Ownership over the legendary big wave contest at Mavericks has turned into something of a custody battle between Jeff Clark and his ex-wife, but should be decided on August 1, 2011. Photo: Jacobovs
In case you haven’t been following the string of controversies surrounding the event formerly known as The Mavericks Surf Contest, in a few weeks the San Mateo County Harbor Commission will decide its new caretaker. The candidates? Maverick’s pioneer (and ousted founding partner of Mavericks Surf Ventures) Jeff Clark vs. his ex-wife, Katherine Clark.
According to MercuryNews.com, Katherine Clark and her group, Mavericks Family LLC, were rejected by the commission in June after making a clerical error in their application. The group unintentionally applied under the name “Mavericks Community LLC.”
“There is clearly a lack of experience in a business management and large-scale event planning,” Jeff Clark told commissioners. “I would like to propose another choice.”
Jeff Clark expressed interest in reclaiming control of the contest in an interview in May, and he envisions its execution as a series of events open to anyone. A public vote and judging panel would determine the season’s winner.
This legal battle comes after a rocky year for the contest at Maverick’s. Katherine Clark helped found a group that planned “The Jay at Mavericks Big-Wave Invitational,” which would honor the life of Jay Moriarity, but the contest was eventually called off due to a lack of waves, Moriarity’s family retracted his name from the event, and the sponsor, Barracuda Networks, dropped out.
The saga continues on August 1, 2011 when the San Mateo County Harbor Commission votes on which application will receive the permit.
