Maverick’s Big Wave Beach

Maverick’s Big Wave Beach. If you never had a chance to attend the Maverick’s surfing competition you may have missed your window. This popular competition was eventually cancelled due to local politics and just logistics in putting it on. In the early days we could go right out to Maverick’s Big Wave Beach and watch.

Crowds were uncontrolled and the sensitive vegetation on the hillside was damaged. I remember one year when a sneaker wave came in a washed the spectators and a few cameramen down the beach. Later years, they closed the beach during competition and decided you could watch it live on the internet or live in the local bars.

But it was nothing like the real thing. Jeff Clark was said to be the first to surf Maverick’s and rumors say that it can brake at 40-60 feet. I have never seen it much over 30. My kids still have their signed Jeff Clark posters from 20 years ago.

The “right” break was more common to ride but the brave and the furious have been known to surf the faster and shorter “left” break, including Jeff Clark. If you go to the small fishing village of Pillar Point (a short drive from Half Moon Bay), you can drive to the end of West Point Avenue and then walk five minutes to Maverick’s beach.

You’re not likely to see any surfable waves. The waves only break when conditions are perfect. When a competition was announced, participants had 48 hours to get there from all over the world. And yes, great surfer legends have died challenging these waves.