Mavericks big wave surf contest is on
Ryan Augenstein, left, and Josh Loya compete during heat 3 of the Mavericks Surf Competition in Half Moon Bay , Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
FILE - In this file photo from Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, Ion Banner loses control on a giant wave during the Mavericks surfing contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif. As massive swells lumber across the Pacific toward Northern California, nearly two dozen of the world's best big wave surfers will be waiting to meet them Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, a half-mile offshore at the infamous surfing break Mavericks. For the first time since 2010, the Mavericks Invitational surf contest ? which requires wave faces of at least 20 feet ? will occur at the bone-crushing break that has claimed the lives of two expert big wave surfers. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
Tyler Smith, left, and Ryan Seelbach ride a wave together during heat 3 of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Anthony Tashnick competes during heat 4 of the Mavericks Surf Competition in Half Moon Bay , Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Shane Desmond, left, and Ben Wilkinson compete during heat 4 of the Mavericks Surf Competition in Half Moon Bay , Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Ryan Seelbach competes during heat 3 of the Mavericks Surf Competition in Half Moon Bay , Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Josh Loya competes during heat 3 of the Mavericks Surf Competition in Half Moon Bay , Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Alex Martins competes during heat 4 of the Mavericks Surf Competition in Half Moon Bay , Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Alex Martins competes during heat 4 of the Mavericks Surf Competition in Half Moon Bay , Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. >> With a large Pacific storm pushing large waves toward California, organizers of the big wave Mavericks surfing contest have told competitors to grab their boards and get ready.
Jeff Clark, director of the event, called the contest for Friday after forecasters determined that the right mixture of swell size and weather would make for waves with faces exceeding 40 feet.
Twenty-four of the world’s best big wave surfers now have until Friday to make their way to the break a half-mile off the coast near Half Moon Bay.
Mavericks is known as one of the world’s most perilous surfing spots.
Two seasoned watermen have died there, including legendary big-wave rider Mark Foo from Hawaii in 1994.
This year’s competitors feature local and international surfers, including former Mavericks champion Greg Long.
