UPDATE 11/03/09: The following is a press release from Mavericks Surf Ventures, summarizing the Opening Ceremonies on Fri., 10/30:
THE WAIT IS ON FOLLOWING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 2009/2010
MAVERICKS SURF CONTEST® PRESENTED BY SONY ERICSSON
HALF MOON BAY, Calif., Nov. 3, 2009 – The waiting period for the
2009/2010 Mavericks Surf Contest® presented by Sony Ericsson has
officially begun. On a picture perfect Friday afternoon, more than
two-dozen of the best big-wave surfers from around the world, along
with family members, friends, and members of the media gathered on the
beach at Pillar Point to celebrate the opening of the new 2009/2010
Contest season. The only big-wave paddle-in contest on the mainland,
the waiting period for this year’s Mavericks Surf Contest® will last
from November 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010. During this window, the 24
invitees will wait for Mother Nature to conjure up the “perfect storm”
that will produce waves that are 30-40 feet in height. Once such a
swell is on the horizon, the 24 contestants themselves will vote on
whether to call the Contest.
As the invitees and alternates lined the beach for this year’s photo
shoot, they were greeted by a surprise guest. Surfing pioneer Dorian
“Doc” Paskowitz gave a heartfelt speech in which he spoke of how proud
he was of each of these men for the contributions that they have made
to the sport of big-wave surfing. “As long as you surf, surfing will
keep you,” said the 90 year-old Paskowitz, whose son Abraham and
grandson Levi were also on hand. These men were also addressed by
long-time Mavericks surfer Peter Mel, as well as by former contest
champions Greg Long, Darryl “Flea” Virostko, and Anthony Tashnick.
Each man described what surfing Mavericks means to them, and all spoke
of how proud they were to be part of the brotherhood of Mavericks
chargers.
Everyone then paddled out towards Mavericks to continue the tradition
of joining in a circle to honor the new big-wave season at Mavericks.
Mavericks competitor Tim West, Jr. summed up the emotions that were
present in the circle, saying, “The paddle out was rad and was
definitely the most spiritual one I have ever experienced.”
The festivities as well as the perfect weather lasted well into the
evening as the surfers, their families, and friends gathered on the
lawn outside of the Oceano Hotel and Spa for eating, drinking, and
dancing, as well as for this year’s heat drawings. Guests enjoyed
surf-inspired cocktails from Jim Beam, along with Sierra Nevada on
tap, while speaking with excitement about what this season’s El Niño
weather pattern might bring. All agreed that Mavericks Matriarch
Katherine Kelly Clark had outdone herself once again in organizing
this memorable event. Contest invitee Kenny “Skindog” Collins added,
“This was the best opening ceremony celebration ever! Everyone’s
looking good and healthy, and it was great to get together.” Each
competitor also received a gift package that included newly launched
Mavericks sunglasses, belts, and 100% recycled hoodies, a Sony
Ericsson W518A phone, and a limited edition Mavericks/Jim Beam bottle
and blanket.
The Field is Set. Unlike other big-wave contests, Mavericks invitees
draw numbered golf balls to determine whom they will compete against
in the six-man, first round heats. The invitees themselves have chosen
this method of seeding because they believe it mirrors the
unpredictability of Mavericks itself in that “you never know what
you’re going to get.” Below are the official random heat draws
presented in the order they were chosen by the surfers themselves for
the 2009 Contest:
Heat One: Evan Slater, Darryl “Flea” Virostko, Ion Banner, Dave
Wassell, Grant “Twiggy” Baker, Tyler Smith
Heat Two: Peter Mel, Shane Desmond, Zach Wormhoudt, Nathan Fletcher,
Matt Ambrose, Anthony Tashnick
Heat Three: Brock Little, Tim West Jr., Kenny “Skindog” Collins, Josh
Loya, Greg Long, Carlos Burle
Heat Four: Chris Bertish, Grant Washburn, Ryan Seelbach, Ben Andrews,
Shawn Rhodes, Jamie Sterling
Record Prize Purse and Jim Beam Jersey at stake. This year, the
invitees will compete for a record-breaking $150,000 prize purse,
including $50,000 to the Champion. The purse is personally funded by
Mavericks benefactors Moose Guen and Jane Sutherland of MVision, and
Barracuda Networks. Mavericks will also introduce the “Jim Beam
Jersey” to this year’s lineup—a distinctive jersey to be worn by the
2008 Mavericks Champion as he battles to defend his hard-earned title.
Jim Beam will also offer fans a limited edition Contest label along
with a $5,000 donation to benefit Save the Waves—an environmental
coalition dedicated to preserving the world’s surf spots and their
surrounding environments. In addition, a $5,000 “Gnarliest Drop” award
will be offered to the surfer who exhibits the most impressive drop-in
of the day. 2009/2010 Contest Sponsors include Sony Ericsson, Jim
Beam® Bourbon, Barracuda Networks, Moose Guen and Jane Sutherland of
MVision, Facebook, Ustream, the Bay Club, The Corporate Law Group,
Gnarly Head Wines, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Airship Ventures,
Vertical Response, Surfer Magazine, Oceano Hotel & Spa, Stormsurf.com,
Rickshaw Bagworks, and Capture Technologies.
