For other uses of the word, see: Maverick.
Maverick's or Mavericks is a world-famous surfing location in Northern California. It is located approximately one-half mile (0.8km) from shore in Pillar Point Harbor, just north of Half Moon Bay. After a strong winter storm has occurred in the northern Pacific Ocean, waves can routinely crest at over 25 feet (8m) and top out at over 50 feet (15m). The break is caused by an unusually-shaped underwater rock formation.
Mavericks is a destination for some of the world's premier big wave surfers. Very few riders become big wave surfers; and of those, only a select few are willing to risk the hazardous conditions at Maverick's. An invitation-only contest is held there every few winters, depending on wave conditions.
In early March of 1961, three surfers, Alex Matienzo, Jim Thompson, and Dick Knottmeyer, decided to try the distant waves off Pillar Point. With them was a white-haired german shepherd named Maverick, owned by a roommate of Matienzo. Maverick was used to swimming out with his owner, or with Matienzo, while they were out surfing.
The trio left Maverick on shore, but he swam out and caught up with them. Finding the conditions too unsafe for the dog, Matienzo paddled back in and tied Maverick to the car bumper, before rejoining the others. The riders had limited success that day, surfing the tail end of the break and generally deeming the conditions too dangerous.
They decided to name the point after Maverick, who seemed to have gotten the most out of the experience. It became known as "Maverick's Point", and later simply "Maverick's".
Jeff Clark, growing up near Pillar Point, learned about Maverick's at an early age, that it was too dangerous to surf. He spent time watching the break, and saw the possibility of riding Hawaii-sized waves right there in Northern California. One day in 1975, with the waves topping out at 10 to 12 feet, the safest conditions possible for trying out the surf, Clark paddled out alone to face Maverick's. He was successful, catching a number of left-breaking waves, the first person to tackle Maverick's head-on.
