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January 20, 2013 — SURFING NEWS: MAVERICKS SURF CONTEST

by admin on Jan.20, 2013, under This Weeks Show

January 20, 2013 – SURFING NEWS — SURFING NEWS — MAVERICKS SURF CONTEST TODAY & MUCH MUCH MORE
w/ Scott Bass (surfer) and Jeff Baldwin (surfer)

The top story of the week has to be today’s Big Wave World Tour contest the Mavericks Invitational at Half Moon Bay.

SURF REPORT: ADAM WRIGHT SOLSPOT.COM
TP buoy is 3′@22 right now

SEGMENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY SURFING HERITAGE VINTAGE SURF AUCTION PRESENTED BY QUIKSILVER WATERMAN COLLECTION TAKING PLACE MAY 11 AT THE ORANGE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS: GET TICKETS AND INFORMATION AT :

HTTP://THEVINTAGESURFAUCTION.COM

http://mavericksinvitational.com/

Contest organizers for the Mavericks Invitational 2012-2013 presented by GoPro, have confirmed that the world’s premier big wave surf contest will take place on Sunday, January 20, 2013 in Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay, CA.

“The waves are going to be insane, the weather is going to be beautiful, and the level of surfing will break new ground,” said Mavericks Invitational Contest Director Jeff Clark.

Who will win, what will the waves be like, how big, who will shine, who will wipe out?

All to be answered after the event, but what we do know is this:
1) Sunny and gorgeous with pristine conditions
2) buoys are 8′ at 19s this morning
3) Surfline reporting no Shane Dorian hurt back, No Kelly Slater, No Carlos Burle hurt shoulder

A San Francisco news source, The Inquisitor, reports that “it’s unclear why Slater is missing the event, but Slater faces a conflict with the Association of Surfing Professionals, governing body of the professional tour. Mavericks is not an ASP-sanctioned event, and as such, Slater could face being fined, losing points (in the tour standings) or having his seeding changed in ASP events if he competed at Mavericks.”

The paper reached out to Kelly Slater about his reason for pulling out, but the surf legend didn’t respond to the request. The paper tracked down another source who said Slater was disappointed to miss the tournament but relieved his spot will be filled by a dedicated Mavericks surfer. He’s only surfed there a handful of times.

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/488259/kelly-slater-out-of-mavericks-international-surf-contest-reason-unclear/#v0v7A5uTe7o42XdO.99

I watched the Mavs cam last night at Sunset and it was dreadfully inconsistent. Will the competitors have enough time?

You will see some carnage, as the long period swell will have people out of position, cold, tight, not warmed up, peaks hitting the reef and becoming steep quickly, surfers pushing each other into the bowl, the takeoff zone squeezed.

I anticipate a young guy winning, slightly smaller surf,

The Competitors

Matt Ambrose
Ryan Augenstein
Grant “Twiggy” Baker
Chris Bertish
Carlos Burle
Ken “Skindog” Collins
Shane Desmond
Shawn Dollar
Shane Dorian
Nathan Fletcher
Mark Healey
Rusty Long
Greg Long
Alex Martins
Peter Mel
Ryan Seelbach
Kelly Slater
Tyler Smith
Jamie Sterling
Anthony Tashnick
Grant Washburn
Dave Wassel
Ben Wilkinson
Zach Wormhoudt

THE ALTERNATES

1. Tyler Fox (Santa Cruz)
2. Josh Loya (Santa Cruz)
3. Colin Dwyer (Pacifica)
4. Nic Lamb (Santa Cruz)
5. Danilo Couto (Brazil)
6. Derek Dunfee (San Diego)

“The waves are going to be insane, the weather is going to be beautiful, and the level of surfing will break new ground,” said Mavericks Invitational Contest Director Jeff Clark.

This is the first time in three years that contest-worthy waves are headed to the
legendary surf break. Stormsurf forecaster Mark Sponsler stated, “This is looking like the best opportunity we’ve had in quite a few years with great conditions for running the contest.”

“This swell is going to offer huge waves and possibly perfect conditions. This is a very powerful swell, and we will have dramatic conditions that will push the competitors to their limits. Sunday is going to beautiful and very scary at times. I look forward to seeing plenty of glory rides,” said competitor and surfers’ representative Shawn Dollar.

