Mavericks
 

Anyone check out the Mavericks Big Wave Surf Contest yesterday?If not,go to Mavericks web page and check it out.I understand the waves were not as big as these guy's would have wanted them.Only 25-30 footers.Sick.

There was an article in the New York Times about the contest. I talked with my son who was looking down at the swells about 10 minutes north of half Moon Bay and he said it was impressive after he saw a surfer paddle out and was able to get some scale to what he was seeing. There is a great film that was done by the IMAX team when they had the biggest waves every in Hawaii. Words just don't match up to the footage.

Big wave surfing has allways fascinated me.I have heard of the IMAX movie but have not seen it.I have seen a great movie called "riding giants"in fact I have watched it many times and I am disapointed when I see it was on and I missed it.Like all surf fishermen I am in love with and in awe of the ocean and its incredible power.I have nothing but respect for these guy's who surf waves of these sizes.In fact I have no problem with any surfers at all.Even when they are in our fishing spots.I'm thankfull they don't surf at night!

Maverick's
 

Mavericks is unique in that there is a trough, that runs parralell to the shoreline, the power of the wave as it approaches shore drops into. Then the wave reemerges even bigger and more powerful. All of the surfers are towed out to the waves because they are breaking over a half mile from shore. Every place else the wave runs up to the beach, breaking as it does, and then dissipates into the sand. What makes Mavericks so dangerous is the fact that sitting on your board watching the waves work thier way toward you, a surfer sees one thing, then the wave disappears and reemmerges and is totally reworked, and most of the time larger.

Not for nothing, but I use to surf my ass off when I was a kid. Nothing even close to Maverick's. A couple of big storms maybe, but I still have some of my Surfer Mags from when I was sixteen. Can't bare to part with them or the memories.

Rent "Riding Giants" - awesome doesn't even begin to describe what you'll see. The tow-in footage on some reef a hundred miles off the coast of California that only breaks once or twice every few years is beyond amazing. And of course Mavericks...

"Riding Giants"makes me adjust my schedule,or even cancell plans.I just can't get enough of that movie.I agree with you about the tow in footage and the Maverick's stuff is awesome but,what I can't believe is the young Californians who said good-by to the everyday grind of thier lives,and pack it in for the North Shore of Hawaii,live like ..............well,I wish I had the balls.Not many people get to live that kind of life,for whatever time.How I envy and admire them.