Mavericks may get green light next week
The World Surf League is closely monitoring conditions off the coast of Half Moon Bay
Big Wave Tour surfers’ dreams of a white foam Christmas are materializing. The World Surf League is closely monitoring conditions off the coast of Half Moon Bay, suggesting that Mavericks Challenge could get the green light early next week.
Surfline, the official surf forecasting partner of the Mavericks Challenge, projects a “possible massive swell” late Sunday into Monday and that it “could be one of the largest swells in years.”
The league on Tuesday retweeted a tweet from Surfline, which read, “#ICYMI, it’s going to get really big on the West Coast next week. Stay tuned …”
Surfline’s forecast calls for consistent 40- to 60-foot waves on Sunday night and into Monday morning with some waves coming at more than 65 feet.
Comparing it to the epic Feb. 13, 2010 event swell, Surfline wrote: “It looks 2030 percent larger at this point, with faces size roughly 10-15’ bigger (deepwater swell size ~4’+ larger with peak swell period longer by 1-2 seconds).” The report noted, “There is a lot of uncertainty with local wind at this point.”
The WSL, seeking favorable wind conditions, requires waves to be consistently at 25 feet to give the green light to competitors. Monday’s conditions could be more than double the minimum.
Event organizers are now considering Tuesday or Thursday as a possibility, though conditions won’t be as fierce as Monday.
“We are not running the Mavericks Challenge on Monday, however, we are closely monitoring the conditions to potentially run on Tuesday or Thursday next week,” said Mike Parsons, Big Wave Tour commissioner. “Sunday’s storm is forecast for large surf but unfortunately will also bring rain and strong south shore winds, which could result in unruly conditions on Monday that are not ideal for competition.”
Reports were calling for 25- to 35-foot faces Wednesday, with Surfline adding, “Wind on the Dec. 19 looks favorable on both models right now with the region under high pressure.”
The WSL gives a “yellow alert” four days in advance if the competition could happen. Official word that the competition is happening will come 48 hours before the event.
The contest window runs through March 31. The competition has been held 10 times but never in December. The earliest the competition has been held was on Jan. 12 in 2008. Most of the time it has been held in February or March.
The Big Wave Tour has already held its two other 2018-
Kohl Christensen catches a wave as Ken Collins looks on in Heat 2in the Titans of Mavericks big wave surfing competition near Pillar Point Harbor in Princeton-by-the-Sea in 2016. 19 scheduled events. South Africa’s Grant “Twiggy” Baker won the Nazaré Challenge in Leiria, Portugal, on Nov. 18, and Hawaii’s Billy Kemper won the Jaws Challenge in Pe’ahi, Maui, Hawaii, for a third time on Nov. 27.
Baker leads the season standings with 16,305 points, ahead of Kemper (13,345) and Hawaii’s Kai Lenny and Brazil’s Lucas Chianca at 12,543. Santa Cruz’s Nic Lamb is 16th with a 2,345 total.
Lamb last won a competition held at Mavericks in 2016. No event was held last year.
Opening ceremonies for the Mavericks Challenge
were held Oct. 26.
Scotts Valley’s Patrick Shaughnessy and Santa Cruz’s Anthony Tashnick, Peter Mel and Lamb are invitees to the men’s 24-surfer field.
Santa Cruz’s Sarah Gerhardt and Jamilah Star are invitees to the field for the inaugural women’s competition, which will include 10 surfers. The women’s champion will also get equal prize money to the men’s champion, $20,000. WOMEN>>
• Paige Alms (Hawaii)
• Keala Kennelly (Hawaii)
• Justine Dupont (France)
• Bianca Valenti (San Francisco)
• Maya Gabeira (Brazil)
• Sarah Gerhardt (Santa Cruz)
• Emily Erickson (Hawaii)
• Andrea Moller (Hawaii)
• Jamilah Star (Santa Cruz)
WILD CARD TBD ALTERNATES
>>
• Wrenna Delgado
• Laura Enever
• Felicity Palmateer
• Raquel Heckert
• Easkey Britton
• Silvia Nabuco
MEN >>
• Billy Kemper (Hawaii)
• Kai Lenny (Hawaii)
• Ian Walsh (Hawaii)
• Makuakai Rothman (Hawaii)
• Lucas Chianca (Brazil)
• Jamie Mitchell (Australia)
• Tom Lowe (United Kingdom)
• Alex Botelho (Portugal)
• Greg Long (San Clemente)
• Natxo Gonzalez (Spain)
• Will Skudin (Long Beach, N.Y.)
• Grant Baker (South Africa)
• Nathan Florence (Hawaii)
• Jojo Roper (San Diego)
• Russell Bierke (Australia)
• Travis Payne (Pacifica)
• Patrick Shaughnessy (Scotts Valley)
• Matt Becker (Half Moon Bay)
• Anthony Tashnick (Santa Cruz)
• Jason Stark (Montara)
• Hunter Murison (Half Moon Bay)
• Peter Mel (Santa Cruz)
• Nic Lamb (Santa Cruz) WILD CARD TBD ALTERNATES
>>
• Tyler Fox
• Luca Padua
• Ryan Seelbach
• Colin Dwyer
• Ben Andrews
• Kyle Thiermann
• Ryan Hipwood