Green Light for Mavs

When the day starts at Mavericks (about 6pm this evening South Africa time, click here) there are going to be a lot of very excited men about. Men with big boards and thick wetsuits, men who have jetted in from all over the world and men who have driven a few km’s from their houses nearby. It’s another gathering of psychos, as the world best big wave surfers ready to face of against giant waves and each other.

South Africa has two surfers in the event, and one alternate. Chris Bertish won the event out of the blue in 2010, by charging the biggest waves of the day and riding them flawlessly. Well, those that he made he rode flawlessly, but if memory serves me well he also had a couple of atrocious wipe-outs, as you do if you’re charging the big stuff on a mission to win. Chris has, by his own admission, been a bit quiet on the big wave scene recently, but he still has the hunger and the talent to take a win.

Chris has a wild approach. If there’s a glimmer of chance of making a drop, he’s paddling for the wave as hard as he can. Surfer Magazine in their Mavericks Spoiler Alert didn’t hold much confidence in Chris, with editor Taylor Paul stating, “Chris Bertish: Former event winner but, shit, I don’t know. Just don’t see a repeat here,” but we do. We all know what Chris is capable of.

Chris has a wild approach. If there’s a glimmer of chance of making a drop, he’s paddling for the wave as hard as he can. Surfer Magazine in their Mavericks Spoiler Alert didn’t hold much confidence in Chris, with editor Taylor Paul stating, “Chris Bertish: Former event winner but, shit, I don’t know. Just don’t see a repeat here,” but we do. We all know what Chris is capable of.

The other South African surfer on a mission of note right now is Twiggy Baker. He’s without a major sponsor right now, and is as hungry as they come. He also won the recent Arnette Punt Galea Challenge in Spain, and is on a roll. Twiggy has been in the limelight a lot recently, chasing big European swells, finding big waves in various locations around the world and charging as hard as he can whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Twiggy is self-admittedly more of a calculated big wave surfer who doesn’t take that many unnecessary risks, if you can even consider paddling into a 40-foot wave risk-free. Surfing Magazine thinks he’s going to go hard, with Taylor Paul stating that “He’s as motivated as ever, and coming off a big-wave win in Spain. He’s also a psycho.” Not forgetting that he won the event in 2006.

On the alternate list is Frank Solomon from Cape Town. Frank has been charging the big wave spots around Cape Town for a long time now, and has spent seasons at Mavericks surfing it whenever it breaks. He is liked and respected by the Mavericks crew and has an outside chance of getting a go in the event. Frank is on his backhand, and with a swell as wild as the one forecast, there aren’t going to be too many lefts. If Frankie doesn’t get a go this year, he will get one in the next year or two.

Those are our boys, as part of the 24-competitor and alternate list mix. They are going to be out there charging with the likes of Shane Dorian, Carlos Burle, Greg Long, Nathan Fletcher, Mark Healey, Tyler Fox and new kid Nic Lamb.

It’s going to be a big day, in more ways than one.

WHERE TO WATCH

http://www.redbull.tv/Redbulltv
http://www.universalsports.com
http://www.mavericksinvitational.com

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THE OFFICAL PRESS RELEASE

Contest organizers for The Body Glove Mavericks Invitational Presented By GoPro®, have confirmed that the world’s premier big wave surf contest will take place this Friday, January 24, 2014 in Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay.

With a massive swell forecast for upwards of 40 feet, the world’s best big-wave surfers will be putting on a death-defying show for the live stream and those in attendance this Friday, January 24th at 8 am Pacific time.

“Changes in the offshore weather prompted a postponement until today for the official announcement,” said contest director Jeff Clark. “There was concern for a south wind and giant swell, which could have posed danger not only for competitors but for all boats out in the water.

Finding new ways to let fans experience the action, Mavericks Invitational organizers are also expanding the Mavericks Viewing Festival. The festival will be held on Friday, with gates opening at 7:30 a.m., on the grounds of the Oceano Hotel & Spa in Princeton Harbor, just down the road from Mavericks.

For public safety and environment protection, local authorities will close off all roads to Pillar Point, including access to the beach and bluffs. The festival gives fans a place to gather on the coast and watch the action on jumbo HD screens, enjoy music, food and entertainment, and get exclusive commentary and access to the Awards Ceremony.

Event parking is located at the Half Moon Bay Airport, within walking distance of the Festival.  Proceeds from the parking benefit the Boys & Girls Club of the Coastside.

Invited Surfers

Ryan Augenstein
Grant “Twiggy” Baker
Chris Bertish
Carlos Burle
Ken “Skindog” Collins
Shawn Dollar
Shane Dorian
Nathan Fletcher
Mark Healey
Rusty Long
Greg Long
Alex Martins
Peter Mel
Ryan Seelbach
Jamie Sterling
Anthony Tashnick
Grant Washburn
Dave Wassel
Ben Wilkinson
Zach Wormhoundt
Tyler Fox
Collin Dwyer
Nic Lamb
Kohl Christensen

Alternates
Frank Solomon
Shane Desmond
Kelly Slater
Tyler Smith
Danilo Couto
Derek Dunfee