SURFING NEWS: SRN, MAVERICKS, BWWT, US OPEN, SURF CHANNEL,THE BOARDROOM,

by admin on Aug.05, 2012, under This Weeks Show

AUG 05, 2012 – - Surfing news, Surf news, Surf Channel, Surf Industry

US Open – big day of action today — final day … Dane v Kelly

EMAIL: — A FAN’S PERSPECTIVE: They’ve made it okay again; this fog will last a few more years, and there will be a back lash; lipstick on a pig can only last so long before the masses realize they’ve been kissing a pig and not Marilyn Monroe.

The puppeteers are doing what they do best, selling the surfing lifestyle as a day-time RAVE for 17-year-olds, “let’s get drunk, smoke cloves and listen to music…, oh shit, here come the cops”;

SURFING DOES NOT COME FIRST, if it did, they’d run the US Open at a really good surf spot. In the long run, this event hurts competitive surfing. It doesn’t hurt the selling of surfing, but it hurts true competitive surfing.

THE US OPEN of Golf is not held at Oceanside Municipal Golf Course. Maybe it should be? Plenty of parking and a main street, plus, you can get an alcohol permit. Huntington Beach (if you strip away the history, the pier setting, and the Main Street) is just a run-of-the-mill California beach break. Sure it gets good. Really good. In October. In January. If the surfing competition was priority number one, it would be held somewhere else. Somewhere worthy of the nations Open Championship.

Que a smattering of well-played excuses in 3, 2, 1… “can’t do it a Lowers; what about parking for 200K; the city really benefits from the revenue; where else can you get an “arena”; we’ve been having this contest here forever; the industry loves it here; yada, yada, yada.”

All valid points. It’s easy to rationalize. However, just because “we’ve had a surfing competition here forever,” does not make it okay. It makes us stupid. Insane. Bottom line: surfing competition does not come first at the US Open of Surfing.

That’s okay. Let them kiss pork. Call me when Kelly’s wave pool is perfected. They can have the US Open of Surfing at Coachella.

Now the final day matchups are very impressive. I must say I’m looking forward to the final day action. After all, I am a fan…
…of surfing in good waves. – Jay T. in Carlsbad

SEGMENT 1 SPONSOR —

THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURFBOARD SHOW

–
HONORING MARK RICHARDS IN THE ICONS OF FOAM SHAPING TRIBUTE PRESENTED BY US BLANKS

EVENTS AND EXHIBITS INCLUDE:

SURF REPORT WITH SOLPSOT.COM’S ADAM WRIGHT:

SEGMENT 2: Segment Sponsor Quiksilver Waterman Collection is presenting next years’ Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection which takes place May 11, 2013 in the brand new state-of-the-art building at the OC Fairgrounds called The HANGAR. Quiksilver Waterman Collection and their brand ambassadors on twitter Mark Healey @healeysurf , Shayne McIntyre @ShayneMcIntyre, Jamie Mitchell, Peter Mel @peter_mel, Mel Pu’u: Robby Naish;

LIBERIA Surfing with Sean Brody – Surf Resource Network

What is the latest with surfing in and around Liberia?

Liberia and the ISA?

You are on your way to do some Masters Degree work over there, correct?

What would you tell someone thinking about a surf trip to liberia; what are the goods what are the bads?

Are there ugly Americans?

What do you eat?

Any dangers in the water?

SEGMENT 3 SPONSOR —

THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURFBOARD SHOW

–
HONORING MARK RICHARDS IN THE ICONS OF FOAM SHAPING TRIBUTE PRESENTED BY US BLANKS

EVENTS AND EXHIBITS INCLUDE:

SURFING NEWS: SRN & LIBERIA, MAVERICKS CONTEST, US OPEN

by admin on Jul.25, 2012, under This Weeks Show

AUG 05, 2012 – - Surfing news, Surf news, Surf Channel, Surf Industry

SEGEMENT 1 SPONSOR —

THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURFBOARD SHOW

–
HONORING MARK RICHARDS IN THE ICONS OF FOAM SHAPING TRIBUTE PRESENTED BY US BLANKS

EVENTS AND EXHIBITS INCLUDE:

SURF REPORT WITH SOLPSOT.COM’S ADAM WRIGHT:

LIBERIA Surfing with Sean Brody – Surf Resource Network

What is the latest with surfing in and around Liberia?

Liberia and the ISA?

You are on your way to do some Masters Degree work over there, correct?

What would you tell someone thinking about a surf trip to liberia; what are the goods what are the bads?

Are there ugly Americans?

What do you eat?

Any dangers in the water?

