Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
March 30, 2007
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
HALF MOON BAY
Maverick's Surf Contest likely a no go
San Francisco Chronicle
Fishing event at Los Vaqueros Reservoir open to special-needs children
Contra Costa Times
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HALF MOON BAY
Maverick's Surf Contest likely a no go
San Francisco Chronicle – 3/30/07
By Paul McHugh, staff writer
Many of the best big-wave surfers stood ready for the past three months to leap into cars or hop onto planes and whisk to Half Moon Bay on short notice. But the principal guest of honor at the Maverick's Surf Contest -- a world-class swell -- has failed to show up.
Event organizers said Thursday they are poised to cancel this year's competition -- the third weather-related cancellation since the contest began in 1999. The contest window closes on Saturday and there are no big waves on the horizon.
The surfers are looking to other big-wave meccas, such as the Dungeons break in
"The year was bizarre," said Mark Sponsler, a Maverick's surfer and weather guru who advises the event organizers. "With an El Niño ocean pattern in play, we should have gotten an enhanced storm track in the North Pacific, bringing us plenty of waves. We did see action off the coast of
"But once the jet stream hit the international date line, it split, sending energy off to Alaska," he said. "Storms might sit over
Bay Area surfing fans also had waited eagerly for the contest. Since the first event, called the Men Who Ride Mountains competition, big-wave surfing at Maverick's has gained worldwide notoriety.
For the 2006 contest, a throng estimated at 30,000 jammed the beach, swarmed up the crumbling bluffs and stomped onto reef rocks at low tide. Many more watched the streaming video and a subsequent special broadcast.
Despite the impending cancellation of this year's event, a post-contest party, a big-wave documentary and a series of Maverick's-themed concerts are expected, said Doug Epstein, one of the three principals for the event producer, Mavericks Surf Ventures LLC.
"What we want to do is to say thank you to fans, sponsors, volunteers and all those who put a portion of their lives on hold while waiting for the event," Epstein said Thursday. "We'll do a celebration, probably a closing ceremony for the surfers. A public party is under discussion."
Epstein said his firm will make a final call on Saturday. But conditions don't look promising. The North Pacific is a swirl of chaos and southerly swells of summer are expected to arrive next week.
The
Large and cleanly shaped waves, with many seconds between their crests, require very strong winds blowing for a long time in the same direction across an open stretch of sea. Ideally, for the Maverick's surf break, that fetch should begin somewhere off
Next, the storm should veer away 1,000 to 2,000 miles offshore but continue to send huge swells toward the Bay Area's coast in a vast meteorological game of crack-the-whip. If the big swell breaks on the Maverick's reef under calm winds and clear skies, it's sweet for surfers.
"During one five-day period last December," said surfer Grant Washburn, "Maverick's had three days of the biggest waves for paddle-in surfers in the entire world. Afterward, it just went flat."
This year isn't the first time conditions have given a contest the hook. After Quiksilver sponsored two events, Washburn says, the company failed to pick a time window long enough to include big wave days in the winter of 2000-01, and again in 2001-02. The current organizers have held three contests, beginning in 2004.
Washburn hopes the next contest window opens in October, rather than waiting until January.
"Surfers love riding the big waves, and they will always be out whenever the Maverick's wave is going off," he said. "If they feel like they're being treated well, there can also be an opportunity to keep a contest event going."#
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/30/BAG4NOUP7Q1.DTL
Fishing event at Los Vaqueros Reservoir open to special-needs children
Contra Costa Times – 3/30/07
The Contra Costa Water District is organizing the fishing day in conjunction with the national nonprofit organization Catch a Special Thrill (CAST) For Kids.
At the event, the children and their parents or guardians will be paired with an experienced fishing enthusiast to spend the morning fishing on the reservoir from a boat. The event starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. after a barbecue lunch and recognition ceremony.
Children with disabilities who are 7 to 18 years of age are eligible to participate in this free event.
The district is now accepting sign-ups from children and parents who want to participate. Sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis. More information and sign-up packets can be obtained by calling Gina Oltman at 925-688-8010 or e-mailing goltman@ccwater.com.#
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