Jay Moriarity surfing Mavericks.

Opening Ceremonies drew some of the world's best big
wave athletes.December 1 marked the kickoff of the big wave surfing season in Northern California via the opening ceremonies of the newly minted The Jay at Mavericks Big Wave Surfing Invitational.

Named in memory of Santa Cruz local and Mavericks surfer Jay Moriarity, The Jay at Mavericks is considered the most notorious big wave surf contest in the world.

Characterized for its cold water, powerful swells and treacherous rock hazards, Mavericks, located in Half Moon Bay south of San Francisco, has been a mecca for big wave riders for nearly two decades.

"There's a lot of places in the world where the waves get really big, but they rarely have this specific set of criteria that allow us to paddle into waves that are 60 feet high," says competitor and event organizer Grant Washburn.

First ridden by local surfer Jeff Clarke in 1975, Mavericks caught the attention of the surfing community in the 90s. Since 1999 a contest has been held there each year.

A waiting period of Dec 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011 allows organizers to wait for optimum surf conditions. Consisting of 24 top big wave riders selected by their peers, the event roster is made up of pros and amateurs alike.

"In big wave surfing pro is a mediocre term and amateur is an understatement because anyone who goes out and surf's 50 foot waves is not an amateur," says Clarke.

While it may seem obvious to caste these big wave gurus as reckless daredevils, Clarke insists there's more to it.

"One's man ceiling is another man's floor. Some don't understand what we do. It's for the pure joy and pure fun and testing of ourselves."