Surf's up: Mavericks surf competition is set for this Friday

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Organizers of the Titans of Mavericks surf competition at Half Moon Bay say the world famous event is a go for Friday.

Twenty-four top surfers will compete in Mavericks. Many of them will be coming from Hawaii, where the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikua big wave contest was called off Wednesday morning, due to poor conditions.

Mavericks organizers told KTVU's Janine De La Vega, that the cancellation of the Oahu surf competition, has no impact on Mavericks. Weather system along the Bay Area coast is still producing large swells. Waves could reach 35 feet on Friday.

Mavericks has not happened in two years, and Super Bowl 50 delayed the compeitition for the past week.

"It’s been a long time coming we didn't get to run it last year, and everybody is so primed," says Jeff Clark, Mavericks Surf Competition founder.

That's why everyone from event organizers down to the fans are keeping a watchful eye on the weather.
"Kind of watching the surf report and the swells. It sounds like stuff will start coming in on Thursday and coming in through the weekend," says Derek Frame of Morgan Hill.

The swells weren't that big on Tuesday afternoon, but it was the perfect day to come out and enjoy the weather.

The one day, invitation-only competition will host 24 of the world’s best surfers.

"The big wave guys are so tuned up they're ready. They're ready and chomping the bit man. They're going to be going hard," says Clark.

It was back in 2010, that a rogue wave washed ashore and swept away spectators who were watching the contest. Since then spectators are no longer allowed to watch the event from the beach, but instead are directed to watch it online.

Organizers say this year’s competition will have more cameras than they have had in years past.
"You’re going to see water cliff angles, air angles, drone angles I mean we're going to have it all covered," says Clark.

Organizers say last week would've been a perfect chance to hold the competition. But it was overshadowed by other events leading up to Super Bowl 50.

"Conditions were ripe, but the Super Bowl was in town. Hopefully conditions will be right again because I love having the surfing contest, says Karen Marks of San Mateo.

"It’s going to be as good as last week maybe not as quite as big. But how big is big when you're talking 30 to 40 feet of water what are you really looking for here," says Clark.