************************************************
The 2009-10 Maverick’s Contest Opening Ceremony will be held on Fri., Oct. 30 with a 2:30 PM paddle-out from the tip of Pillar Point Beach. The heat draws will be held at a dinner event later in the evening. The Maverick’s Contest window opens on Nov. 1, 2009 (that’s this Sunday!) and closes March 31, 2010. Contest organizers and the 24 invited surfers hope the earlier contest window along with expected consistent El Niño swells will line up for a great contest day.
Below is the official press release from the Maverick’s Contest organizers, Mavericks Surf Ventures:
THE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED MAVERICKS SURF CONTEST® PRESENTED BY SONY
ERICSSON RETURNS AMIDST A PROMISING, EL NIÑO SEASON
The Official 2009/2010 Contest Window Will Open on November 1, 2009
HALF MOON BAY, Calif., Oct. 29, 2009 – On just 24 hours notice between
November 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010, 24 of the world’s best big-wave
surfers will be summoned to Half Moon Bay, home of Mavericks, one of
the most majestic and infamous surf breaks on Earth. There, they will
test their individual skills and vie to be crowned champion of the
2009/2010 Mavericks Surf Contest® Presented by Sony Ericsson.
Competitors will face the dangerous elements of the frigid northern
California waters in search of the perfect ride on waves reaching
heights of 30 to 40 feet or more.
“The 24” make the call. And according to Mavericks CEO Keir J.
Beadling, this contest seasons adds a new and exciting element: “This
season we’re embarking on a new chapter, as the Mavericks competitors
will choose the day. Once potentially contestable conditions are
identified, ‘the 24’ will vote and determine whether to pull the
trigger. If they say ‘go,’ we go, and that’s exactly the way it
should be at Mavericks.” Commented longtime Mavericks surfer and
Contest competitor Kenny “Skindog” Collins, “This Mavericks Contest
combined with this season’s El Niño is going to be historic!”
El Niño in-play. Official Surf Forecaster Mark Sponsler of
Stormsurf.com says there is good reason to be hopeful: “The El Niño
season, which has already begun, should bring a higher number of
storms moving from the International Dateline into the Gulf of Alaska
than in years previous. Those storms should have the potential to push
larger and more consistent surf down the Pacific Coast into
California. It’s likely there will be several good opportunities to
hold the contest between now and March 31 when the contest window
closes.”
Once the contestants receive the green light alert, they have just 24
hours to arrive for the event. The international roster of invited
surfers consists of, in alphabetical order: Matt Ambrose, Ben Andrews,
Grant Baker, Ion Banner, Chris Bertish, Carlos Burle, Kenny Collins,
Shane Desmond, Nathan Fletcher, Brock Little, Greg Long, Josh Loya,
Peter Mel, Shawn Rhodes, Ryan Seelbach, Evan Slater, Tyler Smith,
Jamie Sterling, Anthony Tashnick, Darryl Virostko, Grant Washburn,
Dave Wassell, Tim West, Zach Wormhoudt.
Also named were the 15 alternates, in order of priority: Alex Martins,
Danilo Couto, Mark Healey, Tyler Fox, Rusty Long, Nic Lamb, Jamie
Mitchell, Mike Gerhardt, Russell Smith, Kealii Mamala, Garrett
McNamara, Andrew Marr, Lawton Smith, John Whittle, Colin Dwyer.
Record Prize Purse and Jim Beam Jersey at stake. This year, the
invitees will compete for a record-breaking $150,000 prize purse,
including $50,000 to the Champion. The purse is personally funded by
Mavericks benefactors Moose Guen and Jane Sutherland of MVision, and
Barracuda Networks. Mavericks will also introduce the “Jim Beam
Jersey” to this year’s lineup—a distinctive jersey to be worn by the
2008 Mavericks Champion as he battles to defend his hard-earned title.
Jim Beam will also offer fans a limited edition Contest label along
with a $5,000 donation to benefit Save the Waves—an environmental
coalition dedicated to preserving the world’s surf spots and their
surrounding environments. In addition, a $5,000 “Gnarliest Drop” award
will be offered to the surfer who exhibits the most impressive drop-in
of the day.
