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Weather
The
Maverick's Contest 2004-05
When
I got the call Tues. morning that the Maverick's contest was
on I was skeptical. The buoys didn't look that impressive,
the swell forecast for the area was only 12-15ft, and the
weather looked like it might not cooperate. The contest had
gotten television rights lined up, had clothing appeal printed,
and had spent money on publicity. My worry was that they were
now trying to squeeze the contest in before the March 31st
deadline, regardless of how good the surf was. Turning my
life upside down to attend the event and then getting skunked
was not something I wanted any part of, or I could afford
to do. I then found out that Mr. Maverick's himself Jeff Clark
was the one that called for the contest to go Wednesday morning.
Figuring he was loyal to holding the event in only extreme
sized surf, and that he could predict the conditions better
than anybody else on the planet, I loaded up and headed north.
Nine hours into my drive it began pelting rain, and my doubts
about the contest resurfaced. When I pulled up at the dock
at 2am, the howling onshore winds and torrential rain intensified
my worries. Would the surf be blown out? Would the waves be
riddable? How long would my camera equipment hold up in the
rain before it crapped out? Would the back up equipment I
borrowed getting ruined? Was the contest canceled, and I not
notified? It was too quiet on the dock and in town, and as
I dosed off for a few hours of sleep I felt I might have made
a mistake disrupting mine, my family's and my co-workers lives,
who had all changed their schedules so I could attend the
event.
The
next morning I awoke to the bluest skies one could imagine,
and
when I stepped outside I was in awe by the calm wind
and sheet glass Pacific Ocean. Once
on the dock everyone was asking the same question, "what
was the surf like"? Yet no one seemed to have an answer.
When
we rounded the bell buoy the back of the break came into view
and you could feel and hear the power of the wave. As we motored
towards the inside we got our first glimps of the day's surf.
A 20 foot piece of smooth round ocean threw itself towards
shore, and a lone surfer free fell to the bottom, landing
head first on impact! The contest was on and the surf , lighting,
and weather conditions were epic! Moments later Jeff Clark
casusally motored by on his waverunner, and I couldn't help
calling out and giving him a thumbs up. The guy pulled it
off. He foretold to the surfing world that the waves at his
beloved break would come up, the skies would part, and the
wind would calm... and he was right!
Jeff Clark all smiles.
_____________________
Alex Knost is one of the best longboarders in Newport,
make that one of the best in the world. While still a teenager
he had his own longboard model, and now after 10 years of
riding for Robert August Surfboards, he is leaving the label
and teaming up with Newport Beach's Dano Surfboards. The many
surfers in town that admire Dano's craftsmanship are hopeful
that having a talent such as Alex riding his boards, will
introduce Dano's exceptional shaping and board making skills
to those beyond Newport. Look for a ne
Shane Desmond's Big wave
= Big Money..... @ Maverick's
(Photos Copyrighted NewportSurfShots.com)