The biggest surf break of the Half Moon Bay area lures surfers from around the globe. Just off the coast, a short distance outside Pillar Point Harbor, Mavericks looms large on the horizon in winter months (November through March), when the storm swell pushes the surf into some of the biggest waves in the world. These are waves that can reach 60 feet, towers of water that challenge even the most experienced riders.
How to See the Wave
The waves of Mavericks are elusive. Even during a good winter there may be only a few days with ideal conditions, and though surfers watch the weather and currents to try to predict exactly when those perfect days will materialize, it’s an inexact science, and the public rarely hears about it in advance. Professional big-wave surfers have been known to drop everything and fly across the planet when they’re tipped off to an epic day, but most of us don’t plan our getaways like that.
The surf break’s location is working against spectators as well. Roughly a half-mile offshore, you may spot the waves in the distance but the surfers will look like ants. Binoculars can help, but the best in-person viewing is usually from a boat. Fortunately, there are a number of talented videographers that brave the waves along with the surfers, so we can all enjoy that in-the-water perspective. Check out the YouTube channel of Powerline Productions for locally produced video of the break, they update frequently with the latest footage of big days.
Mavericks History
In March 1967, surfers Alex Matienzo, Jim Thompson, and Dick Notmeyer paddled out to test the distant waves off Pillar Point. With them was Maverick, Matienzo’s roommate’s dog, who was accustomed to frolicking in the water during their surf sessions. While the surfers deemed the conditions too dangerous for the dog and tied him on shore, Maverick seemed to relish the experience more than anyone else. The group honored his adventurous spirit by naming the location after him, despite their limited success surfing the peaks closer to shore and avoiding the larger, more hazardous waves further out.
In the 1970s, the legend of Mavericks began to take shape thanks to Jeff Clark, a local Half Moon Bay native who grew up watching the massive waves roll in from his high school and Pillar Point. At the time, these waves were considered unsurfable—too large, too dangerous, and too cold for anyone to attempt. But in 1975, at just 17 years old, Clark defied expectations and paddled out alone to face the formidable break. With waves reaching heights of 20–24 feet, he successfully surfed multiple left-breaking waves, making him the first documented person to conquer Mavericks.
Mavericks’ Rise to Fame
Despite Clark’s solo triumphs, the existence of Mavericks as a legitimate big-wave surf spot remained in doubt among the surfing community for years. Few believed that waves of such magnitude could exist in Northern California.
Mavericks entered the global surfing spotlight when a photo of the break, taken by Clark’s friend Steve Tadin, appeared in Surfer magazine. The image captured the immense power of the waves and ignited widespread interest in this Northern California phenomenon. Soon after, filmmaker Gary Medeiros released Waves of Adventure in the Red Triangle, further cementing Mavericks’ place in the big-wave surf world. Word spread rapidly, and the break began to attract some of the world’s most daring surfers, eager to test themselves against the formidable conditions.
Today, Mavericks is well-known in the world of big-wave surfing, its reputation forged by the determination and bravery of those early pioneers.
Live Contest (1998-2016)
A traditional big-wave contest was held at Mavericks beginning with the 1998-1999 season. The contest went by many names over the years, beginning as Men Who Ride Mountains on February 17, 1999. It was later dubbed the Mavericks Surf Contest, then Mavericks Invitational, and then Titans of Mavericks, which was the tenth and final contest on February 12, 2016.
The World Surf League acquired the rights to the contest in 2017 and planned to produce the Mavericks Challenge that year. However, the wave — itself a maverick — is nonconformist by nature and doesn’t perform on a set schedule, and the right conditions never materialized. After 3 years the contest was abandoned.
Virtual Contest (2019-present)
But the surfers always show up when the wave comes out to play, whether there’s a cash prize or not. In 2019 the Mavericks Awards were created as a video performance contest that allows big wave surfers and videographers submit their best surf content of Mavericks each season, so the celebration of the big wave continues without the logistical problems of a one-day event. The awards ceremony takes place each May in Half Moon Bay, honoring and celebrating the winners.
Other Surf Breaks in Half Moon Bay
The best break for beginner and intermediate surfers is the Half Moon Bay Jetty, also known as Surfers’ Beach. Just south of Pillar Point Harbor on Highway 1, this spot inside the lee of the jetty may be inconsistent at times, but it’s often protected from the northwest winds. Families with picnics are scattered along the sand, dogs and their humans stroll near the surf, while surfers of all stripes (boogie boards to short boards to stand-up paddleboards) test the waves.
For more advanced surfers, there are a variety of breaks up and down the 5-mile beach that spans north from Half Moon Bay, but changing surf, wind, and sandbar conditions mean scouting is in order before committing to a spot. Other experienced surfers enjoy Montara Beach when conditions are right. Check with local surf shops for their expertise.
Surf Culture and Atmosphere
Even if you’d rather soak in the surfer lifestyle without getting wet, there are plenty of opportunities. Duck in at the Old Princeton Landing, where big-wave surfers hang out after a session, and store their boards in the rafters until the next big swell. Wander into a surf shop and peruse the every-day clothing and accessory items that surfers wear in their off-hours. Hang out in the outdoor patio at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company and Sam’s Chowder House, even when the weather’s not quite perfect, to get a taste of chilling out in the saltwater-scented air. Stake out a spot at Surfers’ Beach or Mavericks Beach to watch surfers catch choice waves, or even merely enjoy being out in the water.
While surfing is about the excitement of catching a wave and being one with the ocean, it’s also about the pleasure of the coast and finding peace in the moment—far from life’s everyday stressors. Grabbing even a little bit of that peace is what coastal life is all about.
