On the heels of perhaps the greatest big-wave surfing contest in history last February, Mavericks is back and bigger than ever. Preparations are underway for the 8th annual Mavericks Surf Contest showcasing 24 of the world’s finest big-wave surfers battling for the largest prize purse in big-wave surfing.

The 2010/2011 Contest is poised to return to Half Moon Bay, California later this year and will include a number of enhancements to bring Mavericks to an even broader audience, while continuing to honor the spot, the riders, and the local community.

The Contest Is Back
Mavericks Surf Ventures is very proud to make this first announcement laying the groundwork for the 2010/2011 Mavericks Surf Contest®, picking up right where last season left off. The dedicated team has been very busy in the off-season and has just completed a fundraising round that will greatly benefit this year's event, the riders, the coastside community, and the future of Mavericks and big-wave surfing for years to come. “Our goal is to keep the focus on the soul of the event and respect for the spot, giving the power to the surfers to make ‘the call’ and helping to bring the Mavericks’ ocean phenomenon to a broader global audience,” said Mavericks CEO Keir J. Beadling.

The Mavericks Mystique
For the past decade, some of the world's most extreme athletes have traveled to Mavericks to take on the massive walls of waves and challenging conditions in a quest for the ultimate big-wave surfing experience. The Mavericks Surf Contest® encapsulates that spirit and every year selects the world’s best to challenge themselves in giant optimal surfing conditions between November and March. Once announced, an elite group of surfers from around the globe will have only 24 hours to arrive in Half Moon Bay to face the raw power of Mother Nature using only their skill and strength to paddle into the giant waves that break off Pillar Point Harbor. This is the purest of form in big-wave surfing and the athletes that enter the waters here on contest day have triggered a wave of inspiration around the world. This season, Mavericks will launch a new program giving fans an unprecedented view into the lives of these big-wave heroes. A team of Mavericks riders will capture and share their day-to-day experiences to provide an intimate portrait of their adventures during the Winter Waiting Period.

Doc Paskowitz Returns
Fans can expect a number of other exciting announcements about the Contest in the coming months. Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, patriarch of the world renowned Paskowitz surf family, will again this year lead the sacred Opening Ceremonies in Half Moon Bay. “Nowadays there is a brotherhood of peaceful heroes less known to the general public who are making their mark in history; men whose odyssey is only for seconds—mighty moments in the heart of a great wave where time seems to stop but life looms large,” said Doc. “These are the men of Mavericks. I am honored to share my love and respect for these men and their actionsat the upcoming 2010/2011Mavericks Surf Contest. The men of Mavericks are a great inspiration for people around the world. At 89 yrs of age, I still feel like akid in their presence. The Mavericks season of big-waves is coming again!"

Record Prize Purse on Offer
Last season’s Contest delivered the largest prize purse in big-wave surfing history. And even though this year's Mavericks big-wave season is still a few months off, Mavericks is throwing down the gauntlet right now and announcing that this season riders will compete for another groundbreaking $150,000 purse. While these amazing athletes surf out of pure love for the sport, Mavericks is proud to be able to again offer a prize purse that attracts and honors the world’s best talent on contest day. Guen and Sutherland of MVision—prize purse benefactors last season—will again be supporting the event and its big-wave legends. “Mavericks is truly unique,” Moose commented. “Jane and I were so impressed by the event last year, the high quality of the competition and the inspiring feats of the competitors. We want to continue our support with this next season because the world needs to experience all that Mavericks has to offer from the challenges of the event, to the amazing power of the waves, to the jaw-dropping courage of the surfers.” Added Beadling, “We are honored and grateful to welcome back a number of our past sponsors, and we hope that others will come join us for what promises to be another spectacular season at Mavericks.”

The Big Wave World Tour
The 2010/2011 Mavericks Surf Contest® is also proud once again to participate in this year’s Big Wave World Tour. The Tour features the best big-wave riders and local standouts in the world, and creates a ranking system linking international big-wave events to crown a Big-Wave World Champion each year. Commented Tour Founder and big-wave icon Gary Linden, “The eventual Mavs Contest winner last season, the talented Chris Bertish from South Africa, was able to stop Brazilian hellman Carlos Burle among others in the six man final. But Carlos persevered and was ultimately crowned the first-ever Champion of the Big Wave World Tour at the season’s end. Sitting in the middle of the Tour calendar and known to provide the supreme challenge big-wave wise, we expect that Mavericks will once again be the pivotal event in determining the next World Champion.” More information is available at www.bigwaveworldtour.com.

SOURCE: Mavericks Surf Contest