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Mavericks Invitational
Peter Mel rides a wave during the second heat
of round one of Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay,
California.
When the waves and weather are just right competitors
get only 48 hours' notice to get to Half Moon Bay south of San Francisco
for this major surfing event.
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
Tyler Fox flies out of a wave during the second heat of the first round of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg
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Mavericks Invitational
Colin Dwyer rides a wave during the second heat of round one of
Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California.
Twenty-four invited surfers from around the world, including Brazil and
South Africa, will compete for a $12,000 prize.
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
Danilo Couto (left) and Peter Mel share a wave during the second heat of round one of the Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California.
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
Colin Dwyer rides a wave during the second heat of round one of the Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California.
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
Tyler Fox rides a wave during the second heat of round one of the Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California.
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
Tyler Fox rides a wave during the second heat of round one of the Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California.
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
People paddle out to watch the first round of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg
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Mavericks Invitational
Colin Dwyer rides a wave during the second heat of round one of Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California.
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
Surfing pros,
including last year's winner, Peter Mel (pictured today at left), know monster swells can mean a real
beating.
"We'd be crazy
to say we're not scared, me especially," Mel told CBS Station KPIX.
"This is a place I've had a lot of experience at, I know its power."
Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg
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Mavericks Invitational
Peter Mel rides a wave during the second heat of round one of the Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California.
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
Nic Lamb rides a wave during the third heat of round one of Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California.
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
Nic Lamb rides a wave during the third heat of the first round of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg
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Mavericks Invitational
Competitor Grant
Washburn of San Francisco (left) says flying down a heavy wave is about survival.
"If you don't
have a good round, not only would you maybe be out of the contest, you'd be out
of the sport or worse. We all know that that's what we're messing with. It
doesn't make any sense, but we love it, it's fun."
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
Carlos Burle crashes on a wave during the third heat of round one of the Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California.
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Mavericks Invitational
Ben Wilkinson goes tumbling into a wave during the third heat of the first round of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg
