by Dave Brown, Photos by Brian Overfelt
Editor’s note: Mavericks Invitational would not be possible without the dedication of many highly skilled individuals who support the surfers. In a series of articles, we will feature those who risk their lives to bring you Mavericks Invitational. First, we’re highlighting the Water Safety Unit.
A massive set darkens the horizon, a surfer paddles at full speed to get into position, then takes the drop on a 50-foot wall of water. The wave suddenly goes vertical and the surfer catches a rail, falls, and skips down the face. The wave sucks him over the falls, and a thunderous mass of whitewater slams him down with a million pounds of force. Shoved deep underwater and heading straight for the rocks, he tries to relax his body to conserve oxygen, as the violent water tosses him like a rag doll.
The surfer pops to the surface in a cauldron of whitewash and finds another set wave crashing and slamming underwater again for his second wave hold down. He frantically climbs his leash toward the light in a race for a simple breath of air.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a jet ski sweeps in. With a swift and careful action, the pilot pulls him onto the rescue sled only a few feet in front of an oncoming wall of whitewater. The pilot speeds off to the safety of the deep water channel and, if needed, immediate medical support.
Scenes like this play out at Mavericks and other big wave spots around the world. Every time a surfer drops in, he is risking his life.
After Mark Foo’s tragic death at Mavericks in 1994, Jeff Clark saw the need for additional safety and created the first Mavericks Water Patrol, a big-wave water safety team dedicated to the surfers. Jeff’s vision continues at the contest with the addition of the Big Wave World Tour (BWWT) Water Safety Unit.
The members of the BWWT Water Safety Unit have trained for the most dangerous of days. Without this skilled team, big-wave events would not be possible. Every rescue situation requires quick thinking and adjusting to rapidly changing situations.
Directed by Scott Eggers, the team is the official water safety crew for Mavericks and all other BWWT events and is there to make sure the surfers have the support they need.
“The guys on my team are 100 percent dedicated to athlete’s safety. Our job is to make the competition safer and to protect the surfers,” Eggers says. “But we are behind the scenes. We’re not riding in the rodeo, we’re the rodeo clowns. Our job is to make sure everyone is safe.”
Team members are experienced surfers who obtain a specific skill set to rescue in big-wave situations. They are taught big-wave-specific personal watercraft (PWC) techniques, CPR, first aid, and other first-responder skills, following the precedent of the Hawaiian life guards and water patrol teams.
In the words of past Mavericks champion Greg Long, “Even as specially-trained big-wave surfers, we can only train so much for all the possible risks we subject ourselves to in the water. At some point, we are simply at the mercy of the ocean, and we must rely on the skills of the dedicated professionals who keep an eye on us. They often don’t receive the credit they deserve.”
In addition to working the Mavericks Invitational, many of the members have been hired on other big-wave events, including Todos Santos (Mexico), Nelscott Reef (Oregon), Pico Alto (Peru), and Punta de Lobos (Chile).
The BWWT Water Safety Unit is made up of a water assist team, water rescue team, and shuttle team. The water assist and rescue team are responsible for recovering a surfer after a wipeout (if needed) and getting him safely to the channel, where he is left at a specific point and must paddle back to the lineup from there. The shuttle team makes sure photographers, surfers and officials are safely transported to and from the harbor and the channel. All of this is coordinated with the Contest Director, the Coast Guard and San Mateo County Harbor District water team.
This year’s core BWWT Water Safety Unit includes the following watermen:
Scott Eggers of Half Moon Bay, CA. BWWT Water Operations Manager, 10 years water safety experience
Jeff Kafka of Pacifica, CA. Water Assist Team Lead, 20 years experience
Tom Murach of San Francisco, CA. Water Assist Team Member. 10 years experience.
Ryan Hargrave of Encinitas, CA. Rescue Team Member, certified lifeguard and emergency medical technician (EMT)
Chad Cox of Oceanside, CA. Rescue Team Member, Oceanside Fire Department Paramedic
Craig Miller of Solona Beach, CA. Rescue Team Member, Captain of Solona Beach Lifeguards