SAN FRANCISCO -- Ocean swells towering up to 16 feet pounded the Northern California coastline Tuesday as the first of two storm fronts roared through the area with showers creating chaos on local roadways during the Bay Area morning commute.
The National Weather Service reported its off-shore buoy system indicated swell heights near 16 feet every 15 seconds. Wave models predicted westerly swells increasing to around 20-26 feet during the day and then subsiding to around 15 feet by Wednesday afternoon.
The big waves attracted surfers to the coastline, but the southerly winds adversely affected conditions at some popular beaches.
"The waves are so big right now at (San Francisco's) Ocean Beach, they all come at once, there is no way to get out," said Aaron Hope, as he prepared to surf the waves at Fort Point in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. ___________________________________________________

Mavericks surf contest organizers said they expect monster waves Tuesday.

By Wednesday morning, some locations could see waves of 20 feet or higher.

The National Weather Service warned that the heavy surf, combined with high tides Wednesday and Thursday mornings, could cause beach erosion and flooding in some low-lying areas of La Jolla, Del Mar and Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
Waves are expected to reach 5 to 7 feet Tuesday afternoon, then get bigger Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. A high-surf advisory will be in effect from noon Wednesday through 4 p.m. Thursday.
Toni Bretzing, manager of The Poseidon Restaurant in Del Mar, said that her staff is preparing for waves that could crash onto the deck of her restaurant.
"Everyone is telling me it's going to be big," said Bretzing. "We're taking a wait-and-see approach."
Lifeguards are gearing up for the giant waves. Larry Giles, marine safety captain for the city of Encinitas, said seasonal crews, especially lifeguards who know how to operate personal watercraft used in rescues, are being called in, according to the Union-Tribune.
At Swami's, a popular surf spot in Encinitas, a lifeguard stand that usually is not staffed at this time of year will be.

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KCBS) -- San Mateo County plans to use its community alert system to announce when the Mavericks surf contest is called.

The annual Half Moon Bay competition could be called as early as this Friday. The window of time where the world’s top big wave surfers are on call for the event was expanded this year because last year swells never reached contest size.

The alert system sends a text message to cell phones or any PDA, according to Sheriff’s Department Sgt. John Diggins.

"The system is completely free unless you have to pay for text messaging, but that depends on your carrier," said Diggins. "We've used it for road closures. It's a system I use for calling my volunteers out. We use it fairly frequently, but this is the first time we've used it for Mavericks."

About 3,700 people have signed up for the digital alert system.

Mavericks typically draws tens of thousands of spectators to the shore.

official mavericks webpage


- bill 12-05-2007 12:12 am [add a comment]

Mavericks livecam
http://www.surfline.com/reports/report.cfm?id=4152
- adman (guest) 12-05-2007 1:13 am [add a comment]

webcam link

Macking!!!!!!!!!!!!!, this is David with the report for Tuesday afternoon at 12:40pm.

SURF: 20-25 ft. - 4-5 times overhead with occasional 30 ft. and fair - conditions.

PM Regional Overview: Its big and unruly out there. Dense fog continues as does huge, maxing out W groundswell. Sets are double overhead+ with top breaks doubling that at times. Overall shape is pretty poor.

This Morning's Dawn Patrol: Its completely fogged in....but expect it to be breaking and fairly consistent.

WEATHER: Dense fog with light/variable winds.

Human Health Advisory about Red Tide occuring through Santa Cruz. SF-SAN MATEO COUNTY'S REGIONAL OVERVIEW:

Massive W groundswell is maxing out today and drilling all spots this morning. Sets are well overhead with top breaks going up to double overhead+ at times. Fog is making it hard to get a good call on exact sizes and shape but it looks very consistent and mixed up. Surf at your own risk!!!!!!!!!!!!

FORECAST SUMMARY:
TUESDAY: Massive W groundswell tops out with 3-4X overhead surf and double that on sets at standouts.

Wind: Light, variable winds most of the day.

BIG TUESDAY (photos)


As predicted, giant swells pounded Mavericks on Tuesday, rattling windows over half a mile away and causing even seasoned big wave riders to shake their heads in awe. Solid swells are expected for the next few days, but Tuesday's was a true monster.

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An accomplished local surfer who lived for monster waves died Tuesday at Ghost Trees, a Monterey County surf spot known for its potent swells and dangerous conditions.

Peter Davi, 45, one of the area's most beloved watermen, apparently lost his board and attempted to swim to shore, according to fellow surfers. He was later found floating in the water unconscious and was pronounced dead around 1:30 p.m., the Monterey County coroner's office said.

His death devastated Santa Cruz and Monterey surfers, many of whom had ventured to Ghost Trees on Tuesday in search of big waves. "Pete was well-loved and well-respected worldwide," said Anthony Ruffo, one of Davi's best friends, who was at the surf spot Tuesday. "People from everywhere are calling. He'll be so missed. He's the diplomat of surfing. He was an anchor and a bridge between Santa Cruz and Monterey surfers."

Wicked Weather Gives Sufers 70-Foot Waves

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December 8, 2007
Maverick's window opens right after huge swell hits

HALF MOON BAY -- The timing for this year's Maverick's surf contest opening ceremony was either an ironic twist of fate or an appropriately timed kickoff to the big wave contest season.

