24 of the world’s best surfers will descend upon Half Moon Bay on Sunday for the Mavericks Invitational.

Organizers announced on Wednesday that for the first time since 2010, the conditions will be ripe for the big-wave surf contest, which will start at 8:00 a.m. at the Mavericks break.

The area is expecting a large swell on Sunday and the National Weather Service has predicted a high surf advisory for the San Mateo coast this weekend.

Contestants and alternates from around the wold have been notified and event officials said they are making travel plans to be in the Bay Area.

The event has been struck by poor conditions and infighting over the last few years, even losing sponsors.

But Mark Sponsler, the contest’s official forecaster, said the area could see one of the most powerful Pacific storms in the last three years.

This year’s field will include Kelly Slater, an 11-time world champion on the professional surfing tour, along with past Mavericks winners Greg Long, Anthony Tashnick, Chris Bertish and Grant Baker.

Due to environmental concerns and dangerous conditions on the beach at Mavericks, there will be no public viewing on the shoreline or cliffs this year. However, the “Mavericks Festival” will be held near by at the Oceano Hotel & Harbor Village with a JumboTron screening, live entertainment, food and a beer garden. An awards ceremony will take place at the festival stage when the contest is over.

The Heat Schedule:

Heat 1

Peter Mel

Dave Wassel

Mark Healey

Kelly Slater

Ken Collins

Rusty Long

Heat 2

Chris Bertish

Jamie Sterling

Grant Washburn

Shawn Dollar

Nathan Fletcher

Matt Ambrose

Heat 3

Tyler Smith

Ryan Augenstein

Zach Wormhoudt

Shane Dorian

Greg Long

Ryan Seelbach

Heat 4

Alex Martins

Anthony Tashnick

Grant Baker

Ben Wilkinson

Carlos Burle

Shane Desmond

Alternates

1. Tyler Fox (Santa Cruz)

2. Josh Loya (Santa Cruz)

3. Colin Dwyer (Pacifica)

4. Nic Lamb (Santa Cruz)

5. Danilo Couto (Brazil)

6. Derek Dunfee (San Diego)

7. Ben Andrews (San Francisco)

8. Andrew Marr (South Africa)

9. Travis Payne (Pacifica)

10. Ion Banner (Half Moon Bay)

11. Kohl Christensen (Hawaii)

12. Shawn Rhodes (Pacifica)

13. Mike Gerhardt (Santa Cruz)

14. Garret McNamara (Hawaii)

15. Russel Smith (Santa Cruz)

16. Jamie Mitchel (Australia)

17. Frank Solomon (South Africa

 

 

Photo Credit: Seth Migdail, Mavericks

• Tag: Big Waves, Half Moon Bay, Kelly Slater, Mavericks, Storm, Surf Contest, surfers, Weather Conditions