SEGMENT 3 SPONSOR —

THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURFBOARD SHOW

–
HONORING MARK RICHARDS IN THE ICONS OF FOAM SHAPING TRIBUTE PRESENTED BY US BLANKS

EVENTS AND EXHIBITS INCLUDE:

Master craftsman, legend shaper, big wave warrior and director of the Big Wave World Tour Gary Linden.

by admin on Feb.05, 2012, under This Weeks Show

DTL — Surf talk radio with Jeff Baldwin and Scott Bass it is Feb 5 Super Bowl Sunday, 2012

We are live every Sunday morning here in San Diego on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM and broadcast around the world via iTunes. — our show needs a sponsor so be advised.
In-studio today Master craftsman, legend shaper, big wave warrior and director of the Big wave world tour Gary Linden.

Adam Wright. Solspot.com surf report –

An OPINION – THE ASP’s Super Bowl is the Pipe Masters. It should be our final crescendo. Not an afterthought of great surfing at a great spot. No ASP World Title should EVER BE DETERMINED BEFORE THE PIPE MASTERS– period. The waiting period and the field should be extended to include PIPE EXPERTS. the Pipe Masters should be SURFING’S BEST SHOW ON EARTH culminating in a World Champion — each and every year. This is a simple concept. If the surf industry and the Hawaiian powers that be, all of them: VANS, Triple Crown, the HUI, Billabong, the City and County of Honolulu, and the North Shore community can’t get on the same page, they have truly FAILED. They have failed pro surfing, they have failed surfing fans, and they have failed as the so-called ‘keepers” of the sport. All future ASP World Titles should and could BE DETERMINED AT THE PIPE MASTERS — OUR SUPERBOWL — end of story.

GARY LINDEN- Big wave world tour. Can you quickly explain the tour how many events from when to when.

AN obvious big challenge is waiting on Mother Nature to throw big enough waves your way.
Logistics of getting the surfers together.
Nelscott Reef is extended to March.

How do you crown a champion…? Very important for a TOUR to crown a champion every year.

Ever see a time when the ASP gets involved with Big Wave Tour?

Who is the marketing arm? Seems you are on to something, but that a big time sponsor needs to get involved. I could see SWATCH or NIKE or an INSURANCE company like Geico?

What about less emphasis on spots and more on crowning a champion? Don’t rely on having five stops to crown a champ; if you only get one event off, well that’s it. The winner is the Champ that year, if you get all five events pulled off, then great, but don’t rely on it.

The internet makes for a lot of chatter from “internet tough guys” or “arm chair quarterbacks”. Garrett McNamara’s self described 90-foot wave caught some flak but surprisingly not from the big wave pros or the surf media elites. They either turned away from it or validated the 90-foot wave claim.
What say you Gary Linden, 90 foot wave or not?

How do you feel about all the press that it received.

TOP 5 Stories
#1 Story – Volcom Pipe Pro – The greatest nail-biter final ever. With 30 seconds remaining John John steals the championship from JO Brien. Wow!
JOB surfed incredible. Switch-foot was mind blowing. He’s on another level… from even John John in that respect.

Dave Wassle is darn good in the broadcast booth as an analyst. So is Richard Woolcott. Too many in the booth stepping on each others comments and NOT listening. Biggest problem is the NON-professionalism that these WEBCASTS manifest. To a trained broadcaster, these still remain amateur. Commentators do not listen to each other. Granted, 4 days of talking is very difficult. Very little actual surf action takes place.

#2 Story – Kenny ‘SkinDog’ Collins snaps on NOAA officials:

http://chasingmonsters.com/news/the-pulse/item/70-skin-dog-snaps-on-noaa-officials

In one respect, I can relate to ‘SkinDog’ . He’s frustrated. The ban seems misguided. ‘SkinDog’ saved Jacob Trette’s life using a ski. PWC’s have assisted other surfers out there. Massive fishing trawlers out there everyday. But it seems like a low-profile would have been better approach. Just get on the ski without a word a go surfing. Why all the hysteria? Doesn’t help the surfers cause, in my opinion.

Here’s how NOAA lawyers work: For a citation to hold up we must show that 1) we first educated them 2) then we can Cite them 3) #1 will assure that #2 holds up in court.

It only helps that NOAA and the Judge have public video of an aggressive, dismissive, and abusive Mr. Collins. However, it can argued that Mr. Collins was never “educated”, he wouldn’t let the NOAA official speak. So you can’t cite him. *Although in the video he claims he’s already been educated about the PWC ban. So…
At the same time though, SkinDog didn’t use, pardon the bureaucratic term, “best practices”, He let his emotions get the better of him. He didn’t come off looking to smooth. For sure next time the feds will come prepared with citation books, taser guns, German Shepherds; etc.

