Mavericks big-wave surfing contest begins, but where are the women?
Ken Collins, left, and Chris Bertish surf a giant wave during the second heat of the Mavericks surfing contest Friday.
The Titans of Mavericks big-wave surfing competition is underway in Northern California, but it comes amid a debate over whether more women should be involved in the event.
Waves of up to 16 feet are expected -- big, but not as huge as the 30-foot waves sometimes seen in the area.
It’s a one-day, invitation-only competition held at the legendary Mavericks surf break near Half Moon Bay, about 20 miles south of San Francisco.
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There has been some discussion about how to include more women in the event, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Debbi Baker reports:
“Missing from the list of elite athletes who will hit the water today are the names of any women, and it has been that way since the first contest was held in 1999.
“Now the Coastal Commission has said that must change. In a vote taken last November, the state agency decided it would require contest founder Jeff Clark to create a plan to include women in future events.”
Read more on the controversy here.
Here’s where to watch the competition.
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