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In this Feb. 13, 2010 file photo, Ion Banner loses control on a giant wave during the first heat of the Mavericks surfing contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif. The cold water and stories high surf at the big, treacherous surf break called Mavericks in Northern California have made it a Mt. Everest-like conquest for some surfers. And like Everest, Mavericks has claimed its share of lives: whether it be legendary big wave watermen or less experienced surfers seeking to make a name for themselves. And more keep coming. -
Ryan Seelbach surfs a giant wave during the Mavericks surf contest Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. -
Surfers leave the water following the paddle out and prayer circle that was part of the opening ceremony for the 2012 Mavericks Invitational held at Mavericks Beach in Half Moon Bay, Calif. on Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. The window to hold the big wave surf contest runs from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2012. The ceremony included words from local dignitaries as well as a traditional ceremonial paddle out and prayer. -
The traditional prayer circle is formed by surfers during the opening ceremony for the 2012 Mavericks Invitational held at Mavericks Beach in Half Moon Bay, Calif. on Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. The window to hold the big wave surf contest runs from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2012. The ceremony included words from local dignitaries as well as a traditional ceremonial paddle out and prayer. -
Bystanders scramble as a rogue wave washes over the beach during the Mavericks Surfing Contest on Saturday Feb. 13, 2009 in Pillar Point, Calif. ( -
Competitors enter the water to paddle out and form a prayer circle during opening ceremonies for the 2009 Mavericks Surf Contest off Pillar Point on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009 in Princeton by the Sea, Calif. -
Ryan Seelbach, left, drops down a giant wave as Evan Slater, right, wipes out during the semi-finals of the Mavericks surf contest Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. -
Tyler Smith rides, in red, rides a big wave during the Mavericks Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006. -
Ion Banner, front, and Shane Desmond share a wave during the first heat of the Mavericks Surf Competition, Wednesday, March 2, 2005, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. -
Evan Slater jumps off his board, right, as Anthony Tashnick, left, hangs on during the semifinal heat of the Mavericks Surf Competition, Wednesday, March 2, 2005, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. -
Anthony Tashnick of Santa Cruz, Calif., rides a wave during the big wave contest at the Mavericks surf spot in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Friday, Feb. 27, 2004. -
Ken Collins rides a wave during the Mavericks Surf Contest on Friday, Feb. 27, 2004, at Half Moon Bay, Calif. -
Support boats and water vehicles sit in the channel as a wave rolls during a big wave surfing contest at the Mavericks surf spot near Half Moon Bay, Calif., Friday, Feb. 27, 2004. The disappointing waves barely approached 20 feet, compared with the 40 and 50-foot waves the once-secret spot has been known to generate. -
Zak Wormhoundt of Santa Cruz, Calif., wipes out on a wave during the Mavericks Surf Contest on Friday, Feb. 27, 2004, at Half Moon Bay, Calif. -
Matt Ambrose surfs through the curl of a wave face during the final round of the Mavericks Surfing Competition at Half Moon Bay on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. -
Surfing fans line the tide pools among thousands of people who showed up to get a glimpse of the Mavericks Surfing Competition at Half Moon Bay on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. -
Mavericks surfers share a wave in the semi-final round of the competition at Half Moon Bay on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. -
A surfer's shadow is reflected on a wave face in the afternoon sun during the semi-final round of the Mavericks Surfing Competition at Half Moon Bay on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. -
Ryan Augenstein, Santa Cruz, takes a nose dive early in the Mavericks Surfing Competition at Half Moon Bay on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. -
Grant Washburn rides down the face of a wave into a 5th place finish during the Mavericks Surfing Competition at Half Moon Bay on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. Washburn has riden Mavericks more often than anyone else on the contest list. -
Surfers join hands in a moment of silence while blessing the waves a half a mile out in the Pacific Ocean at Mavericks Beach in Half Moon Bay on Saturday, January 7, 2006. The symbolic show of respect is a tradition kicking off the opening ceremony of the Mavericks Surf Contest. -
Mavericks Surf Contest competitor Grant Washburn, center, talks with fellow surfers during the opening ceremony at Half Moon Bay on Saturday, January 7, 2006. -
Waves continue to inundate the area inside a jetty, the site of a mishap where some surfing fans were injured when large waves knocked into spectators, at the Maverick's Surf Contest, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Surfer Bart Miller, center, was not a contestant. -
A contestant drops into a big wave at the Mavericks Surf Contest, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 in Half Moon Bay, Calif. -
A contestant gets below a wall of water at the Maverick's Surf Contest, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
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