Mavericks'
Surf's Up---Waaaay Up! The forecast for long awaited big swells finally arrived and the word went out and around the world: all invited competitors for the Big Wave Competition at Mavericks' should be ready to go at day break on Saturday, Feb. 13,2010. From as far away as South Africa, surfers were making a beeline for california's heralded contest of elite surfers. The $50,000 first prize money brings the best of the best to the site. Neither contestants nor fans would be disappointed. The waves were, in local parlance, awesome!.
By some estimates, a few of the monster swells created wave fronts of 50'. In Hawaii, big surf at Waimea ranges from 20' to 30'wave fronts. One wave broke over a nearby breakwater and scatttered onlookers and officials, injuring more than a dozen and sending several to local hospitals with broken bones. None of the competitors was injured, although several reported interminable hold downs that delayed or ended their heats.
Chris Bertish of South Africa took home the $50K. He commented that what was seen Saturday at Mavericks will go down in surfer lore as the legend of 2010. Only repeated examination of the photos will verify the size of those waves.
Chris had some travel issues, too. Both of his boards were lost enroute. To the rescue: Jeff Clark. The recently deposed contest director, a long time friend of Bertish, put him up for the night, and gave him a replacement board:a Jeff Clark Special.
Next year, or rather next time they hold the competition, competitors will think long and hard about the challenge of Mavericks'.
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