HALF MOON BAY, Calif., April 9, 2012 — The Mavericks Invitational holding period closed on March 31, which ended the three-month season without a contest this year. Although the La Niña winter didn’t produce the waves required to hold the infamous big-wave surf contest, the organizers still celebrated the power of Mavericks and its surfers with the first Mavericks Festival.
“We are stoked to have the opportunity to share the Mavericks season and honor the surfers who challenged the waves at the Mavericks Festival,” said Contest Director Jeff Clark. Clark is the original Mavericks surfer, who rode the wave alone for 15 years, before the larger surfing community became aware of the spot. He’s the owner of Mavericks Surf Shop and the original founder of the annual Mavericks surf contest.
The Mavericks Invitational is a one-day, invitation-only surfing competition held at the legendary Mavericks surf break located just offshore Pillar Point Harbor, 20 minutes south of San Francisco. The Mavericks Festival is intended to be held the same day as the competition, but with no contest this year, the festival served as notice of the end of the season.
Jeff Clark and a mural showing him surfing Mavericks. (Photo: Jessica Banks)
Even though conditions weren’t optimal for the big-wave surf contest, Mavericks had some excitement this year as the set of an upcoming film, “Of Men and Mavericks,” which was filmed primarily during the winter months. Filming continued for some additional scenes, even as late as the day after the festival.
The film is directed by Curtis Hanson and stars Gerard Butler, Jonny Weston, Elisabeth Shue, Abigail Spencer and Leven Rambin. Mavericks surfers such as Greg Long, Peter Mel, Zach Wormhoudt and Jeff Clark will also be included in the film. The picture’s release date is Oct. 26, 2012.
Mavericks wasn’t the only big-wave contest that was skunked by a lack of great wave conditions this season. Also ending the winter season without a competition was the Quicksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, the Peligroso at Todos Santos and the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic.
Jill K. Robinson is an award-winning journalist and adventure seeker. Follow her adventures on dangerjillrobinson.com and Twitter @dangerjr. Jill is an avid kayaker and owner of Half Moon Bay Kayak Company.
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