#3 SUPS at SUNSET SUPS: what is your take on stand-ups in big waves and in general?

SUP World Tour – They are doing it at SUNSET Beach

SUPMAG: Are you worried about the stigma with stand-up in the surfing world?
JOB: I know guys get eggy when I show up on a stand-up at Pipe. I’m just trying to have a good time. If people are mad at me for having fun I’m not worried about that. It’s all about having fun and enjoying yourself and I get that satisfaction from stand-up.

Not okay to have fun at others expense. We simply ask that you “Do unto others as you have them do unto you”

#5 Chris Beresford of San Diego dominated the Open Division final at the Kneeboard Surfing USA Championships at Huntington Beach. Beresford attacked the head-high waves on the south side of the pier with an impressive display of stylish full-rail surfing and big moves.

——————————————————————————————————–
SDSU Center for Surf Research – 10th annual surfing, arts, sciences & issues conference: Surfing’s New Aloha: The Growing Trend of Giving BackFebruary 10, 2012 7:00PM – 9:00PM & Saturday, February 11, 2012 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM San Diego State University’s Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center csr.sdsu.edu

http://www.cvent.com/d/9cqk1r/4W.

Leave a Comment :ASP, Billabong, gary linden, mavericks, pwc, shaper, skindog more...

Surf Radio Nov 20 – GMAC’s World Record Proclamation w/ XXL Director Bill Sharp

by admin on Nov.20, 2011, under This Weeks Show

November 20, 2011 – surfing, surfing news, surfing industry, surf – Live every sunday on XTRASPORTS 1360AM IN SAN DIEGO ; internet Xtrasports1360.com ; or iTunes podcast download keyword search “down the line surf”

GMAC’s World Record Proclamation w/ XXL Director Bill Sharp

GMAC’S wave could be 90 feet. It could be 100 feet. I hope it measures 99 feet. I don’t care. I’m not questioning the size. What I’m questioning is the process.
Which organization or authority validates such a claim? Is it the Guinness people? Or XXL? YouTube? Is it George Downing or George Will? Perhaps Jane Kachmer?
This week we talk with Bill Sharp, Director of Billabong’s XXL Global Big Waves Awards Director. There’s been much internet chatter about Garrett McNamara’s huge wave and self-proclaimed world record.

Here are some other “Worlds Biggest Wave” – there’s more than one! Who knew?

Top 5 Stories:
1) Aussie News article: http://www.swellnet.com.au/news/2651-kelly-slater-almost-sunk-in-wave-pool-wrangle
2) Please support your favorite flag: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/patriotism-flagging-at-surf-contests/story-e6frg7mf-1226197716298
3) Hawaiian Happenings: Rumor floating on Twitter from Shea Lopez that ASP will do away with the mid-year reshuffle of pro surfers; Flat on the North Shore so far…REEF HAWAIIAN PRO AT Haleiwa – no waves showing up at Haleiwa. They need west swell. Minor norths rolling in.
4) ASP drops Rip Curl Pro Search from 2012 ASP World Tour schedule
5)

ERMA EBERLY
We are raising money to pay for Tom Eberly’s wife’s cancer operation.
Erma Eberly Dangla is the mother of three daughters, Rebeca (23), Erin (17) and Tara (15), and is the force behind Tom Eberly’s Nicasurf International Surf Tours. La jefa. We are raising money to pay for Erma’s cancer operation to save her. Please Help us by donating anything you can spare through our paypal account – sean@sanjuansurf.com – all will help and will go straight to the cause. She needs to have an operation now and we are a little bit short, so please help!
Website http://www.nicasurfinternational.com/

I never mention charities on the air unless I have given and I have given generously. I want you too as well, but only within your means.

Help Matt Warshaw get the Encyclopedia of Surfing on line by donating to the KickStarter Cause. Link below:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1391193483/encyclopedia-of-surfing?ref=live

Leave a Comment :asp tour, big wave surfing, big waves, bill sharp, garrett mcnamara, gmac, jeff clark, mavericks, Rip Curl, surf industry, surf news, xxl more...

SURF NEWS: Billabong XXL Director Bill Sharp Talks Big Wave Surfing

by admin on Feb.21, 2010, under This Weeks Show

Surfing News XXL Bill Sharp

We interview Bill Sharp this morning. Give a listen!

Do yourself a favor, go check out BillabongXXL.com website. Bring along a sandwich and a cold beverage and schedule yourself two hours to digest it all– the waves, not the meal. There is plenty to sink your teeth into.

