Maverick's contest on Jan 12

[shamgod]

I was at the Maverick's surf contest yesterday. It's the first time I've been there and to me it looked pretty much like it does in the magazines. An insane freefalling take off with a liquid avalanche nipping your ass. Then, the wave backs down a bit and looks more like a big day at other spots. There was a lot of people there and a sony jumbotron strategically placed directly into the sunshine so that the image was washed out as much as possible. I've never seen such a contraption at a surfing event, prior to that, the biggest prop I'd ever seen at a contest was the 40' inflatable Lowenbrau bottle at the Black's Beach Open.

The crowd? well, it's not like the crowds I used to see at Socal contests many moons ago. What happened to all the 19 y/o blond beach godesses? I noticed Indian software engineers, 70 y/o grandmas, all kinds of people, and all of them seemed to know about the surfers and the sport. WTF? Does Oprah do a weekly surf magazine or something? Surfing seems to have lost some of it's subversive edge.

Anyhow, he had a pair of HD cameras and 300mm lens and managed to wedge a tripod about 3/4's of the way up the slope. Can this site host it? Or should I post a link?

[JonS]

Damn, I wish I could have gone. Oh well, it was still pretty interesting around here...

Did you take any pics while you were up there?

Please post the link. Here's a link to the Surfline article:
http://www.surfline.com/surfnews/photo_bamp.cfm?id=13154&ad=1

[Goletagirl]

The crowd? well, it's not like the crowds I used to see at Socal contests many moons ago. What happened to all the 19 y/o blond beach godesses? I noticed Indian software engineers, 70 y/o grandmas, all kinds of people, and all of them seemed to know about the surfers and the sport. WTF? Does Oprah do a weekly surf magazine or something? Surfing seems to have lost some of it's subversive edge.

Anyhow, he had a pair of HD cameras and 300mm lens and managed to wedge a tripod about 3/4's of the way up the slope. Can this site host it? Or should I post a link?

The face of surfing (or onlookers anyway) may be changing. It's hard to keep such an amazing thing from the mainstream I guess. Especially now in this information/internet age.
Who had the camera on the slope? I'd love to see those images. Wish I could have been there. . .

[shamgod]

Who had the camera on the slope? I'd love to see those images. Wish I could have been there. . .

We had two HD cams but only one had the 300mm lens necessary to shoot from shore, there were so many press there that the cliff had no room so we had to wedge our tripod midslope and we spent 8 hours shooting on a muddy 45 degree slope. Totally exhausting. shooting through a 300mm lens isn't the easiest thing to begin with, overall it was difficult shoot.

[lil' mermaid]

I got the call the contest was on at 4:15 pm on January 9. I hung up the phone and had the most intense adrenaline rush ever. I was so excited, first because I have never been up close and personal to 'big' waves and secondly, I was going out in a boat to see the contest!!!!!! eeeeekkkkkk.

So, driving up the day before with my 14 year old daughter, I simply kept telling myself to breathe. Neither of us had ever witnessed a surf contest...much less with world-class participants. We had so much fun on the road. After an excited night of sleep, we woke at 5:00 am and by 7:00 am were getting on a boat and heading out to sea! The biggest challenge of the day was maneuvering through the rough seas as we left the harbor.

Well, the day was fabulous. Once the fog/mist lifted, it was beautiful, sunshine, hi temps for being out at sea, no winds to speak of, smaller swells than had hoped for but hey...30 feet wasn't too shabby. We had front-row center "seats"...watched the swells roll in, the contestants check-in before heading out to wait for that perfect ride, real characters on the other boats and jet skis snapping pics, witnessed a few wipeouts, bloody noses and a couple of broken boards. My daughter and I were both attempting to snap ;pictures in rolling seas...a first for sure.

I highly recommend getting out in the water next year...get close to the action...I am ready to go to Pipeline....wish. Incredibly cool experience. Thanks to my buddies who encouraged me to take the plunge...

:cool:

Maverick's Contest 2008 Gallery - Click Here (http://santabarbarasurfer.com/galleries/mavs2008)

http://santabarbarasurfer.com/galleries/mavs2008/images/IMG_4161.jpg

[shamgod]

Can anyone just go out there and watch on a boat? It looked a bit congested.

The amazing thing is how FLAT it is where the boats are, obviously the reef drops off quickly into deep water.

[White Owl]

Maverick's Contest 2008 Gallery - Click Here (http://santabarbarasurfer.com/galleries/mavs2008)

http://santabarbarasurfer.com/galleries/mavs2008/images/IMG_4161.jpg

Nice job with the lens!

[lil' mermaid]

:)thanx...yes, it is amazing that the boats are out of harm's way...I liken it to standing next to Niagara Falls...being right on the edge...it is very intense.
A couple of groups actually offer "seats" on fishing boats...not inexpensive but an experience my daughter and I will never forget. ;)

[shamgod]

:)thanx...yes, it is amazing that the boats are out of harm's way...I liken it to standing next to Niagara Falls...being right on the edge...it is very intense.
A couple of groups actually offer "seats" on fishing boats...not inexpensive but an experience my daughter and I will never forget. ;)

Do you charter out of half moon bay?

[lil' mermaid]

Do you charter out of half moon bay?
yes, Maverick's Surf Shop charter and then there is another...Ocean Queen??? I don't know if they do it year round or just for the contest...I am still rushing from the experience.

hope ;you have a good weekend!:)