Titans Of Mavericks Surf Competition Underway
HALF MOON BAY (CBS SF) – Under foggy skies, the world's top big-wave surfers took to the waters off the legendary Mavericks surf break early Friday, ready to take on towering waves in the Titans Of Mavericks competition.
Among the surfers battling for the prestigious title were reigning 'Eddie' champion Greg Long, Mavericks veteran Grant Washburn, local favorite Nic Lamb, who surfed Mavericks as a 14-year-old and Kona legend Shane Dorian.
Santa Cruz native Savannah Shaughnessy, who was invited as an alternate, was not added to the field as the first woman to compete in the event.
Surfers started the competition under foggy skies with wave sets up to 13 feet crashing in every 19 seconds. Predictions were that the waves would build through the day until the finals late Friday afternoon.
The event needs massive waves so it often is not held each year. Friday is the first time since 2014 when Grant Baker dazzled the crowd gathered along the bluffs to take home the prize.
Dorian was second and Long took fourth in the event.
The National Weather Service forecasts waves peaking at 12 to 14 feet Friday at Maverick, which can produce wave faces of up to 25 to 30 feet or more.