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Mavericks Window To Close Next Tuesday; Surf Competition Unlikely This Year

HALF MOON BAY (KCBS)— The three-month window for the world-renowned Mavericks big-wave surf contest closes next Tuesday and organizers are saying, due to Mother Nature— it's highly unlikely the event will happen this year.

The Titans of Mavericks contest brings 24 of the world's best big-wave surfers to compete on the break near Half Moon Bay. This year's window goes from January 31st to March 31st.

Former competitor, Matt Ambrose, who is now on the committee that helps decide if the conditions are right, says they don't want to repeat past mistakes where events were run in too small of a surf.

"If you force it then everyone; the surfers themselves have seen the event in the past, run on really big days. [They] grew up hoping they'd get in on the event on really big days so they can prove themselves. If you run it on a small day, it kind of takes away from the sport," he said.

Ambrose said eight hours of at least 20-foot surf are needed and it's just not in the forecast.
This would have been 24-year-old Colin Dwyer of Pacifica's third time competing in the event.

"Really as a fan…as a spectator, they deserve more. They deserve to see the best guys in the world pushing it on truly scary waves, because that's what Mavericks is really all about," he said.

There have been several times since the contest started in 1999 when it hasn't been held.

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