Do your best to determine the winner of four categories: Ride of the Year, the Best Paddle-in Wave, The Best Tube Ride, and the Biggest Wave. These clips below are just a small smattering of what you’ll see. And with last weeks Mavericks event providing some of the largest and heaviest waves of the year, well, the judges have their hands full.

Is this the year that all four categories are won by the same surfer on the same wave? Could a paddle-in surfer claim Biggest Wave over some of the tow-in stuff at Peahi? Hell yeah!!

Leave a Comment :big wave surfing, bill sharp, Billabong, Chris Bertish, evan slater, greg long, mavericks, mavericks surf contest, mike parsons, shane dorian, twiggy, xxl, Youtube Mavericks more...

SURFING NEWS: World Surfing Reserves; Bertish Wins Mavs; Kelly Slater at Pebble Beach

by admin on Feb.14, 2010, under This Weeks Show

Massive Waves and Chaos at Mavericks Surf Contest:

This week we interview Drew Kampion who authored the World Surfing Reserves Manifesto (see below):

“If surfers won’t save the world, who will? Obama? The G20? The United Nations?

Is there some other global network of alert, persistent, environmentally-aware individuals who are similarly trained in the art of navigating variables, overcoming adversity, and appreciating the rarities of perfection? Who else will do the work? Who else will hold up the vision?

It’s pretty ironic. Surfing is all about getting away from the constraints of society – escaping the usual manmade rules, breaking free and committing to the rule of natural law – the physics of wave form and the glide.

Surfers are a nomadic sort of tribe, conversant with the wild, in touch with the natural world at a time when the natural world is increasingly remote from most people on the planet.

Surfers are like the canaries in the coal mine … reporting back from the shores and coastal edges, where so many of the changes and impacts of unsustainable growth and pollution and climate change are focused. Surfers are in a position to sense and experience the urgency, and to thereby stake a claim on the possible in the face of the so-called inevitable.

Since it’s a universe of waves – waves of all scales and materials – surfers are uniquely positioned to understand how they work and to know how to ride them … because the principles inherent in all waves are the same.

The World Surfing Reserves (WSR) movement is just another wave. Each WSR is a Trojan horse, conceived in cooperation and with appropriate enthusiasm, but harboring powerful, unseen, and unanticipated effects. The WSR that is fully embraced and actualized at the local, national, and global levels – where it becomes an asset not merely for surfers and beach-lovers, but for the bioregional community of which it is a part – will bring value and better quality of life to the whole.

In enshrining these surf spots the program will be enhancing and, in a sense, enshrining their surf-oriented communities, too – affirming what has great value in that place. A WSR is a celebration of place.

The bubble provided by the WSR designation should act like a semi-permeable membrane, enabling certain kinds of activities and sustainable developments while resisting the intrusion of others (like landfills, mining operations, trawlers, and the grosser monoliths of unchecked development). The simple existence of the WSR acts as a tactical wedge that inserts itself into every future discussion concerning the fate and destiny of the reserve area.

A WSR models a kind of environmental synergy, integrating the principles of preservation with sustainable use … with stewardship and cultural celebration. A WSR provides a nexus for rallying and focusing energy and assets on ensuring that a particular coastal area will be permanently vested with intrinsic importance – an importance that local surfers and others already understand but may not be able to communicate.

The WSR designation is this communication. This plaque, this installation, this monument that dedicates the WSR communicates a cohesive valuation forward through time – says that these people, representing a broad local, regional, national, and global community of like-minded individuals hereby value this place – right here – and declare the intention of holding this place sacred for as long as the waves break and the tides cycle. In other words, each small monument is a symbol for the greater monument that is each surf spot and its enshrined environment, dedicated forward for the common benefit and for the enjoyment and appreciation of present and future generations.

Each WSR is a microcosm – a meeting of land and sea selected for the unique and salutary nature of its waves and natural setting. The dedication of each WSR seeks the protection of this microcosm, this coastal zone of waves and habitat, from wanton destruction and exploitation through the positive force of appreciation and valuation. As a force of inception, it’s worth mentioning that the WSR enterprise is in keeping with the initial impulse of John Kelly, who created SAVE OUR SURF (the ancestor of all surf-related environmental organizations) in the early 1960s, and the result is over a hundred Hawaiian beaches and surf breaks saved that would have been lost but aren’t. That’s the power of an idea.

The Save The Waves crew picked up where John Kelly left off. Founded on work with International Surf Spot Protection and modeled on the vision of Brad Farmer and the National Surfing Reserve program in Australia, the concept of World Surfing Reserves draws inspiration from Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, who asked: “Why not have surf breaks – famous, great breaks like Jeffrey’s Bay, Rincon and Malibu – as [UNESCO] World Heritage Sites, so that the whole world sees their value and wants to protect them?”

Creating World Surfing Reserves may not in itself save the world, but it’s a step in that direction. A World Surfing Reserve is like a world park, but with more dynamic local interaction. A WSR is a sort of coastal appreciation zone, and it’s an opportunity zone … and a possibility zone, which happens to be on the coast, in a place where surf culture has taken root.

Undertaking the creation of a WSR – to enshrine a wave and its environs – is to set in motion a medium of communication for disparate parties that might not otherwise become engaged. And once communication begins, who knows where it will lead?

This enshrinement is a kind of protection, but it is not a sure one. Over time threats will come, one by one, to all of the world’s great surf spots, and over time, again and again, they will be compromised. And in the end, the enshrinements we make now and in future years may be the deciding factor that saves a beach or a surf spot or a park … or just a jewel of the natural world.

World Surfing Reserves is about surfers saving the world, one wave at a time, and while it may not guarantee that a beach or a wave will be saved, it does enshrine the global community’s demand that it must be.” – Drew Kampion, WSR Vision Council, January 2010

1 Comment :big wave surfing, Chris Bertish, Kelly slater, mavericks, mavericks surf contest, pro surfing, quiky pro, save the waves, surf industry, surf news, SURFING NEWS, world surfing reserves, Youtube Mavericks more...

SURFERS DECIDE TO MOVE ON WITHOUT JEFF CLARK: SF CHRONICLE’S BRUCE JENKINS

by admin on Sep.08, 2009, under This Weeks Show

The Maverick’s big-wave contest is moving forward as a democracy, without Jeff Clark. Everything is in place but the legendary surfer’s blessing, in the wake of a tempestuous summer behind the scenes.

Clark has been at odds with Maverick’s Surf Ventures, the contest organizers, on a number of topics over the years, to the point where both Clark and Ventures CEO Keir Beadling agreed that the partnership was untenable. Although he still owns a share of the company, Clark was dismissed as contest director by the board of directors, an awkward development considering he was the first to surf Maverick’s in 1975 and has presided over the spot’s well-being.

At first, the 24 invited surfers wanted no part of an event that had banished Clark. “He’s still the man out there,” said Santa Cruz standout Peter Mel, “and he’s been a friend to all of us over the years.”

Eventually, said Mel, “We all realized how important this event is to us, how it’s one of the great surf contests in the world. We agreed that we had to keep it going, whether Jeff was in or not. And I think he understands that.”

CONTINUE READING BRUCE JENKINS: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/07/SP0U19J0IF.DTL

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GRANT WASHBURN INTERVIEW – Mavericks Without The Man

by admin on Jun.29, 2009, under This Weeks Show

Grant Washburn is a surfer whose name is synonymous with big wave surfing and with Mavericks. Washburn has earned the respect of the entire Mavericks surfing community– mostly through unwavering dedication to the spot itself. With the recent news of Jeff Clark’s forced departure from the Mavericks Surf Contest, we thought it appropriate to check-in with Washburn and ask a few questions.

Mavericks will take care of itself.

First off, what was your reaction when you heard the news regarding Jeff Clark not being involved in the Mavericks contest?

I’m ignoring it. (laughs) No, I don’t know man, you know what, every year there is something going on there. We never know if they have a sponsor or if they have a company. It’s too early for anybody to actually know exactly what is going on.

As you mentioned, there’s a lot of politics that surrounds the Mavericks event, probably much more than we even know. Some well-known Mavericks surfers mentioned your name, as a guy that they look too for guidance. Basically, the surfers follow your lead.

You know, I follow their lead too. In the end it is up to the surfers to make it (the contest) respectable and worth doing. The company is going to do whatever it is they do, and Jeff is just Jeff, he’s had no control over a lot of the stuff anyway. For the last three or four years, he has had no managing control over it. He sometimes has his outbursts or whatever, but he has basically been under a gag order to not say anything because that’s the deal. From our point of view and for any big wave event, it’s about the spot and the ocean and the people. The company is trying to make money, obviously, everyone knows that. So it is just, how are we going to let them do that and where are we going to draw the line.

Well this event more than any other, Jeff Clark and his name tied to it tightly. Are they surfers going to unite, sort of Hui-up, and find out what Jeff wants them to do? Or are they going to say, ‘You know, it’s 30-foot, we’re going to surf the contest with or without Jeff’s blessing?”

