Biggest waves in 10 years: Photos & vids of surf icons riding the 50-foot monsters at Mavericks

Get an up-close look at the epic action happening out on the coast. Peter Mel navigates a monster wave during the epic session at Mavericks on December 8, 2020. (Photo by Euan Rannachan/Euanart) As you’ve probably already heard, it’s been a big season at Mavericks this year. And by “big,” we mean epic, monstrous and kinda scary. Kai Lenny goes under the rainbow at Mavericks, on December 8, 2020. (Photo by Euan Rannachan/Euanart) Yes, ...

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They killed Surfer Magazine. Steve Hawk thinks it will live again.

The former Surfer editor and fixture of the Coastside surf scene discusses the iconic magazine’s 60 year run (and the void it will now leave behind). A variety of Surfer Magazine covers from throughout its 60-year run. (Images via Surfer.com) Steve Hawk began his editorial tenure as the “token surfer” in each of the newsrooms he frequented. And rightfully so. Though his day job was writing copy, Hawk still spent much of his ...

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Mavericks, Stormsurf and the fine art of predicting a monster wave

How a local surfer with a tech background created a global go-to for predicting swells The Mavericks Wave, near Pillar Point Harbor in El Granda. (Courtesy of Powerlines Productions) By August Howell This is the time of year when Mark Sponsler’s phone starts ringing and his website numbers begin climbing. “It’s really interesting. You watch the traffic on the website go from really sleepy during the summer to instantly, beginning around mid-August, start to ...

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Meet the youngest person to ever surf the Mavericks big wave break

Half Moon Bay High School student Luca Padua just found out he’s competing on California’s biggest wave. But first, he has to finish English class. Everything is swell: El Granada teenager (and official Mavericks alternate) Luca Padua surfing the famous Northern California break, this past autumn. (Photo by Tony Canadas) Luca Padua was recently sitting in English class at Half Moon Bay High School when he received a text from a friend congratulating him ...

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Realizing your Renaissance: six skills to learn today in the 650

Sous-vide steak seared with a blow torch. Techniques via Bold Food. Photo courtesy of Michelle Le. Being a Renaissance woman/man ain’t easy. One must always be acquiring new skills. Lucky for you, we did a bit of asking around. From cooking to golfing to shooting a gun, we found the top instructors and programs in the 650 for you to pick up a new skill or two. 1. Break 100 Feeling left out of those corporate ...

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