Titans of Mavericks, the big wave surf competition in Half Moon Bay, Calif., will go ahead this Friday, according to the event's website. The announcement comes immediately following the news that the competition was postponed last weekend because of the Super Bowl, per ABC News. This is not the U.S. Open - golf or tennis - and it is not even a World Cup ski race. It is one of the most weather-dependent professional sporting events in the world.
Event organizers, staring at perfect 50-foot (15 meters) waves, were forced to call off the event last weekend because of the enactment of a local "Blackout" law. Emergency services in the area were being held to respond exclusively to any event that might occur at the Super Bowl, which was being held in nearby Santa Clara.
The event "got big-leagued by the Super Bowl. When going through the legal song and dance that is sometimes referred to as the permit process, event organizers agreed to short a blackout period during the few days surrounding the big game...If this upsets you, be like the rest of America and yell at Cam Newton," Surfing magazine explains.
Professional surfers from across the world flew in to the $120,000-purse, invite-only competition only to find out the event had been postponed. Tough break. The pros and a throng of locals were left to surf massive, pristine waves.
"I don't really know the politics, but I guess the Super Bowl ruined this one from running," said big wave surfer Josh Kerr (he had not been invited to compete this year), according to ABC. "I'm sure the guys that are in the comp were bummed, but I'm sure a lot of people like myself were stoked because we got to surf Mavericks as good as it gets."
Despite the Super Bowl headache, a fresh storm is set to create another weekend of ideal conditions.
"The thing that we really like about this storm is the size and strength, with satellite observed wind of 40-65 knots and seas of 50 feet," said Kevin Wallis of Surfline. "The thing we don't like so much, specifically for Mav's is that it will basically fizzle once it moves past Hawaii, with the strongest wind/seas having occurred around 2,000 to 4,000 miles from California."
It is unusual for the event to be officially declared so far in advance. Competitors were on alert in January. The storm that hit proved too unruly and spat out one wave that broke Garrett McNamara's arm. It is unclear what makes the current conditions different.
