The Titans of Mavericks surfing contest should have been held last weekend, but there was some other sporting event in Northern California made that untenable.
Via the San Jose Mercury News:
“They called it too early,” [lifeguard Peter] Lundgard said of Titans’ organizers. “But once they call it they kind of have to go.”
Surfers said the best day happened last week, but was not held because of security conflicts with the Super Bowl.
Or as Lundgard said, “The stupid Super Bowl got in the way.”
Despite the smaller waves, Santa Cruz native Nic Lamb won the contest, beating out Travis Payne in the final. Payne was an alternate for the contest and was only able to participate because another contestant withdrew at the last minute.
The event was marred a bit by surfer Ken Collins’ near-disaster. Collins almost drowned after being crushed with a 30-foot wave and was forced to withdraw.
Left ear issue for Ken Collins obviously: pic.twitter.com/76wNB4AaOf
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 12, 2016
From the Mercury News:
“It felt like the whole ocean landed on me,” he said from the dock at Pillar Point Harbor.
“It blew my eardrum wide open.”
Collins, one of Santa Cruz’s most experienced big-wave surfers, fell on a steep wave and was pushed to the rocky bottom of the break a half a mile off of Pillar Point. Officials said Collins ruptured an eardrum.…
Collins was pulled under water twice before getting rescued. He pulled his inflatable vest to get to the surface. If not for the safety vest, Collins said, he would have drowned.
“It was the most scariest thing that I’ve ever done,” Collins added. “I’ve never been so disoriented.”
Friday marked the 10th edition of the Mavericks contest, which started in 1999 but has not been held every year since. The event is only held on days with optimal waves, making it particularly disappointing that the Super Bowl coincided with perfect surfing conditions last weekend.