Presenting Sponsor Sony Ericsson returns. Beadling also announced
that Sony Ericsson is the presenting sponsor of this year’s contest,
adding, “We are thrilled to be able to partner with a company that
shares both our passion for innovation as well as our commitment to
environmental preservation.” On Contest day this season, spectators
can recycle their old phones at the Sony Ericsson tent or take a
minute and recharge their current mobile phones. Any proceeds from the
recycling program will be donated to helping our coastline.
Additional contest sponsors include Jim Beam® Bourbon, Barracuda
Networks, Moose Guen and Jane Sutherland of MVision, Facebook, the Bay
Club, The Corporate Law Group, Gnarly Head Wines, Sierra Nevada
Brewing Co., Airship Ventures, Vertical Response, Surfer Magazine,
Oceano Hotel & Spa, Stormsurf.com, Rickshaw Bagworks, and Capture
Technologies.
Our Backyard. Contest organizers work closely with Gulf of the
Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS), to protect the wildlife
and the habitats of the part of Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary (Sanctuary) where the contest takes place. GFNMS enforces
the rules and regulations designed to protect one of the most
productive marine ecosystems on the planet. Since the contest takes
place during a time in which seabirds and marine mammals are engaged
in breeding activities or in migrating through, the sanctuary will
help to minimize wildlife disturbance and provide information to
attendees about minimizing their impact on the environment.
Save The Waves Coalition will again be partnering with Mavericks to
ensure the onsite presence of the Green Team to assist spectators in
recycling and packing their trash on contest day. Additionally Save
The Waves will be announcing the results of research study on the
Value of Mavericks to the local and regional economy which was
executed by the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and Stanford
University’s Center for Responsible Travel. Other environmental
associates working closely with Mavericks to ensure that the ocean,
beach and surrounding area are protected include the San Mateo County
Harbor District, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Thank You Ocean, the
California Coastal Commission, Johns Hopkins University’s Center for
Talented Youth, World Savvy, Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of
Commerce Eco-Tourism Initiative, Livability Project, and the San Mateo
County History Museum. More information regarding Mavericks’
Environmental Policy can be found at
http://maverickssurf.com/Help/Environment.aspx.
Alternative viewing options. As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce
foot traffic at the event and entice fans to experience the Contest
remotely, this season Mavericks has launched its most ambitious
webcast offering to-date. Millions of fans witnessed the 2008 Contest
live webcast footage. Mavericks will once again be webcast live over
the Internet—this year bringing an unprecedented level of
interactivity in partnership with Facebook and Ustream. Fans will
also have the option of watching the contest while on the go, thanks
to a deal with FLO TV, provider of the award-winning live mobile FLO
TV™ service. Through the deal with FLO TV, surf fans will be able to
watch the competition on mobile handsets starting on November 1 and on
in-car entertainment systems and consumer electronics devices like the
FLO TV™ Personal Television launching later in the year. The “It’s
On!” SMS campaign will once again allow fans to sign up to receive a
cell phone text message alert as soon as the Contest green light is
given (text “MAVERICKS” to 81595). And the day’s activities will
again be available via a unique live webcast viewing event at AT&T
Park—“baseball’s perfect address” and the home of the San Francisco
Giants. Finally, Jim Beam will host a number of smaller webcast
viewing parties at key west coast bars and restaurants to be
announced. As always, surfers and fans alike can track the waves,
stay informed on Contest announcements, check out Mavericks™ official
merchandise, and buy tickets for the AT&T Park Viewing Event at the
official Mavericks website, www.maverickssurf.com.
About Mavericks™ and The Mavericks Surf Contest®
Every winter season, Mother Nature offers up the ocean’s harshest
conditions and the giant, unpredictable waves that characterize
Mavericks and the annual Mavericks Surf Contest®. Frigid waters,
dangerous currents, jagged rocks and the ever-present threat of the
great white shark. When weather conditions are just right, the 24
chosen surfers will make the official contest call. Once the call is
made, they will have only 24 hours to arrive in Half Moon Bay to face
the extreme conditions, thunderous waves and each other. Coined as
“the wave beyond,” the Mavericks™ brand inspires hardcore athletes to
face the unpredictably raw power of Mother Nature, and stirs the souls
of those who aspire to challenge their own limits. Mavericks remains
true to its core: a cold, mysterious and foreboding place that demands
respect from everyone who goes there and inspires them to attempt the
extraordinary. For more information, including photos, surf
conditions Official Mavericks™ gear, and contest highlights, visit
Mavericks online at www.maverickssurf.com.
Related posts:
check out Bruce Jenkins’ write-up of the paddle-out and summary of the heat draws: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/threedotblog/detail?entry_id=50711#commentform