Mavericks Surf Contest Set For Friday!

—Written by Christa Bigue

Organizers of the Mavericks Invitational surf competitionannounced Wednesday that the contest will be held this Friday, Jan. 24, in Half Moon Bay.

Conditions off the San Mateo County Coast look perfect with a swell forecast to be so huge it will challenge even the world's top big wave surfers.

“Changes in the offshore weather prompted a postponement until today for the official announcement,” said contest director Jeff Clark. “There was concern for a south wind and giant swell, which could have posed danger not only for competitors but for all boats out in the water."

First heat takes off at 8 a.m. 

As many as 30,000 people are expected to pack the Half Moon Bay area and 24 surfers from around the world will compete in the event, including Brazilian surfer Carlos Burle, who was reported to have possibly surfed the world's biggest wave off the coast of Portugal last year.

The roster also includes 2012-13 Mavericks winner Peter Mel, of Santa Cruz, and 2009-10 winner Chris Bertish, of South Africa as well as Pacifica resident Colin Dwyer, 23, who is currently attending San Francisco State as a psychology major and surfed Mavericks for the first time at age 15.

The top prize is $50,000.

Visit mavericksinvitational.com for tickets and information.