Maverick's Surf Contest- Biggest I've seen it

[ky1e]

http://www.surfline.com/video/contests/mavericks-surf-contest-highlights_41179

and

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/saffa-charger-chris-bertish-takes-title-in-largest-mavericks-surf-contest-ever-held_41086/1/

Normally to me when everyone rants and raves about how crazy Mav's is, I always think of how much gnarlier the North Shore looks to me when it gets big. Big Waimea to me just seems so much bigger, heavier, crowded, and faster, but this Mav's vid and the angles they used really changed my perspective. Honestly when i have watched Mav's vids, to me it doesn't even look as big as Pipe or Sunset when they are going off. This changed that for me all together. When Shane Dorian gets scared about being held under, you know that is a serious wave.

[Craig-R]

that's pretty sick, i think i'd still rather see a more manageable wave that the riders can get in a barrel, instead of them flailing down a 50+ footer

[Nooga678]

I with you Craig, Pipe events are my favorite to watch. I thought the eddie was way more enjoyable than mavricks, still neat seeing the big swell.

[K-dub]

That swell was huge.

We went over to Santa Cruz the day after the Mavs. contest to take my son over to see the big waves. The Lane was easily pushing 15'+ on middle peak. Saw some guys out there dropping in on some serious bombs for a few hours during low tide. Winds were gentle off shore, so the waves were super hollow and glassy. Rare to see it that big and perfect.

If it's that big on the west side of Santa Cruz it is definitely HUGE up north at Mavs.....and this was when the swell had peaked the day before. Cant imagine how big it was in SC the day of the contest.

[Jester]

Ah Steamer Lane, probly my favorite spot in SC. How pathetic is it that I lived in SC for 5 years and only surfed it a handful of times?

[K-dub]

Jester, Very pathetic.

I lived on Columbia St. about a block down from West Cliff for years. Surfed there almost daily. Was nice to be able to check the swell from the living room window and ride my bike down to surf. Got spoiled. Such a pain in the ass to go surf when you move over the hill.

My second favorite spot was Mitchell's....That place was going OFF on sunday as well. wished I had left the family at home for sure. Sick barrels on the inside section.

Hell, the whole damn West Side was cranking for hat matter. Stockton was hollow as hell and had every WS ripper in the water by the looks of it. Place was a zoo.

That day really made me wish I still lived over there, but the commute sucks serious ass.

[Jester]

Tell me about it. When I lived in San Diego I was a block from Moonlight Beach/D St. On days when it was super crowded or I just wasn't feeling it I'd walk down, surf for an hour, then go home. On a hot summer weekend I'd see people circling the block almost the entire time looking for parking spots.

My surfing fell way off when I lived in SJ too. It just sucks driving all the way over the hill and either jockeying 1000 guys for position (terrible) or getting skunked (THE WORST).

I've never surfed Stockton, even summa my buds that were locals said they couldn't paddle out there without getting stuff-talked.

Looked at pics of myself from a few years ago (when I was still surfing regularly) and felt sad at how fat and pasty I've gotten. Work sucks.

[K-dub]

Jester, Stockton is a big no-no if you did not grow up in SC, or you are seriously connected to someone that you can go out there with. My room mate grew up on the west side and was really good friends with Loya and the Acker brothers, so i would get the occasional invite to go out there with them. I would never, ever go over there without them though. I have seen people get chased off just for checking the waves in that little parking area.

The guys that claim that spot are no joke.

Speaking of getting fat and pasty.....try having a kid on top of that full time job over the hill. It's been a long while since I have had a good session, that's for sure. Paddling out in chest high waves wears me out now.

[ky1e]

Isn't Steamer Lane just as localized or has it become a wave that you can paddle out at because of it's popularity? I always thought of the lane as a place you better know someone before you paddle out to it. The CWC at the lane is probably one of my favorite contests to watch. I like to see how fast Ratboy gets knocked out. The lane is like a cold water Honolua.

[K-dub]

Ky1e, it's fairly localized, but not nearly as bad as other spots around town. The Lane is one of the more popular spots in SC because it has been made famous. But, in all actuality, there are MUCH better spots in town that the locals tend to protect more than the lane.

[ky1e]

K-dub, wow, better spots than the lane?? You guys are SPOILED. I guess it is like Bells Beach. Even though it's the most famous wave in the area, it is probably the "worst" of their waves (by todays standards).

[K-dub]

Ky1e, I never said the Lane was the worst spot in town. It ranks up there in the top spots for sure. Just saying there are some insane spots in the area that don't have the draw to them that the Lane does that would be considered better waves. Be it because of the wave itself, or less crowds, etc.....the Lane is the one spot in town that everyone knows about.

Hell, you know about it and have never been there.

A few spots that I mentioned in a post above could be considered better than the Lane on the right swell. They are both better for hollow barrels, that's for sure. Stockton Ave is as hollow as they come. Perfect round barrels right off the take off and they peel all the way to the inside close out. it's a beautiful wave, but a BIG no-no if you don't have the in's to paddle out.

[ChrisG]

Once again it's on.

[STPHNSN23]

nice.