1963

Alex Matienzo, Jim Thompson and Dick Knottmeyer surfed off Pillar Point, which was the only spot protected from northwest wind. They surfed inside the rocks about 100 yards off the beach on mellow long board waves that rolled onto the shore. They named the spot after Matienzo's roommate's German Shepherd, Maverick, who would swim out to them each time they went out. The crew would eventually take him back to the beach and tie him up on the fender of their car, at a time when cars could drive out to the point, to keep him out of the water.

1968

First time Jeff Clark surfed "Mavericks" as it was then known then, inside the reef within 100 yards of shore. He was with Walt Von Hoffe, his little league sponsor, and friends. It was the same spot that Alex named after the dog, Maverick. In this same spot Jeff would eventually teach his children, Katrina, Kevin and Kaila, to surf.

1970

Jeff shaped his first board. Ray Pinochi, Jack Shipley and Ryan Dotson who worked at Surfline in Hawaii were in town, and they helped him fiberglass and finish the board. It was the birth of his shaping career.

1975

Jeff’s first solo session at Mavericks; he was 17 years old and a senior at Half Moon Bay High School. Thus began his lifetime obsession with this magical wave, what he referred to as his "sanctuary." Years later Alex Matienzo came into Jeff’s surf shop and asked why he called his surf shop Mavericks. Jeff told him that his little league coach called the spot inside the reef Mavericks, and he had called it Mavericks since he was 10 years old. Alex told Jeff, “You’re the reason they still call it Mavericks.”Later, Alex presented Jeff with a painting of the big waves on the outer reef, with an image of the dog Maverick.

1984

Jeff was the first to windsurf Mavericks making it his personal playground to surf-sail during the mid 80’s. 

1985

Eventually, Jeff talked a few friends into paddling out with him to watch. Jeff Kayes, Jim Dale, Jerry Hogan, Keith Delari, Heather Brown Dent, Mark Harrington and John Dale sat in the channel and watched Jeff brave the massive waves. Despite his attempts to get others to join him, Jeff surfed Mavericks alone for 15 years. On one massive day, Keith Delari, Heather Brown Dent and Jeff paddled the long route from Ross’s Cove to the outer reef. Feeling confident, Keith and Jeff tried to catch a wave on their 6’4" surfboards but were thoroughly smashed—Mavericks would not be tamed. And certainly not without a big wave gun. 

1986

After years of creating surfboards and long-curve windsurfing race boards, Jeff took his shaping skills to the next level and started building big wave guns specifically for Mavericks. Thus began his lifelong passion to create and build surfboards for big wave surfing, with unique innovations to take on the characteristics and size of Mavericks.

JANUARY 22, 1990

Jeff Clark convinced Santa Cruz surfers Tom Powers and Dave Schmidt to paddle out at Mavericks on the biggest day he had seen. Dave and Tom caught their first waves at Mavericks that day and returned to Santa Cruz with stories of the most perfect big wave they had ever seen, and everything changed—Mavericks was no longer a myth.

WINTER 1990

The next season, everyone who was or wanted to be a big wave rider came to Mavericks: the Santa Cruz contingent (Tom Powers, Richard Schmidt, Dave Schmidt, Vince Collier, Bud Miller, Vince Broglio, Nacho Lopez, Shawn Barron, Marcel Soros, Rick “Frosty” Hesson, and Anthony Ruffo); the Ocean Beach crew (Dr. Mark Renneker, John Raymond and Grant Washburn); the guys from Pacifica (Jim Kibblewhite, Shawn Rhodes, Matt Ambrose, Greg Savin, Brent Heckerman, and Rod Walsh); plus some local Half Moon Bay boys (Jim Tjogas, Darren Bingham, Alan Nelson, Tony Canadas, Mike Kimsey and Ion Banner).

1991

Steve Tadin took the first published photo of Jeff Clark surfing Mavericks, which appeared in Surfer Magazine.

1992

Photographers Bob Barbour, Don Montgomery, Lawrence Beck and Doug Acton came onto the scene and Mavericks went from anonymity to the pages of Surfer, Surfers Journal and Surfing Magazine.

