'Biggest mavs ever!': Epic Calif. swell delivers historic surfing conditions

[usonian]

Last edited Wed Jan 1, 2025, 11:00 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/massive-calif-swell-delivers-day-days-19999962.php

By Lester Black, Cannabis editor
Dec 24, 2024

The massive swell that pummeled California’s coast Monday brought destruction and death, but it also created one of the best surf days in the history of Mavericks, the most famous big-wave surf spot in Northern California.

Frank Quirarte, a member of Mavericks Rescue with 30 years of experience at the legendary surf spot, told SFGATE it was one of the best days he has ever seen at Mavericks and estimated the waves reached over 60 feet at times.

“Today was the day of days,” said Quirarte. “It was raw, gnarly, just crazy Mavericks. It’s everything you would expect Mavericks to feel: Not sunny, not inviting.”


Monday’s swell attracted professional surfers from around the world along with local big-wave talent such as Luca Padua and Alo Slebir, who caught a barreling wave so massive, it left longtime Mavericks surfer Peter Mel commenting on Instagram that it was “the biggest mavs ever!”

Alo Slebir surfs a large wave at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Dec. 23, 2024.
Frank Quirarte


Alo Slebir surfs a large wave at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Dec. 23, 2024.
Frank Quirarte


Ryan Augenstein surfs a large wave at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Dec. 23, 2024.
Frank Quirarte


Lucas Fink surfs a large wave at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Dec. 23, 2024.
Frank Quirarte


Ryan Augenstein surfs a large wave at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Dec. 23, 2024.
Frank Quirarte



Matt Etxebarne Aguirregomezkorta foil surfs at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Dec. 23, 2024.
Frank Quirarte




Edit to add:
Credit to SfGate for the photos
I had to convert webp to jpeg for each one
So, getting the credits lined up with the photos was a chore.
But worth it. I think I got it right.
The photos and photographers are awesome.

But see the article anyway.

[2naSalit]

1. Dayum...

That's the last thing I'd be doing in waves like that!

[surfered]

2. That surf is over my head and it's cold water with rocks

[RockRaven]

3. It is being reported that one wave, which was surfed BTW, was 108 ft.

For those not familiar, especially large waves happen at Mavericks (but not everywhere nearby experiencing the same weather and sea conditions) because of the particular shape of the sea floor there. These giant waves break about 1/4 mile from shore.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavericks,_California

[SunSeeker]

9. Yes, the 108' wave was ridden by a Santa Cruz local, 23 year old Alo Slebir!

He may have set a new world record!
https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/santa-cruz-surfer-rode-potential-world-record-wave-20008890.php

[waterwatcher123]

4. Great pictures - huge waves.

[highplainsdem]

5. Wow. Incredible photos, especially that first one.

Thanks for taking the time to post these!

[usonian]

6. An artist suffers for his work

Quoth: The Soup Nazi or Michael Richards

Both have "problems"
You probably know about Michael Richards' racist outburst.

The "original" Soupman: (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Original_Soupman

In a profile of Yeganeh and Soup Kitchen International published in The New Yorker in 1989, both the small restaurant's popularity and Yeganeh's obsessive focus on his customers' behavior were noted.[4] Yeganeh was quoted in the article as saying "I tell you, I hate to work with the public. They treat me like a slave. My philosophy is: The customer is always wrong and I’m always right."[4] Yeganeh explained his strict philosophy about customer behavior by noting that, "Whoever follows [my rules] I treat very well. My regular customers don’t say anything. They are very intelligent and well educated. They know I’m just trying to move the line."[4] However, the writer noted that customers who stalled or complained would be bypassed, and quoted one person in line as advising others, "Just don’t talk. Do what he says."[4]

The titular character, also called Yev Kessem, was played by actor Larry Thomas.

[Woodycall]

7. Like, totally tubular man!

If everybody had an ocean, across the USA...

[StarryNite]

8. Wow!

Spectacular!

[SunSeeker]

10. Monster waves!

The guts, and athleticism, it must take to ride those!

[bluboid]

11. omg, brilliant!!!

[Cheezoholic]

12. That's the lead "wave" lol, of the system that could bring up to a foot of snow across the plains and Ohio Valley

They get to surf in it we get to sled in it lol.