What's Next Mavericks is back in business, and the world's best boarders are standing by to take their shot at the world's most wicked waves

After a two-year hiatus due to sponsorship woes, Mavericks Surf
Contest, the Super Bowl of big-wave surfing, returns for its
third season. Renowned for its terrorizing, 40-to 50-foot waves a
half mile offshore of Half Moon Bay, Calif., Mavericks will be
held sometime before March 31. When contest director Jeff
Clark--who was the first to surf Mavericks, in 1975--deems
conditions to be right, he'll give 24 of the biggest big-wave
riders--including Brock Little and Kelly Slater--24 hours to show
up. Riders will paddle out toward the violent swells, battling
not only each other but also jagged rocks, shallow reefs, frigid
waters and sharks. Mavericks is also featured in Stacy Peralta's
upcoming surf documentary, Riding Giants. The Dogtown and Z-Boys
director will showcase the film at the Sundance Film Festival on
Jan. 15 in Park City, Utah.

COLOR PHOTO: SCOTT WINER/A-FRAME BIG TIME Contest conditions at Mavericks: 50-footers.