out all your trash and if you see any on the ground pack that out as well.”
I thought you might also like some other surf related info about the Bay area: Looking for places to surf in the bay area, that are safer than Mavericks? Bill Doyle at Posthoc.com has a nice four part blog post series on surfing in the bay area. Surf reports are here. Want to protect the surf? Check out Surfrider Foundation, San Francisco Chapter. After watching Mavericks, if you feel you must take up surfing, here are some surf camps around the bay area: Open Ocean Surfing in Half Moon Bay, Bolinas Surf Lessons in Bolinas, AdventureOut in Pacifica and Richard Schmidt Surf School in Santa Cruz.
I am looking for a surf camp for my kids this summer (and for myself), let me know if you have any recommendations. Let’s go surfing now!
3 Responses
I cannot wait to see Mavericks this weekend, thanks for pointing out the places online to watch the action. I would love to learn to surf, I hear there is a women’s only surf school called Surf Las Olas. Maybe for my 40th birthday!
Hey i like the article, however I feel Maverick’s getting all the hype is unfair. Every year there are plenty of surf contests, events, and phenomenas, yet Maverick’s is the only thing that ever gets national exposure. Lets give surfers, surfing, and even surf bloggers year round exposure. Surfing is truly an awesome sport, let us celebrate it.
Nice blog. Keep up the good work.
Jeff
I wish that I had read your entry sooner as I am new to the area and heard about Mavericks…several days too late! I was very disappointed, as I would have LOVED to watch those crazy surfers ride the wild Pacific waves. I have never seen that kind of surfing ‘live’. Oh well, next year, perhaps.