Pioneering big wave surfer Jeff Clark will no longer be the one giving the Maverick’s Surf Contest the green light.

Thirty-five years after he discovered the heaving surf break off the coast of Half Moon Bay, Clark is out as contest director, according to the company that owns the event. He will no longer be charged with the task of surveying weather conditions, swells and tides and deciding whether they will ultimately combine to create contest-worthy waves.

“Maverick’s truly belongs to everyone, so we’re looking forward to democratizing the contest direction process,” Keir Beadling, CEO for contest organizer Mavericks Surf Ventures, said in a statement. “Studying the seasonal swell patterns and when to call the surfers is no small responsibility. We’re excited to pass the torch to the next generation of Maverick’s enthusiasts to assure the contest’s continued success.”

Clark recently underwent a procedure to take care of chronic hip problems he believes were caused by surfing and asked Maverick’s fans to help foot the $30,000 bill. Whether Clark chose to step down is unclear. Clark could not be reached to comment Monday.

read more at mercury news

This past weekend, for the forth year now the Loews Coronado Bay Resort surf-dog contest descended—fittingly—on San Diego’s Dog Beach. In the true spirit of interspecies competition, canines and humans of all shapes, forms, makes and models braved two, hair-raising feet of south swell, all for the honor of being named top dog (pun very much intended).

There were mutts, retrievers, mountain dogs, a 75-pound English bulldog named Dozer who refused to let anybody get near his stick, Buddy, a Jack Russell terrier who’s apparently considered “the Tiger Woods of dog surfing,” and who could forget the heart-wrenching story of T.J., an unlikely spaniel from the hard-scrabble streets of Rosarito. I’m telling you, it’d be impossible to make this stuff up.

read the full story at espn

O’Neill CWC: Day Three Highlights. 40ft Swell Imminent

Cape Town, South Africa – Jordy Smith was greeted with howling winds and the onset of one of Cape Town’s biggest storms as he got into the water on this third day of competition at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic South Africa.

Flying in straight from the Reunion Island, Jordy was not about to be deterred by the extreme conditions – pulling out a score of 8.5 on his first wave back in his home country.

“It is pretty wild and cold,” he said. “It’s like gale force winds out there. I got on a few waves and couldn’t even move for the wind – but there are some fun rides out there.”

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic South Africa ambassador is the name to look out for in this competition, but he’s not thinking too far ahead. “Right now all I’m looking forward to is getting out of this wetsuit and getting warm,” Jordy said.

“I’ve seen a few storms like the one coming in when I was younger,” he said. “You need to just hide away indoors for the day with a jacuzzi and the heating on.”

The predicted storm is now brewing, and although the turmoil has already started – it will be properly hitting these shores from tomorrow. In the latest update from local surf forecaster, Spike, he says; “We should see 40 foot sets on the outer reefs by Wednesday morning. Even for any Hawaiian big wave surfer – this is going to be big.”

read more at http://surfeuropemag.com/