The Green Room

Here’s the Santa Cruz ripper’s latest entry into the Women’s Performance award category.

Is this the kickflip that will finally spur Volcom to pony up the $10,000 it offered for the first surfing kickflip? Santa Cruz’s Zoltan Torkos certainly hopes so.

See his latest effort here.

The Mavericks Surf Contest lives on for another year.

Contest Director Jeff Clark has announced that the official contest window will open on Jan. 1 and run through March 31.

“We are all stoked to be back for another year,” Clark said in a statement. “No matter what else is going on in the world, Mavericks will be there. The season looks promising, as we’ve already seen some major swells roll through Half Moon Bay. The perfect contest day we’re looking for will bring a northwest groundswell between 18 and 20 feet (translating into waves faces of 30-40 feet).”

Ross Clarke-Jones (white) and Ryan Seelbach (red) drop in on one of the bigger waves of the quarters during last year's contest.

If and when Clark determines an impending swell warrants giving the green light to hold the contest, 24 legendary big-wave riders from around the globe will have 24 hours to make the trek to the world-famous big wave break a half-mile offshore of Pillar Point Harbor, near Half Moon Bay.

This year’s international roster of invitees includes eight surfers from Santa Cruz. The 24 competitors, in alphabetical order, are: Matt Ambrose (Pacifica), Ben Andrews (San Francisco), Grant Baker (South Africa), Ion Banner (Half Moon Bay), Chris Bertish (South Africa), Carlos Burle (Brazil), Kenny Collins (Santa Cruz), Shane Desmond (Santa Cruz), Nathan Fletcher (San Clemente), Brock Little (Hawaii), Greg Long (San Clemente), Josh Loya (Santa Cruz), Peter Mel (Santa Cruz), Shawn Rhodes (Pacifica), Ryan Seelbach (San Francisco), Evan Slater (Ventura), Tyler Smith (Santa Cruz), Jamie Sterling (Hawaii), Anthony Tashnick (Santa Cruz), Darryl Virostko (Santa Cruz), Grant Washburn (San Francisco), Dave Wassell (Hawaii), Tim West (Pacifica), Zach Wormhoudt (Santa Cruz).

Also named were the 15 alternates, in order of priority: Alex Martins, Danilo Couto, Mark Healey, Tyler Fox, Rusty Long, Nic Lamb, Jamie Mitchell, Mike Gerhardt, Russell Smith, Kealii Mamala, Garrett McNamara, Andrew Marr, Lawton Smith, John Whittle, Colin Dwyer.

The Mavericks contest window usually starts in December, but organizers were forced to delay the opening ceremonies until they could firm up financial support from sponsors ambivalent to invest given the current economic climate.

Just like last year, the 24 surfers in the contest will compete for a $75,000 prize purse. The purse breakdown awards $30,000 for first place, $12,000 for second place, $7,500 for third place, $3,500 for fourth, $2,500 for fifth and $1,500 for sixth place.

The event will once again be webcast live over the Internet and fans can also sign up to receive a cell phone text message alert as soon as the contest green light is given.

To minimize the impact of spectators lining the beach at Pillar Point, contest organizers are encouraging fans to enjoy the contest via the webcast at home or by attending the live webcast viewing event at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Heads up! M10 Surfboards currently has a new batch of premium series model surfboards available at their showroom. For the first time this year, shaper Geoff Rashe and crew have caught up to demand from custom orders and have had the opportunity to get some stock boards out on the rack at the showroom, all available at a reasonable price.

In addition, the shop has a plethora of used boards from other top labels such as Rusty, …Lost, Mayhem, Stretch and Channel Islands, all still in good condition and available at great deals. The used boards are piling up as surfers around town take advantage of M10’s trade-in incentive: bring in a used board in good condition and M10 will offer you credit towards a brand new M10 surfboard in exchange.

Swing by the M10 factory [401 Ingalls St. at Swift St. on the Westside] and see general manager Marco Foreman to find out if your next magic board just might be in stock…

"What you need?" 5'6" Hogfish to 8'0" guns, M10 manager Marco Foreman has got you covered.

Video highlights from Day 3 of the Cold Water Classic. Video by Christina Gullickson, for the Santa Cruz Sentinel

Video interview with Bud Freitas from the Cold Water Classic, Oct. 21, 2008. (Video by Christina Gullickson for the Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Video for the Santa Cruz Sentinel by Christina Gullickson

Slide show from Steamer Lane, Oct. 21, 2008. Photos by Dan Coyro/Sentinel

O’Neill Cold Water Classic Round 1 Results:

Round of 160 (1^st and 2^nd advance)

Heat 1: Tyler Newton (HAW) 12.67, Danny Estes (USA) 11.87, Quinn McCrystal (USA) 10.74, Keith Terriberry (USA) 0.73

Heat 2: Matt Pagan (USA) 11.40, Jonny Craft (USA) 11.13, Gianfranco Gasparro (ITA) 2.73, Cody Sammons (USA) 1.77

Heat 3: Matt Meola (HAW) 10.70, Sean Bacon (USA) 8.50, Andy Hobson (USA) 6.50, Andres Flores (DOM) 3.60

Heat 4: Luke Davis (USA) 8.83, Andrew Bennett (USA) 8.17, Marshall Alberga (USA) 7.93, Nick Lamb (USA) 5.33

Heat 5: Ashton Madeley (USA) 11.10, Nick Rupp (USA) 9.30, Adam Lambert (USA) 7.47, Joey Hudson (USA) 7.17

Heat 6: Roger Eales (USA) 13.67, Kelsey Strickland (USA) 8.24, Matt Turner (USA) 5.10, Rick Gannon (USA) 0.83

Heat 7: Fisher Heverly (USA) 10.17, Matt Johnson (USA) Frank Chenault (USA) 5.37, Pete Rocky (USA) 4.50

Heat 8: Oliver Kurtz (USA) 10.33, Danny Hart (USA) 8.50, Dustin Willman (USA) 7.73, Eric Worley (USA) 2.10

Heat 9: Josh Loya (USA) 12.84, Oman Etcheverry (USA) 12.83, Dege O’Connell (HAW) 10.10, Willie Safreed (USA) 8.37

Heat 10: Peter Mussio (USA) 13.34, Javier Swayne (PER) 12.54, Hunter Heverly (USA) 5.43, Adam Knox (USA) 3.84

Heat 11: Madison Williams (AUS) 11.33, Ryah Arthur (USA) 5.43, Shaw Kobayashi (USA) 5.43, Paul Pugliesi (USA) 3.06

Heat 12: Randy Bonds (USA) 14.17, Russell Smith (USA) 10.93, Dane Zaun (USA) 10.13, Brightton Brandenburger (USA) 7.00

Heat 13: Jimmy Herrick (USA) 13.93, Chris Foster (HAW) 11.16, Justin Swartz (USA) 10.97, Victor Done (USA) 8.36

Heat 14: T.J. Mikus (USA) 8.40, Brandon Barnes (USA) 7.20, Tarik Khashoggi (USA) 7.03, Nick Skawinski (USA) 5.04

Heat 15: Josh Mulcoy (USA) 15.17, Matt Myers (USA) 11.47, Ryan Burch (USA) 9.73, Jonathan Warren (USA) 5.46

Heat 16:

Slide show from Steamer Lane, Oct. 14, 2008.
See larger slide show

Great photos Tuesday from Sentinel photographer Shmuel Thaler.