The Mavericks Invitational contest and festival will start 8 a.m. Sunday. The festival is located at the Oceano Hotel and Spa at 280 Capistrano Road in the Princeton Pier in Half Moon Bay. Tickets are $10 presale and $20 at the door. Event parking is $15 at the Half Moon Bay Airport.
	Jeff Clark

About a week ago, a roaring storm boasting 60-70 knot winds about 3,000 miles off the San Mateo County coast came under scrutiny by organizers of the Mavericks International — a world-renowned and famously local surf contest that will start 8 a.m. Sunday for the first time since 2010.

Twenty-four of the world's most prominent surfers will battle it out for the Mavericks title and a chance at winning the Big Wave World Tour.

The contest is the brainchild of Jeff Clark, who first surfed the breaks 38 years ago. Before this contest, big-wave surfers had to compete elsewhere — but Clark's dedication to this monster break has put Mavericks on the map.

"Mavericks is really special. When I first thought about doing the Mavericks contest, there were contests in Hawaii and other places in the world, but there was nothing to showcase the big wave surfers in California. Mavericks turned out to be the perfect venue and, as we're finding out, Mavericks produces big waves more than other big wave venues around the world. So for consistency and just raw power, it emerged as the best big-wave surf spot in the world,” Clark said.

This is the first year Mavericks will be a destination on the Big Wave World Tour which comprises surf breaks from the leading international waves in Chile, Peru, Mexico and Oregon. Many contests end up canceled, as reliable surf isn't produced during time-sensitive waiting periods. Although Peru provided for a contest Aug. 14, the winner of Mavericks could become the winner of the Big Wave Tour, Clark said.

The Invitational is made up of four 45-minute heats in which six surfers per heat will navigate through the perilous breaks and contend for the most profitable waves. The surfers who prosper in their heats will make it to the semifinals and potentially the finals. The lineup was chosen by random draw after the opening ceremony last November. Should any of the pre-chosen competitors become unable to surf or fail to show, 17 alternates could have the chance to participate in their absence.

Invitees from as far away as Brazil are hustling toward Half Moon Bay to compete. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. the contestants will battle in the water to win a title and a piece of the $50,000 prize purse. The top six will earn a hefty chunk of change, however, these figures are minimal compared to the life threatening risks the competitors face.

During the 2010 Invitational, spectators along the beach were bombarded with a wave that ran ashore causing several injuries. Coordinators aren't taking any chances this year so the beach and bluffs will be closed. Instead, the Mavericks festival will be held at the Oceano Hotel and Spa where an expected 10,000 fans can gather in anticipation and awe.

Festival admission costs $10 presale and $20 at the door, assuming the event isn't sold out. Parking is available for $15 at the Half Moon Bay Airport. Jumbo screens will display the "greatest show on earth” in real time so "you will know what's going on at any given moment,” Clark said. For those who don't feel like braving the crowd, the event will be accessible online at mavericksinvitational.com.

The Invitational remained absent last season, as the unreliable surf conditions wouldn't have allowed for a fair competition.

"It wouldn't have really been fair to hold a contest because one heat might have waves and then the next one there was nothing,” Clark said.

Unlike many other sporting events, surf competitions depend on earthly conditions.

"Mother ocean just didn't cooperate with us; we're held to her schedule, not ours,” Clark said.

But hope has sprung in the wake of this year's billowing storm.

"Every year is different. We're going to take whatever we can get when the ocean throws us a bone,” Clark said.

The nature of the ocean and size of the waves can be intermittent. Sets of several waves are broken up by 20 minutes, also known as lulls, when the ocean is seemingly dormant. Before a set hits "they'll be nothing and people will get lulled to sleep; and all of a sudden, 30- to 40-foot walls of water will be coming,” Clark said.  

This Sunday, an expected interval of 20-23 seconds displaces the waves within each set; the longer the interval, the more powerful the wave, Clark said. The danger of the waves occur when a surfer is held underwater unable to resurface during a set. One can be trapped stories below the water's surface for several minutes.

"The hold downs are just something you really don't want to think about,” Clark said.

Fellow professionals have become victim to Mavericks' danger in recent years. In 2011, Jacob Trette essentially drowned after being held under for eight minutes. Trette was found by kayaker in the bay who flagged down a person on a personal water craft (PWC). They were able to bring him ashore where he was thankfully resuscitated, Clark said. That same year, 35-year old pro Hawaiian surfer Sion Milosky tragically died at the hands of the fatal break.

"We've lost a lot of close guys out here. I hope for a safe event,” said Santa Cruz's Peter Mel, champion of last year's Big Wave World Tour and a regular at Mavericks.

The acute dangers the competitors will face leave no room for error. Clark relates the importance of the competition's resources being spent on those in the water. The appearance of a crowd on the beach only adds to the hazards of the event and is an additional factor that should be avoided, Clark said.

"If you want to go to the beach, go to the beach on another day. If you want to come watch the event and let the best big wave surfers in the world come and compete, then help us. As contest director, safety first. We're trying to keep everybody safe and alive out in the ocean,” Clark said.

Clark won't compete in the Invitational but he will be in the water to watch and assist. The San Mateo Sheriff's Office, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Parks and Recreation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fish and Game, the U.S. Air Force, the California Highway Patrol and the Harbor District have collaborated in the coordination of the Invitational, Clark said.

The 24 invited competitors are nothing less than pros with experience at charging the world's biggest waves. Needless to say, even the best must be acutely aware and cautious to survive. But these risks are part of the lifestyle and many surfers dedicate their existence to scoring the perfect wave.

Clark's heightened experience with Mavericks led him to design a new surfboard with a variously curved bottom meant for charging the ocean's giants so one can, he said, "really harness the power of Mavericks and not just survive it.” Five competitors will be showcasing Clark's new design.

Needless to say, there will be more than the competitors navigating the enormous dangers that encompass Mavericks this Sunday. The competitors will be shuttled out toward the breaks via boat. Most of the safety patrol will be on boat or PWCs to more readily aid fallen riders. As convenient as being towed by a PWC may sound in comparison to manually paddling out of danger, unless it's an emergency, it's actually a disadvantage to the surfers. If a competitor requires mechanical help to get out of danger, they will be towed to an outlying buoy where they will have to paddle back to the lineup, Clark said.

The immense strength in both body and mind, along with mother ocean's support, will determine who walks away from the contest with the glory of winning.

"These will be waves with hero rides,” Clark said.

The Mavericks Invitational contest and festival will start 8 a.m. Sunday. The festival is located at the Oceano Hotel and Spa at 280 Capistrano Road in the Princeton Pier in Half Moon Bay. Tickets are $10 presale and $20 at the door. Event parking is $15 at the Half Moon Bay Airport.

HEAT CHART:

#1:

Peter Mel, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Dave Wassel, Hawaii

Mark Healey, Hawaii

Kelly Slater, Florida

Ken Collins, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Rusty Long, San Clemente, Calif.

#2:

Chris Bertish, South Africa

Jamie Sterling, Hawaii

Grant Washburn, San Francisco, Calif.

Shawn Dollar, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Nathan Fletcher, San Clement, Calif.

Matt Ambrose, Pacifica, Calif.

#3:

Tyler Smith, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Ryan Augenstein, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Zach Wormhoudt, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Shane Dorian, Hawaii

Greg Long, San Clemente, Calif.

Ryan Seelbach, San Francisco, Calif.

#4:

Alex Martins, Brazil

Anthony Tashnick, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Grant Baker, South Africa

Ben Wilkinson, Australia

Carlos Burle, Brazil

Shane Desmond, Santa Cruz, Calif.