Believe it or not, Mavericks, or at least the waiting period for Mavericks, will start up again in just three short months.
(And guess what, I haven’t seen any self-rightous falderal burbling up from San Mateo County lately – that that can only be a good thing.)
As promised, all the deets, below.
Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz at Opening Ceremonies 2009 – ISI Photos, click to expand
Mavericks Gears Up for the 8th Annual Mavericks Surf Contest®
$150,000 Prize Purse Offered for 2nd Year; Initial Sponsors On Board; Enhancements to Epic Contest to be Unveiled in Coming Months
Half Moon Bay, CA/San Francisco, CA – August 3, 2010 – On the heels of perhaps the greatest big-wave surfing contest in history last February, Mavericks is back and bigger than ever. Preparations are underway for the 8th annual Mavericks Surf Contest® showcasing 24 of the world’s finest big-wave surfers battling for the largest prize purse in big-wave surfing. The 2010/2011 Contest is poised to return to Half Moon Bay, California later this year and will include a number of enhancements to bring Mavericks to an even broader audience, while continuing to honor the spot, the riders, and the local community.
The Contest Is Back. Mavericks Surf Ventures is very proud to make this first announcement laying the groundwork for the 2010/2011 Mavericks Surf Contest®, picking up right where last season left off. The dedicated team has been very busy in the off-season and has just completed a fundraising round that will greatly benefit this year’s event, the riders, the coastside community, and the future of Mavericks and big-wave surfing for years to come. “Our goal is to keep the focus on the soul of the event and respect for the spot, giving the power to the surfers to make ‘the call’ and helping to bring the Mavericks’ ocean phenomenon to a broader global audience,” said Mavericks CEO Keir J. Beadling.
Convergance vs. divergance. See?
Ever more deets, after the jump
The Mavericks Mystique. For the past decade, some of the world’s most extreme athletes have traveled to Mavericks to take on the massive walls of waves and challenging conditions in a quest for the ultimate big-wave surfing experience. The Mavericks Surf Contest® encapsulates that spirit and every year selects the world’s best to challenge themselves in giant optimal surfing conditions between November and March. Once announced, an elite group of surfers from around the globe will have only 24 hours to arrive in Half Moon Bay to face the raw power of Mother Nature using only their skill and strength to paddle into the giant waves that break off Pillar Point Harbor. This is the purest of form in big-wave surfing and the athletes that enter the waters here on contest day have triggered a wave of inspiration around the world. This season, Mavericks will launch a new program giving fans an unprecedented view into the lives of these big-wave heroes. A team of Mavericks riders will capture and share their day-to-day experiences to provide an intimate portrait of their adventures during the Winter Waiting Period.
Doc Paskowitz Returns. Fans can expect a number of other exciting announcements about the Contest in the coming months. Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, patriarch of the world renowned Paskowitz surf family, will again this year lead the sacred Opening Ceremonies in Half Moon Bay. “Nowadays there is a brotherhood of peaceful heroes less known to the general public who are making their mark in history; men whose odyssey is only for seconds—mighty moments in the heart of a great wave where time seems to stop but life looms large,” said Doc. “These are the men of Mavericks. I am honored to share my love and respect for these men and their actions at the upcoming 2010/2011 Mavericks Surf Contest. The men of Mavericks are a great inspiration for people around the world. At 89 yrs of age, I still feel like a kid in their presence. The Mavericks season of big-waves is coming again!”
Initial Sponsors Announced. Jim Beam Bourbon, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., and Mounir “Moose” Guen and Jane Sutherland of MVision Private Equity Advisors have renewed their partnerships with Mavericks. Commented Jim Beam Bourbon’s Marketing Manager Paige Guzman, “We’re thrilled to renew our support for Mavericks and the Contest’s core values. Through our renewed partnership with Mavericks, we celebrate and applaud this amazing showcase for these world-class surfers to demonstrate their ‘bold choice’ to take on Mother Nature.” Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Founder Ken Grossman added, “This is our second season with Mavericks, and we couldn’t be happier. We have a proud history as one of the pioneers of the craft brewing industry, and we are honored to be associated with the big-wave warriors and the contest pioneering the evolution of big-wave surfing.” Mavericks will also be launching a more ambitious program to celebrate and partner with local coastside businesses, artisans and charitable organizations; more information on this front will be announced in the coming weeks.
Record Prize Purse on Offer. Last season’s Contest delivered the largest prize purse in big-wave surfing history. And even though this year’s Mavericks big-wave season is still a few months off, Mavericks is throwing down the gauntlet right now and announcing that this season riders will compete for another groundbreaking $150,000 purse. While these amazing athletes surf out of pure love for the sport, Mavericks is proud to be able to again offer a prize purse that attracts and honors the world’s best talent on contest day. Guen and Sutherland of MVision—prize purse benefactors last season—will again be supporting the event and its big-wave legends. “Mavericks is truly unique,” Moose commented. “Jane and I were so impressed by the event last year, the high quality of the competition and the inspiring feats of the competitors. We want to continue our support with this next season because the world needs to experience all that Mavericks has to offer from the challenges of the event, to the amazing power of the waves, to the jaw-dropping courage of the surfers.” Added Beadling, “We are honored and grateful to welcome back a number of our past sponsors, and we hope that others will come join us for what promises to be another spectacular season at Mavericks.”
The Big Wave World Tour. The 2010/2011 Mavericks Surf Contest® is also proud once again to participate in this year’s Big Wave World Tour. The Tour features the best big-wave riders and local standouts in the world, and creates a ranking system linking international big-wave events to crown a Big-Wave World Champion each year. Commented Tour Founder and big-wave icon Gary Linden, “The eventual Mavs Contest winner last season, the talented Chris Bertish from South Africa, was able to stop Brazilian hellman Carlos Burle among others in the six man final. But Carlos persevered and was ultimately crowned the first-ever Champion of the Big Wave World Tour at the season’s end. Sitting in the middle of the Tour calendar and known to provide the supreme challenge big-wave wise, we expect that Mavericks will once again be the pivotal event in determining the next World Champion.” More information is available at www.bigwaveworldtour.com.
About Mavericks™ and The Mavericks Surf Contest®
Every winter season, the ocean’s harshest conditions and the giant, unpredictable waves characterize Mavericks™ and the annual Mavericks Surf Contest®. When weather conditions are just right, 24 chosen surfers will make the official contest call and then have only 24 hours to arrive in Half Moon Bay to face the extreme conditions, thunderous waves and each other. 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, join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/mavericks, and follow us on Twitter at @Mavericks_Surf.
