Surfing Mavericks

SI Staff | Dec 22, 2014

Surfing Mavericks

The waves at Mavericks ranged between 35- and 45-feet in height.

Garrett McNamara (right) rides Mavericks.

Jamie Mitchell

Ken "Skindog" Collins

Nic Vaughn

Shaun Walsh

Nic Lamb

More than 65 of the world's top big wave surfers descended on Half Moon Bay, Calif., to ride the fabled Mavericks big wave. Very few riders become big wave surfers; and of those, only a select few are willing to risk the hazardous, sometimes deadly conditions at Mavericks.

Garrett McNamara

Jamie Mitchell has a laugh after riding Mavericks and breaking three boards on the day.

Pillar Point Harbor, the departure point to get out to Mavericks Surf break.

Koa Rothman and a crew of Big Wave Surfers from Hawaii on the way out of Pillar Point Harbor.