Appropriate in the sense that the North Pacific has fired up with plenty of big storms just in time for the holding period, a good indicator of things to come. Ironic because contestants and organizers waited eagerly all last winter, and even into the spring, for the right combination of swell and weather to materialize, only to be shut out and forced to cancel the event. Then, what will almost certainly go down as the biggest swell of 2007 slammed Maverick's this week, producing massive, clean, barreling waves just days before the contest window reopened.

However the general consensus among the Mavericks surfers attending Friday's opening ceremony at Pillar Point was that this week's "Big Tuesday" swell was actually perfectly timed. Despite all the hype, the massive swell wouldn't have gotten the contest the green light, even if it had arrived within the contest window, Mavericks contest director Jeff Clark said.

"Maybe if the swell was from a different direction," Clark said. "But the direction on this swell was too south, so the waves were pushing into the rocks and making it too dangerous. It was really nasty out there."

Foggy conditions prevailed along the coast during much of the swell also.

"The lack of visibility was also a big problem," Clark said. "If the judges can't see what's going on out there, then we can't run the contest. That's the challenge, to find a day with clear conditions, good wind and consistent big waves for every heat."

While the conditions weren't right for the paddle-in contest, they were excellent for tow-in surfing, Clark said.

"We had a great swell this week," Clark said. "There were about 15 tow teams out on Tuesday and guys were getting some of the most incredible rides we've seen out here in years."

This year's opening ceremony fell several weeks earlier than in years past. Clark said he elected to extend the waiting period earlier into December when he saw that the winter storm season was showing excellent early potential.

Longtime Maverick's surfer and contest invitee Josh Loya said that the solid run of North Pacific juice we've seen since Thanksgiving validates Clark's decision.

"It's definitely been quicker to kick in this winter," Loya said. "[Maverick's] has already broken about five or six times and we've had better conditions already than all of last year. This last swell [Big Tuesday] was probably the swell of the winter."

Now that the official contest window has opened, 24 of the world's best big wave surfers will be on call until March 31. They will be expected to drop everything at 24 hours notice and show up in Half Moon Bay ready to charge if Clark determines that conditions are right and gives the green light to run the contest.

This year's event boasts a $75,000 prize purse, with $30,000 for first place, $12,000 for second place, $7,500 for third place, $3,500 for fourth, $2,500 for fifth and $1,500 for sixth place. Although the event is still searching for an official sponsor, the prize money is already guaranteed according to contest officials.

None of the surfers at the opening ceremony seemed too concerned about the politics behind the event's sponsorship. Most said they were just honored to attend, and would surf in the contest even if no prize money were offered. After all, most of the invitees were out there risking their lives on Tuesday, towing into some of the biggest waves ever seen when no prize purse was up for grabs.

"Whether the contest is running or not, I'm gonna be surfing this wave," said Santa Cruz invitee Russell Smith, who tow surfed out at Ghost Tree on Tuesday with his brother Tyler. "I've been coming up here for a long time before the contest."

Because of the extremely windy conditions and choppy waters offshore, the surfers decided to forego the traditional ceremonial paddle out. Instead, they lined up side by side with their massive boards looming behind them as Clark thanked the competitors for their participation and wished them all a safe and successful event.

The entire crowd also shared a moment of silence to honor the memory of legendary Monterey/Carmel waterman Pete Davi. Davi died on Tuesday while attempting to paddle surf the colossal waves out at Ghost Tree, the notoriously treacherous break off of Pescadero Point in Pebble Beach.

Davi was well known up and down the coast for his incredible performances in heavy waves from Big Sur to Hawaii, and was also one of the original crew to tackle Maverick's in the early 1990s after Jeff Clark let the word out about the big wave spot.

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THE WAIT FOR 07/08 IS OVER

We'll announce Official Webcast details in just a few short days. In the meantime, check out our Photos and Videos section for highlights from last year's Contest. We'll be adding to our collection of "Best Of" clips in the coming weeks.

But rest assured - it will be LIVE, and it will be FREE.....

images in from big tuesday 12/7 ("45' and building")!!!!

results in from round 1 heats 1-4


- bill 12-15-2007 5:40 pm [add a comment]

The 2008 Mavericks Surf Contest® has officially been called. Surfing begins on Saturday morning at 8am, the 12th of January.

Two years in the making, this year's Mavericks Surf Contest promises to be the best yet. Conditions are setting up perfectly, giant swells are rolling in, the Contest Invitees are pumped, and everyone is racing to make the 8am start.
The Best Way to Watch? LIVE on the Web!
We're partnering with MySpace.com to bring you 6+ hours of world-class big wave surfing on Saturday -- live and for free on the web. If you're a surf fan, there is simply no better way to catch all the Mavericks action. Webcast hightlights include:
10 different cameras, plus live Jet Ski footage.

Professional commentary and analysis of each heat.

Live interviews with surfers throughout the day.

Full event coverage, including live music on the beach stage and the official Awards Ceremony.


All you have to do is sit back, power up your computer, and visit www.myspace.com/maverickssurf starting at 8am Pacific Time on Saturday the 12th. Almost too easy.
- bill 1-12-2008 1:07 am [add a comment]

have you surfed?
- dave 1-12-2008 2:18 am [add a comment]

I was wondering that too.
- L.M. 1-12-2008 2:27 am [add a comment]

just a little bit. i mostly rode a skateboard.
- bill 1-12-2008 5:39 am [add a comment]