Contest Window Opens November 1 and the Wait Begins
The official contest window for the Body Glove Mavericks Invitational presented by GoPro is set to open on November 1 and run through March 31, 2014. With as little as 24 hours notice, the international roster of invited big wave surfers is called to action when the giant waves and conditions are just right to hold the day-long contest.
To celebrate the opening of this new season, the big wave surf community will gather for the traditional Opening Ceremony and Paddle Out at the beach at Mavericks on Friday, October 25, at 2 p.m. While this is not the official contest day, it is an opportunity for the surfers and community to gather and celebrate the upcoming season.
“The Opening Ceremony is our annual ‘gathering of the tribe’ – a chance to get together before the season opens,” said Contest Director and Mavericks Pioneer Jeff Clark. “It’s a more relaxed atmosphere than contest day and gives the fans, surfers and local kids a chance to meet the competitors and join them for the ceremonial paddle out.”
The Opening Ceremony is a ritual unlike any other, and with a high surf warning this week brings added excitement for the winter season. The ceremony takes place on the beach with family, friends and the community. In the long-honored Hawaiian tradition, surfers then paddle out to the water and form a prayer circle to commemorate the event and show respect to fellow surfers and their safety, and acknowledge those who came before them.
The Opening Ceremony on the beach is open to the public and media. Following the paddle out, the surfers attend a private Athletes’ Dinner. Many will attend the after-party at Old Princeton Landing.
While there is still no set date for the contest — that is dictated by Mother Nature — fans can purchase tickets to the Viewing Festival in anticipation of the big day.
