Super Bowl Of Surfing

Tyler Smith, in red, rides a big wave during the Mavericks Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006. Mavericks is the demanding big wave zone where 24 of the world's top riders vie for glory, cash and bragging rights in the annual contest.

Grant Baker, left, rides a big wave during the Mavericks Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Feb. 7, 2006.

South African Grant "Twiggy" Baker, one of the 24 contestants of the Mavericks Surf Contest, smiles before a practice run in the ocean in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Monday, Feb. 6, 2006 in preparation for Tuesday's contest. Baker ended up winning the contest referred to as "the Super Bowl of surfing."

Tyler Smith rides a big wave during the Mavericks Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006.

Sean Rhodes, left, and Ryan Seelvach ride together on a wave during the Mavericks Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006.

Greg Long loses his board in a wave while competing in the Mavervicks surf contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006.

Evan Slater rides a big wave during the Mavericks Surf Contest, also known as the Super Bowl of surfing, in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006

An unidentified surfer rides a huge wave in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at the same location as Tuesday's scheduled Mavericks surfing contest. The winner of the event will take home $30,000 of the total $55,000 prize purse.

Greg Long, of San Clemente, Calif., one of the 24 contestants scheduled to compete in the Mavericks big wave surfing contest, walks into the ocean in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, to practice for Tuesday's contest. Long placed second last year.