The season for the Mavericks Surf Contest, one of the most dangerous big-wave surfing competitions in the world, is set to open for the first time ever on November 1 instead of in January.
This means that 24 of the world's top big-wave surfers now have from November 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010 for a chance that Mother Nature will produce a stupendous-enough swell at Half Moon Bay to allow the contest to take place.
Mavericks CEO, Keir J Beadling, said, 'We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s big-wave contest season will begin earlier than ever before. We have long understood the importance of increasing the size of the contest window, but haven’t been able to do so.
'Last season’s events further highlighted how valuable a November opening date can be. Now, thanks to the support of everyone involved with the contest, we will make the November opening a reality.'
During the open season, the surfers, who are specially-selected by Mavericks pioneer and Contest Director, Jeff Clark, remain on 24-hour alert. Defending 2008 Champion is Greg Long of San Clemente, south of LA.
Their biggest-ever prize of $150,000, donated by Moose Guen and Jane Sutherland of MVision, and Barracuda Networks, rolls over from last season.
Last season the contest window closed without a contest simply because not enough of a Pacific swell appeared. To rub salt into the wound, the November Thanksgiving weekend produced 30 ft - 45 ft waves that were described as 'two of the most perfect days ever seen' there.
Many of the world's greatest surfers swarmed to Mavericks and achieved so many stunning rides that there was a record number of entries in the Monster Paddle section of the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards in April, known as the 'Oscars' of surfing.
While Jeff Clark, Keir Beadling and the Mavericks team were left kicking frustrated heels in the sand. They simply did not have enough sponsorship money to open the contest window for six months, even though they had often seen great waves in November and nothing of contest standards between January and March.
Now this has changed. 'We are grateful to our sponsor partners whose support was vital to making the opening of the contest season in November a reality, and for ensuring that the surfers will be competing for a record-breaking $150,000 prize purse.
'We are fortunate that all of our sponsor partners recognize the importance of opening the contest window on November 1, and that they have demonstrated their commitment to making sure we are able to do so,' said Keir Beadling.
As the contest nears, fans will be able to go onto text and email alert for the call that leads to the mad dash to Half Moon Bay, about an hour away from San Francisco.
In the interim, there are surfing treats on the way. The TV premiere of the 'Very Best of Mavericks' will be aired by Fuel TV in August, promised as 'stunning footage' of Mavericks surfing over the past several years.
Also upcoming is the Mavericks Live Tour™ Concert Series, details of which will appear on www.maverickssurf.com.
'Although the contest season is still a few months away, we celebrate Mavericks all year round,' commented Keir Beadling. 'Between the Fuel TV show and the upcoming Mavericks Live Tour concert series, fans should have enough to hold them over as they await the start of the 2009/2010 contest season.'
The Mavericks™ motto is this:
'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.'
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment