2008/2009 Mavericks Surf Contest®

Half Moon Bay, California, USA
1 January 2009 - 31 March 2009

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Probable gale off the dateline has not formed yet

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 31 March, 2009 : - - Organizers of the Mavericks Surf Contest are extending the contest window to April 8 in hopes of catching one final championship wave next Monday. The celebrated big-wave surf contest is usually held between Dec. 1 and March 31 if Mother Nature produces the right ocean and weather conditions, including waves of up to 50 feet.

This winter the waves were mostly flat off the California coast, but contest organizers are tracking a gale forming near the international dateline that could produce 32-foot seas (and even bigger waves) at Mavericks on Monday.

"Everyone's getting excited about another computer model that's going to happen next Monday, if it happens at all," said contest founder Jeff Clark, who calls the 24 big-wave contestants to Half Moon Bay on just 24 hours' notice if he decides the waves are right. "I've got to keep an eye on it. If it happens it would be cool to hold the contest. If not, it would not be a big surprise."

Official Mavericks surf meterologist Mark Sponsler likewise cautioned against jumping to conclusions about a gale that hasn't even shown up on the satellite maps yet. "The reality is nothing is real until the storm forms and winds start actually blowing on the ocean's surface," said Sponsler. He and Clark will know more on Friday.

www.maverickssurf.com

Read the full article at San Jose Mercury News

Previous reports:
# 1 : Mavericks Surf Contest on again & ready for 2009 event..
# 2 : Mavericks announces historic $150,000 in prize money
# 3 : Mavericks contest viewable from world's largest airship
# 4 : Mavericks announces a new Sony Ericsson partnership  

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Source: San Jose Mercury News

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