Caption: The WSL BWT Mavericks Challenge competition window will open on January 3, 2018. 
Credit: Braino

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HALF MOON BAY, California/USA (Thursday, December 14, 2017) - The World Surf League (WSL) is pleased to announce the official competition window of the Mavericks Challenge will run from January 3, 2018 through February 28, 2018. Following coordination with the governmental agencies involved with the production of the event and having now received approval of the Mavericks Challenge event plan by the California Coastal Commission, the WSL is excited to be able to open the window for the event immediately following the holiday blackout dates. 

“We are thrilled to open the competition window for the Mavericks Challenge,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO. “Mavericks is a special location that adds a new level to the Big Wave Tour schedule. Hosting the women’s event at Mavericks was always a priority for us when we acquired the event. We are excited and ready to bring the Mavericks Challenge to the international stage for our fans to enjoy.“

The WSL’s acquisition of the permit for the contest was finalized in October following an agreement with Titans of Mavericks and Cartel Management, in which the world-famous Mavericks in Northern California will join WSL Big Wave Tour through 2021. Surfing competitions have run under various structures at Mavericks since 1999 and the event last ran in 2016, won by Nic Lamb (USA).

“Mavericks is the crown jewel of Big Wave surfing and the tour,” said Lamb. “It’s the only California big wave venue on the tour and perhaps the most feared. I'm excited at the direction we're headed. It was only a matter of time for the women. I couldn't be more excited to watch those heats and I'll definitely be front row glued to the action.”

The Mavericks Challenge will form part of the 2017/18 BWT Northern Hemisphere Season. The men’s division will consist of a 24-man field, comprised of the Top 10 finishers of the 2016/2017 BWT season, 6 event wildcards, 3 BWT wildcards, 1 injury wildcard, and the Top 4 Surfline Overall Performance of the Year Award recipients. The 6 event wildcards for the Mavericks Challenge will be selected by a committee made up of Mavericks legends and experts. 

“Having the addition of the Mavericks event on the Big Wave Tour is a huge thing for the men and women,” said Paige Alms (HAW), 2017 Pe’ahi Challenge winner and 2016 Women’s Big Wave Champion. “It's going to be an amazing opportunity to see another big wave spot, one of the best in the world, and have an empty lineup with the best surfers, best conditions and the best waves. Mavericks is a really perfect wave and one of the most powerful big waves in the world. With the inclusion of Mavericks as a part of the tour, I think fans will be seeing some of the best big waves ridden, hopefully the conditions are just all-time. We will see some of the best waves ridden there and also some of the most heavy wipeouts, people really like to push themselves over the ledge there."

The world's best female big wave surfers will also have the opportunity to compete at Mavericks this upcoming season for the first time ever. The WSL Commissioner's Office has worked with a local committee made up of Mavericks surfing icons to select six of the best female big wave surfers. The committee considered performance results from the 2016 WSL Big Wave Awards, experience surfing at Mavericks, and overall big wave experience at all big wave locations around the world.

“The addition of Mavericks on this year’s Big Wave Tour will ensure that the tour has the three most challenging big waves on the planet with Peahi, Nazaré and now Mavericks,” said Mike Parsons, WSL BWT Commissioner. “Mavericks is the most challenging big wave on the west coast and is unique in how intense and steep the takeoff is. The event will undoubtedly challenge the world's best men and female surfers like no other wave. This will be a fantastic moment for women’s big wave surfing. The best female big wave surfers will get to showcase their skills on the heaviest wave on the west coast.” 

The 2017/2018 WSL Big Wave Tour has completed its first two events of the season with Kai Lenny (HAW) winning the Puerto Escondido Challenge in Mexico and Ian Walsh (HAW) and Paige Alms (HAW) taking out the Pe’ahi Challenge. 

Formed in 2009, the Big Wave Tour joined the WSL in 2014, producing historic performances at never-before-contested venues such as Nazaré in Portugal and Pe'ahi on Maui's North Shore. Monitoring swell systems and weather patterns throughout the season, the Big Wave Tour only runs events when surf reaches the 30-foot-plus mark, mobilizing on 72 hours' notice with an international field of Big Wave men's and women's athletes.

For more information, check out WorldSurfLeague.com. 

2017/18 BWT Men’s Mavericks Challenge Competitors:

WSL Big Wave Tour Top Ten Seeds
Grant Baker
Pedro Calado
Greg Long
Jamie Mitchell
Billy Kemper
Nic Lamb
Will Skudin
João De Macedo
Cristian Merello
Kai Lenny

Injury Wildcard
Makuakai Rothman

BWA Performer of the Year Qualifiers
Lucas Chianca
Francisco Porcella
Tom Lowe
Peter Mel

Mavericks Event Invitees
Travis Payne
Tyler Fox
Anthony Tashnick
Ben Andrews
Jason Stark
Pat Shaughnessy

WSL Big Wave Tour Invitees
Three to be selected on Green Light

BWA Performer of the Year Invitee Alternates
Nathan Florence
Alex Botelho
Jojo Roper

Mavericks Event Invitee Alternates
Ben Wilkinson
Nathan Fletcher 
Ryan Seelbach
Matt Becker
Colin Dwyer
Luca Padua


2017/18 BWT Women’s Mavericks Challenge Competitors:

Invitees: 
Paige Alms
Keala Kennelly
Justine Dupont
Bianca Valenti
Sarah Gerhardt
Emily Erickson

Alternates:
Jamilah Star
Andrea Moller
Wrenna Delgado