Well in a way we sort of already have Hui’d up. Years back they company top loaded the prize. They didn’t tell anyone they were going to waive the appearance fee. All of us have real jobs, basically, we all have to work. When they waived the $1000 fee that we used to get just for showing up…you took the day off, maybe you flew over from Hawaii. They didn’t say anything to anybody, and all of the sudden the top prize was bigger than ever, but 18 guys got nothing. I was like, “Ah come on, you can’t do that.” They said, “Yeah it’s regrettable.” Well it’s not just regrettable, it’s unacceptable. So we did all get together and, this is a pretty disparate group, and we decided that they company is are going to do it like we discussed before, which is each guys gets something for showing up, but you don’t just give it all to the top guy. And that’s what we did. The next year we ended splitting the prize to the six guys in the final. That’s the vibe out there. When the company tries to come along and make the prize a big deal and make it the super bowl of surfing or whatever, that really turns off the surfers.

Are they surfers going to take off a year and rally around Jeff?

The thing is Jeff still owns a most of the company, so it is a really weird situation. To me it’s like look, I have lots of friends who surf Mavericks who would be happy if there wasn’t any event at all. They (event organizers) close down the spot and say only these few people can surf in it, and half of the guys aren’t from the local area, and that’s a pretty big deal. And what are we actually getting out of it? As far as the community and the greater surfing community, if there is no reward, it is not any fun. Nobody wants to do it that way. We will have to wait and see. It’s really a strange thing, to have the event run by somebody who … the politics can never get out of the way.

I’m of the opinion that politics are always going to a part of it on some level. That’s just human nature. I’m sure George Downing has his moments, and if Eddie Aikau were alive, perhaps there would be politics in that regard as well. It seems odd to take Jeff Clark away from the decision making process. Interestingly, Catherine Clark, Jeff’s ex-wife, is really the glue that has held this contest together, that’s what I’ve been told by surfers close to the situation. She is positioned with the marketing company, at least according to press reports.

Well I think it’s too soon to say that. I don’t know what the deal would be. They way they’ve always operated is week to week. The reason we’ve had the waiting period start in January is because they never have any sponsors, and never could hang on to any sponsors. They always say, “Yeah we are still doing it. It’ll be bigger than ever.” You know Catherine is kind of just along for the ride. She’s involved because she loves the guys and loves the place and loves the community and she always trying to give back. And as far as taking sides, he side is with that stuff. She is not with the company or with Jeff. She is the den mother. She has always run the behind the scenes stuff. When Quiksilver was running it, she helped out. But she is not a surfer and she would never call the swell or call the day. That’s what is weird about this news, who is going to be calling the day? Jeff, despite his flaws, is really, really great at calling Mavericks and knowing when it is going to be good. We wouldn’t have had some of those events if it weren’t for Jeff. Because nobody, not Sean Collins or Mark Sponsler would have ever called it on those days that Twiggy won or Greg Long won, and that’s because Jeff has that instinctive knowledge of the place, and without that you are going to have a lot less events.

Some might argue that you have that instinctive knowledge. It seems to me that the company will ask the surfers themselves to make the call, if, in fact the surfers agree to move forward with out Jeff Clark.

Yeah and it’s not like Jeff was pulling the trigger completely on his own. But he was always pulling the guys. Greg Long knows about as much about the ocean as anybody, even though he’s just a kid. For sure each of the surfers has the ability. There is a lot of pressure on making the call. It’s easy to sit back and go, “yeah we should do it” if you’re not the guy who has to take the fall if the waves are bad that day. That’s not an easy job and I don’t want to do it, and I don’t know anybody who does and, yeah, good luck (laughs).

Are there sponsors secured already, because according to what I’ve seen, I think they secured some sponsors?

Yeah, you know, I’ve learned not to pay attention to anything they say (laughs), those guys are rarely upfront about anything. I’m not involved with it, but yeah I think they have some money, they threw together a highlight show from last year. They have had money. I wasn’t involved with it I don’t know, It’s basically money rolled over from last year. It’s not new money. The think about Mavericks is that it is a fantastic place. It is obviously very marketable. And there is a lot of good energy that comes in, in the form of those sponsors and they really are supporting the place and the surfers. It is sort of the middleman that creates the politics.

Are the surfers over it? If it’s 30-foot let’s just go surfing.

