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The 20-year-old Santa Cruz surfer had just won $25,000 in Wednesday?s Maverick?s Surf Contest, and seemed to be on top of the world.
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By Gwen Mickelson
Sentinel staff writer
HALF MOON BAY ? Anthony Tashnick was ready to party.
The 20-year-old Santa Cruz surfer had just won $25,000 in Wednesday?s Maverick?s Surf Contest, and seemed to be on top of the world.
The injury-sidelined Darryl "Flea" Virostko, the contest?s grand master, and local big-wave surfer Ken "Skindog" Collins looked on.
"I?ve been looking up to these guys forever," said Westsider Tashnick, in a nod to Virostko, Collins and others who inspired him to reach one of surfing?s highest pinnacles.
Defending champ Virostko, who bowed out of the contest Wednesday morning citing knee injuries sustained in the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Challenge in Hawaii in January, said he was just happy to see one of his friends win.
"There?s no bummed-ness about it," he said. "It?s still Santa Cruz, and it?s the Westside, so what?"
Three other Santa Cruz surfers placed within the top seven cash-winning positions in the elite contest, which goes off on 24-hour notice when the waves are judged big enough.
Any fears of lackluster conditions for the contest, expressed by Virostko and others Tuesday, were quelled when Wednesday morning showed 20- to 30-foot waves, a clean northwest swell, light winds and sunshine.
"These were the biggest waves coming through here in two years," said Grant Washburn of San Francisco, a veteran Maverick?s surfer. "They weren?t perfect, they could have been perfectly glassy, but the waves were solid. Generally, we get that kind of thing when a raw swell comes in. Guys were getting held under for a minute at a time."
The contest, heavily promoted through its Web site and other means, drew a steady stream of spectators walking the muddy path to the beach and cliffs near Pillar Point Harbor. Organizers expected to attract about 30,000 visitors, double last year?s draw.
"You see it in movies and stuff, but when you see the wipeouts, it?s pretty scary," said Melanie Gadwah of Pacifica, who had come to check out the contest with her cousin, Natalie Palma, also of Pacifica.
Several competitors suffered brutal wipeouts. At least one surfer, Mike Brummet of Santa Cruz, was dragged through the rocks after an early fall, causing him to cough up blood.
"I hit the bottom out there (today), and I?ve never hit the bottom," said competitor Collins.
That kind of big-wave drama, in addition to the usual air drops, punishing outside-breaking sets, multiwave hold-downs and tombstoning boards, was sought out by an estimated 100,000 people who visited the contest?s Web site during the day, according to Aaron Cohen, chief executive officer of New York-based Bolt Media, which developed the site.
An additional 2,900 people viewed the live Webcast of the event, provided by Oahu-based live surf coverage network Surfing Live. The company experienced a few kinks with production, but broadcast from the third heat on, according to Jay Johnson, creative director.
Contest organizers hope to learn from each year?s event, according to Keir Beadling of Maverick?s Surf Ventures, a partnership between Maverick?s pioneer Jeff Clark and San Francisco-based sports marketing firm Evolve Sports. This season marked the organization?s second effort.
"We get feedback from everyone involved and see how we can improve," said Beadling, citing a purse that went from $10,000 to $75,000, network television coverage, bigger sponsors and beach announcing as signs of progress since last year?s production.
Bolt Media?s Cohen has a vision of adding a music festival to the event, to appeal even more to a youthful demographic.
As surfers dropped into wave after monster wave, however, it seemed that though the legendary big-wave spot, known for its frigid waters, treacherous rock formations, surreal lurching waves and threat of sharks, might be increasingly viewed by a curious public, few of that number would ever dare try it.
"A spot like this," said Santa Cruz photographer Sam O?Rourke, shooting from the cliffs above the break, "probably takes care of itself."
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