The Mavericks contest is an invitation-only event and surfers from around the world are given 48 hours notice before a big swell is about to hit the San Mateo County coast.
However, this year so far, only five or six swells have hit the area and none have been big enough to produce world-class Mavericks waves. The window for Mavericks closes February 28, one week from the day this year's permit expires.
