Titans of Mavericks surfing competition
Two dozen surfers took up the challenge of the prestigious Titans of Mavericks big-wave surfing contest on Friday, Jan. 12, 2016, at Half Moon Bay, about 20 miles south of San Francisco.
The surfing event is a one-day, invitation-only competition held almost every year when conditions are deemed just right.
Pictured: Ben Wilkinson rides a wave during the third heat of the Mavericks surfing contest.
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Ken "Skindog" Collins, left, and Tyler Fox surf a giant wave during the second heat of the Mavericks surfing contest Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Several surfers experienced spectacular wipeouts, including Collins, one of the pre-contest favorites, who suffered a punctured ear drum and was forced to withdraw from the competition after a bad spill in the pounding surf.
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The waves weren't as big as past competitions, but grew steadily from 15 feet to 30 feet throughout the afternoon.
Pictured: Mark Healey drops off a giant wave during the second heat of the Mavericks surfing contest Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
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Mark Healey drops off a giant wave during the second heat of the Mavericks surfing contest Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
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Ben Wilkinson surfs on a giant wave during the third heat of the Mavericks surfing contest Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
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Zach Wormhoudt, right, dives off his board on a giant wave during the third heat of the Mavericks surfing contest Friday, Feb. 12, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
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This season's invitees were all male, as has been the case every year the Titans of Mavericks competition has been held.
"It's not a gender thing -- it's a performance thing," Jeff Clark, who was the first to surf the spot back in 1975 and went on to start the contest, told "CBS This Morning." Clark says a committee and a poll of surfers determine who's invited.
"We have a really good understanding of who's performing the best, who is pushing the limits, who is going to new levels of performance," Clark said. "Women just aren't there yet."
The California Coastal Commission last year told organizers to have a plan to include women if they want a permit to hold the event next season.
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Grant Washburn, wearing orange, rides a wave as Dave Wassel, wearing blue, wipes out during the fourth heat of the Mavericks surfing contest Friday, Feb. 12, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. At left is Shane Dorian.
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Nic Lamb rides a giant wave during the fourth heat of the Mavericks surfing contest Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
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Nic Lamb surfs a giant wave during the finals of the Mavericks surfing contest Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
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Nic Lamb outlasted 23 competitors and a big wipeout to capture the 10th championship with a $120,000 purse at the legendary Mavericks surf break at Half Moon Bay.
Travis Payne finished second and Greg Long finished third. Long also won the $10,000 "boldest drop" award for the most spectacular ride of the day.
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Jamie Mitchell wipes out on a giant wave during the finals of the Mavericks surfing contest Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Mitchell won $5,000 for the day's best ride in the "barrel."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.