JANUARY 1, 1992

Videographer Gary Mederios released the first Mavericks film, Waves of Adventure in the Red Triangle. Other filmmakers followed including Grant Washburn, Steve Spaulding, Eric Nelson, Dave Alexander, Pete Baranzon and Curt Meyers. The publicity inspired more surfers to attempt Mavericks, including Frosty's protégé Jay Moriarty, Darryl “Flea” Virostko, Peter Mel, Zack and Jake Wormhoudt, and more Santa Cruz kids. While Peter Davi, Don Curry and Armond trekked up from Carmel to take their chances.

1994

Jeff Clark named by Surfer Magazine as one of the “world’s best big wave riders”

WINTER 1994

Big wave charger Ken Bradshaw journeyed from Hawaii to Mavericks after he kept getting orders from "Doc" Renneker for his Waimea big wave guns and had to find out for himself what was causing so many of them to break

1994

16-year-old Jay Moriarity surfed Mavericks. Jeff watched his first session and noticed he had great instincts and skill. The week of December 24th brought a massive swell, and Jay paddled right into the bowl attempting a bomb of a wave. The bottom dropped out and it became the most famous wipeout ever at Mavericks. The iron cross photo made the cover of Surfer Magazine and the New York Times. His life was later depicted in the Holywood film Chasing Mavericks.

DECEMBER 23, 1994

Mark Foo, Ken Bradshaw and Brock Little came from Hawaii to surf Mavericks while Mike Parsons and Evan Slater traveled from Southern California. This amazing convergence of big wave surfers ended most tragically: Mark Foo had drowned while surfing at Mavericks. Shaken by this devastating loss, Jeff Clark gathered a few friends started the Mavericks Water Patrol.

1997

Jeff Clark was honored to be invited to compete in the Eddie Aikau/Quiksilver big wave contest in Hawaii.

1998

Planning began for the first-ever contest at Mavericks, with Quiksilver as the presenting sponsor.

FEBRUARY 17, 1998

The inaugural Men Who Ride Mountains contest went off at Mavericks in 15-foot surf after a morning of fog. The waves weren't as big as hoped for, but the sets were intense. Winners: 1^st Flea (CA), 2^nd Richard Schmidt (CA), 3^rd Ross Clarke-Jones (AU), 4^th Peter Mel (CA).

FEBRUARY 26, 1999

Female surfer Sarah Gerhardt breaks the gender barrier and becomes the first woman to surf Mavericks, earning her a spot on the alternates list for the next year's contest at Mavericks.

MARCH 3, 1999

The second Men Who Ride Mountains contest took place amidst clear skies and 20-foot waves, with female big wave surfer Sarah Gerhardt on the invitee list as an alternate to compete with the men. The competitors said they had never seen so many 20-foot waves in one day. Winners: 1^st Darryl "Flea" Virostko (CA), 2^nd Kelly Slater (FL), 3^rd Tony Ray (AU), 4^th Peter Mel (CA), 5^th Zach Wormhoudt (CA), 6^th Matt Ambrose (CA). 

FEBRUARY 7, 2004

After a four year hiatus, the third Mavericks Surf Contest took place and trophies were handed to: 1^st Flea (CA) (third consecutive year), 2^nd Matt Ambrose (CA), 3^rd Evan Slater (CA), 4^th Anthony Tashnick (CA), 5^th Peter Mel (CA), 6^th Grant Washburn (CA).

MARCH 2, 2005

The fourth Mavericks Surf Contest was again dominated by Californians: 1^st Anthony Tashnick (CA), 2^nd Greg Long (CA), 3rd Tyler Smith (CA), 4^th Zach Wormhoudt (CA) 5^th Shane Desmond (CA), 6^th Matt Ambrose (CA).

FEBRUARY 8, 2006

The fifth Mavericks Surf Contest saw a dominance of California surfers but it was Grant "Twiggy" Baker of South Africa who took first place, Tyler Smith (Santa Cruz, CA) in 2nd, Brock Little of Hawaii in 3rd, Matt Ambrose (Pacifica, CA) in 4th, Grant Washburn (San Francisco, CA) in 5th and Evan Slater (San Clemente, CA) in 6th..