I think we’ve been there before. There is no difference. We are prepared if there is a contest or no contest. We will be surfing. Look what happened in November last year. The guys couldn’t have been pushing it any harder. Twiggy was surfing harder and more intensely than he ever has. I don’t think anything that happens changes what happens out there. What’s become distressing to us is all that is humped onto this thing. It has to be done right. The mood of the place and the spirit of Jay Moriarty that’s what we have to be true too. When we start wandering away from that, and when you say to yourself, “What would Jay think of this?” That’s when you get kind of depressed about it. The guys are getting tired of it. Do it right or don’t do it. There is plenty of good media coverage with or without the contest. You are going to see pictures of the biggest waves. Mavericks will win awards, even on bad years, Mavericks won the biggest paddle award. That’s what is so cool about the place and the contest is sort of a sideshow.

The surfers, the heart of it all, the surfers just want the big waves, they don’t care. They just need a tent on the beach and they’ll score each other.

Yeah Matt Ambrose, one of my good friends was saying we should just have the Matt Ambrose Challenge. Ten bucks to anybody who gets the biggest wave.

Grant, thanks so much for the insight, we look forward to seeing how this affair plays out..

Right on Scott, have a good day.

1 Comment :big waves, Grant Washburn, jeff clark, mavericks more...

JEFF CLARK OUT AS MAVERICKS MAIN MAN

by admin on Jun.27, 2009, under This Weeks Show

JEFF CLARK FORCED OUT AT MAVERICKS?!

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST:
June 28th Show- Grant Washburn, Garrett McNamara Discuss Mavs Contest w/o Jeff Clark, Baldy joins the fun; James Pribram in Chicago, Pat O’Connell Hall of Famer; Top 5 Stories; Trivia Blitz; Fact or Fiction; tons more……

Big firm litigator-turned-sports entrepreneur Keir J. Beadling is the Co-Founder and CEO of Mavericks Surf Ventures, Inc. In this role, Keir oversees the world-famous Mavericks Surf Contest® and Mavericks™ brand. It appears Beadling maneuvered to have Mavericks legend Jeff Clark removed from the Mavericks Surf Contest. A marketing move akin to kicking Eddie Aikau out of the Quiksilver in honor of Eddie Aikau. However problematic Clark was to Beadling’s efforts to run the event, (rumor is that Beadling wanted to run it this year and Clark would not green light the contest because the surf wasn’t big enough), you simply DO NOT remove him from the event. Marketing suicide. A grass roots boycott is already taking shape on Facebook, and it will be very interesting to see how how the surfers themselves, the Evan Slater’s and Grant Baker’s of the world, handle this situation.

Jeff Clark’s blog: “Over the past several years, it has been obvious that my vision and priorities are not in line with those of Mavericks Surf Ventures. I have had in the past, and continue to have, strong differences of opinion with the present CEO and Board about the direction, image and priorities of the company and the contest.

The press release issued by Mavericks Surf Ventures this week stating that I ‘stepped down’ and I am ‘passing the torch to the next generation’ is wrong. The reality is that I was ousted as Contest Director by the current CEO.

I must also note that, while the company’s news release states that this year’s contest will be held to celebrate ‘the 35th anniversary of Jeff Clark’s first session at the now world-famous break,’ the 35th anniversary is actually next season, in 2010-11. I will not allow the company to use my accomplishment as a marketing tactic.

Effective today, I have resigned from the Board of Directors of Mavericks Surf Ventures.

My vision for the Mavericks Surf Contest has been unwavering: it is about the family of big wave surfers, the spirit of the ocean, and this amazing wave. I never wanted that to be compromised for the sake of money or marketing opportunities. I think that focus is obvious to anyone who knows me or who has seen my priorities over the years.

Mavericks has been an integral part of my personal and professional life for more than 30 years, and I hope that it continues to be a part of both in the future.

I wake up looking at Mavericks, and I have watched and surfed those waves most of my life. I started the contest 10 years ago, and I can say one thing for sure: Mavericks is Mavericks. The waves will come – or not – when they will.

The one thing I would truly regret would be to see a committee deciding, based on sponsorship money and media opportunities, when the best day to run the contest would be, and have it turn into just another 10 foot swell with a lot of hype and not a lot of substance. Any true Mavericks surfer wants and deserves a real test of ability.

I wish everyone well, knowing that Mavericks will always take care of itself.

I wish I could say more at this time, but I have had limited time to absorb these changes and will have more to say about this situation as things become clearer.”

2 Comments :big wave surfing, jeff clark, mavericks, mavericks surf contest more...

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JEFF CLARK OUT AS MAVERICKS MAIN MAN

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