Update 2021 – 2022: The Mavericks Surf Competition, in Half Moon Bay, CA, has gone through some big changes lately. And we’re not just talking about big waves.
The changes include when and how the Mavericks surf competition takes place, the competition’s new name, and who (besides surfers) is eligible for award money.
Mavericks Surf Competition: What it is and Where to find it
What is the Mavericks Surf Awards?
The Mavericks surf competition, now called Mavericks Surf Awards, has gone through many changes in recent years. The biggest change is that the contest has now evolved into a video performance contest.
Here’s how it works: Surfers partner with videographers throughout the surf season to chronicle their best waves at the Mavericks location.
Savvy tip: Scroll down this page to see directions to the Mavericks surf spot and a map of the area.
They submit the videos of their best performances at the end of that season, based on contest categories. The surfers are judged on “made waves only,” no tows, paddle only. And each ride requires a separate submission for each category that applies.
Any surfer can apply, no invitation required. This is a big change, and an effective work-around to the recent controversy over who should be invited to compete (ahem, women!)
The recent season saw many incredible women surfers to the lineup. And so prize categories have also be updated to reflect this “equal opportunity,” a long overdue improvement.
Surfers & videographers Split Prize Money
With the new format, videographers have become an even more important part of the contest.
So now the Mavericks surf competition prize money is split between the surfers and the videographers — 60 percent to the athlete and 40 percent to the videographers for each category. (The 2021 season split was 80 percent of the prize money awarded to athletes and 20 percent awarded to videographers.)
We’re happy to see the videographers get some monetary rewards for their work, along with all of our visual appreciation. The split makes sense, too, now that capturing and documenting each athlete’s independent performances is a crucial part of entry.
When is Mavericks?
That’s the thing about this new Mavericks Surf Awards format — there is no longer any actual event date. But the the big swells show up in winter, October at the earliest. The awards are called at the end of the big wave season (which last year was in May).
Mavericks 2022 Surf Season
Starting with the Mavericks 2022 season, the contest will have slightly different prize categories. Prize money is divided into six categories (up one from the previous five). The new categories include prizes for three men’s and three women’s categories: Biggest Wave, Ride of The Year, and Performer of The Year.
Performance of the Year categories are judged by the surfers body of work over the season as submitted for other categories. The same prize money is awarded to all six categories.
The Mavericks surf contest date used to be called at the last minute based on when the swells arrived in the area, with contestants scurrying in from around the globe to make it in time. And despite educated predictions, nature is finicky and the swells don’t always show up as expected. This new format may just solve a lot of problems.
Where is Mavericks?
As you can see, with the new format, the surf contest is not something you can go to anymore. In fact, no audience has been allowed in recent years anyway. After a surge knocked some spectators off their feet during the contest a few years ago, local agencies closed public access, on contest days, to the beach and to the environmentally-sensitive bluffs above.
But since there’s no longer an official contest day, public access is no longer barred. You can go out to the Mavericks surf spot anytime. And if you keep tabs on the surf predictions, you just might catch one of the big wave contestants and their videographers doing their thing.
You’ll find the Mavericks surf spot off Half Moon Bay’s Pillar Point, about a half hour drive south of San Francisco.
Directions to Mavericks Beach
Here’s how to get to Mavericks Beach from Half Moon Bay:
- Turn west on Capistrano Road into Pillar Point Harbor.
- Wind your way around the university-themed streets:
- Turn left on Prospect Way (across from Old Princeton Landing)
- Turn right on Broadway
- Turn right on Harvard
- Turn left on West Point Ave
- Park in the dirt Tide Pools parking lot
- Walk the dirt trail between the water and the bluffs, out to Maverick’s Beach.
- Turn right at the end of the trail. That’s Mavericks Beach. (At high tide you may not be able to walk to the end of Mavericks Beach)
Yes this is the Mavericks surf spot on an average day in Half Moon Bay
Mavericks Know Before You Go
Just so you know, most of the time the waves here are of average size. Still, the spot is gorgeous and is worth a walk out past the boats in the harbor to the view spot at the end of the trail any time.
As savvy readers know, I live on the Half Moon Bay Coastside (lucky me). Once of the most frequent questions asked by visitors here is, where’s the Mavericks surf spot? Sometimes they’re looking right at the world famous surf location, but they don’t recognize it because the waves typically only break massive once or possibly twice a year, if that.
When Mavericks does break, it is truly impressive. And no matter how amazing the waves look on photos and video, seeing them in person takes your breath away.
While you’re in the area, you can walk around the harbor, shop for surf swag at Mavericks Surf Company. Maybe rent a kayak and paddle around Pillar Point Harbor. Then grab some fish & chips or clam chowder at one of the restaurants in the harbor.
Where to Eat near Mavericks Surf Spot in Half Moon Bay
The following restaurants are all in the Pillar Point Harbor area, within walking distance of the water (and with ocean views).
- Half Moon Bay Brewing Company — 3930 Capistrano Road; (650) 728-2739
- Barbara’s Fishtrap — 281 Capistrano Road; 650) 728-7049
- Ketch Joanne & Harbor Bar — 17 Johnson Pier; (650) 728-3747
- Princeton Seafood Company — 9 Johnson Pier; (650) 726-2722
Looking for Lodging nearby?
Savvy Tip: You can quickly compare prices and find booking info on TripAdvisor’s Half Moon Bay page.
Closest to Pillar Point Harbor and the Mavericks surf area:
- Oceano Hotel & Spa Half Moon Bay
- Beach House at Half Moon Bay
- Cypress Inn on Miramar Beach
- Harbor View Inn
Half Moon Bay Hotel — Cypress Inn
Mavericks Awards Finalists of 2021
If you missed the recent awards announcement, here’s how it went down. The $25,000 prize money was split equally, as follows, between the five categories. Winner take all.
Savvy Tip: You’ll want to check out this awesome video of the first ever Mavericks Awards 2021 on The Inertia.
BIGGEST WAVE
Peter Mel – Winner
Kai Lenny – Runner Up
Matt Bromley
Grant Twiggy Baker (did not make wave)
BEST BARREL
Peter Mel – Winner
John Mel – Runner Up
Hunter Murison
Manny Resano (did not make wave)
RIDE OF THE YEAR
Peter Mel – Winner
Kai Lenny – Runner Up
Matt Bromley
FEMALE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Justine Dupont – Winner
Bianca Valenti – Runner Up
MALE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Peter Mel – Winner
Kai Lenny – Runner Up
John Mel