JANUARY 12, 2008

After a year hiatus that saw no contest-worthy conditions, the waves finally materialized for the sixth Mavericks Surf Contest. Winners: 1^st Greg Long (CA), 2^nd Twiggy (ZA), 3^rd Jamie Sterling (HI), 4^th Tyler Smith (CA), 5^th Grant Washburn (CA), 6^th Evan Slater (CA). 

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

During the seventh Mavericks Surf Contest, the swell direction and size converged putting so much pressure on the beach that three sets came over the harbor wall and into the harbor. The final set was the biggest and a massive wall of water plowed through the viewing area causing several major injuries, knocking down the awards stage, and the Sherriff Deputies cleared the beach. This was the last time the public was allowed to view the contest from the beach. Since that time, beach and cliff erosion has been so extensive that there is no safe viewing area from land. Contest winners: 1^st Chris Bertish (ZA), 2^nd Shane Desmond (CA), 3^rd Anthony Tashnick (CA), 4^th Dave Wessel (HI), 5^th Carlos Burle (Br), 6^th Kenny “Skindog” Collins (CA).

THE EVOLUTION OF MAVERICKS

MARCH 16, 2011

Big wave surfer Sion Milosky of Kauai tragically drowned after a two-wave hold down at Mavericks. This was another devastating loss for the surf community. A ban of personal watercraft, including jetskis, at Mavericks and throughout the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, had led to the end of the Mavericks Water Patrol except by permit on contest day.

OCTOBER 25, 2012

The first major motion picture about Mavericks was released. While many independent films have been made about Mavericks (i.e., Riding Giants and films by local filmmakers with Powerline Productions), Chasing Mavericks starring Gerard Butler and Johnny Westin chronicles Jay Moriarity’s and Frosty’s relationship and Jay’s quest to conquer Mavericks. Jeff was a Technical Advisor on the film and drove a camera boat during the filming. He worked with the late Brock Little and Sonny Miller as well as renowned water photographer Mike Prickett. The movie, while not historically accurate, captured the spirit and stoke of Jay Moriarity and catapulted Mavericks' fame.

JANUARY 20, 2013

After waiting two years for the perfect conditions, the newly reformed Mavericks Invitational did not disappoint. In an unselfish act before the final horn sounded, all six finalists joined hands in the water and agreed to split the prize money “as a brotherhood.” Winners: 1^st Peter Mel (CA), 2^nd Zach Wormhoudt (CA), 3^rd Greg Long (CA), 4^th Alex Martins (Br), 5^th Mark Healey (HI), 6^th Shawn Dollar (CA).

2014

The "Committee 5" was formed consisting of five prestigious big wave riders (Jeff Clark, Daryl “Flea” Virostko, Matt Ambrose, Shawn Rhodes and Ion Banner). The Committee 5 is responsible for judge selection, contest criteria, rules and regulations, athlete selection, and when to make "the call" to hold the contest. 

JANUARY 24, 2014

The ninth Mavericks Invitational took place under sunny skies and perfect conditions. Winners: 1^st Twiggy (ZA), 2^nd Shane Dorian (HI), 3^rd Ryan Augenstein (CA), 4^th Tyler Fox (CA), 5^th Greg Long (CA), 6^th Anthony Tashnick (CA).

FEBRUARY 12, 2016

The 10th showing of the contest came with new partners, a completely rebranded event and after a year of no contest-worthy waves. The contest took place during an El Niño winter and over a spectacular swell. Winners: 1^st Nic Lamb (CA), 2^nd Travis Payne (CA), 3^rd Greg Long (CA), 4^th Tyler Fox (CA), 5^th Jaime Mitchell (AU), 6^th Carlos Burle (Br). The success of the re-brand and partners was short-lived, and soon the contest changed hands again.

2017-19

The World Surf League, always looking to add more to their quiver of events, acquired the rights to the permit and contest at Mavericks. Since that time, no event has taken place at the break, yet the allure of the beast continues to draw men and women from all over the world. The waves are best viewed on non-contest days, when the waves are breaking and hundreds flock to test their skills, and the beaches and bluffs are open to the public (these areas are closed on contest days due to the significant danger of large crowds on a tiny to non-existent beach and eroding cliffs during a high surf advisory).