Half Moon Bay is always in the news around this time of year, what with all those giant gourds demanding attention.
But the past few days and going into this weekend, the area has been drawing scrutiny for some big waves, literally and figuratively: The world's top surfers could convene at HMB for the Mavericks' contest, which might be as early as Friday. And last week Silicon Valley venture capitalist Vinod Khosla won a round in his controversial fight to block the public from walking or driving to Martins Beach, just south of Half Moon Bay. Before Khosla purchased the property in 2008, the beach had been popular with surfers, fishermen and picnickers for decades.
The 2013-14 Body Glove Mavericks Invitational, held about a half-mile off Pillar Point, takes place when waves higher than 30 feet break at regular intervals, with good visibility and low winds. But all those conditions must be met, so even though the contest window opens Nov. 1, it could be months before the contest happens (the window closes March 31).
Among the two-dozen elite competitors expected to attend is Brazilian Carlos Burle, who on Monday was reported to have possibly surfed the world's biggest wave off the coast of Portugal. Preliminary estimates put his wave at about 100 feet. (The current record is a 78-foot wave surfed in 2011, also off the coast of Portugal.) Other surfers at Mavericks this year include 2012-13 Mavericks winner Peter Mel, of Santa Cruz, and 2009-10 winner Chris Bertish, of South Africa.
Speaking of surfers, San Mateo County Superior Court Gerald Buchwald ruled against a group of surfers called Friends of Martin’s Beach, in Khosla's favor, saying that the history of the property as a mid-19th century land grant predates the creation of the state of California, and preempts the California Constitution.