Jeff Clark Out As Mavericks Contest Director
Justin Cote
- June 29 2009
- 426 views
- 7 comments
While the article doesn’t exactly say so, reading in between the lines it sounds like Mavericks Pioneer Jeff Clark was asked to step down, or did so on his own, after he “asked Maverick’s fans to help foot the $30,000 bill” from a hip procedure he said was a result of surfing Mavericks all these years. Personally, I’ve been a little skeptical of the contest since it got all corpo and was taken over by Mavericks Surf Ventures. That said, who’s going to run the show now? Keir Beadling?
Read entire article at www.mercurynews.com
Pioneering big wave surfer Jeff Clark (above) will no longer be the one giving the Maverick’s Surf Contest the green light.
Thirty-five years after he discovered the heaving surf break off the coast of Half Moon Bay, Clark is out as contest director, according to the company that owns the event. He will no longer be charged with the task of surveying weather conditions, swells and tides and deciding whether they will ultimately combine to create contest-worthy waves.
“Maverick’s truly belongs to everyone, so we’re looking forward to democratizing the contest direction process,” Keir Beadling, CEO for contest organizer Mavericks Surf Ventures, said in a statement. “Studying the seasonal swell patterns and when to call the surfers is no small responsibility. We’re excited to pass the torch to the next generation of Maverick’s enthusiasts to assure the contest’s continued success.”
Clark recently underwent a procedure to take care of chronic hip problems he believes were caused by surfing and asked Maverick’s fans to help foot the $30,000 bill. Whether Clark chose to step down is unclear. Clark could not be reached to comment Monday.
Reached via e-mail Monday, Beadling could not say whether a single person or a group would replace Clark as contest director, nor if the director would continue to have the final say on whether the contest could be run. He said the contestants will be key in deciding the future of the position.
Clark will remain on the contest board of directors.
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June 23rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I’m confused. He surfed Mavs a lot so everyone should pay his hospital bill? Just another in the long line of f*cktards running the surf “business”. Seriously, give me a few grand and I’ll watch the charts and make the call.
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Jeff has always been an opportunistic KOOK ! The guy can only drop bombs and can’t actually surf. He used to cry when he would lose out first round of every WSA and NSSA contest when we were growing up. He was all about the cash and would introduce himself to people at ASR and elsewhere as the “Mavericks man”. F#cking tool !!
June 26th, 2009 at 9:45 am
to Socal,
whats your real name? you must be the biggest kook if you are bringing up bullshit nssa results from 20 years ago. you must have alot of anger towards jeff’s success. dont must people who grow up surfing in california have a few nssa horror stories? and he did surf mavericks alone for 20 years, so its ‘ok’ if he calls himself the Mavericks Man.
whats your name socal!
johnny ‘juanito’ berez
June 27th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Check out this from Clark’s site:
Over the past several years, it has been obvious that my vision and priorities are not in line with those of Mavericks Surf Ventures. I have had in the past, and continue to have, strong differences of opinion with the present CEO and Board about the direction, image and priorities of the company and the contest.
“The press release issued by Mavericks Surf Ventures this week stating that I ‘stepped down’ and I am ‘passing the torch to the next generation’ is wrong. The reality is that I was ousted as Contest Director by the current CEO.
“I must also note that, while the company’s news release states that this year’s contest will be held to celebrate ‘the 35th anniversary of Jeff Clark’s first session at the now world-famous break,’ the 35th anniversary is actually next season, in 2010-11. I will not allow the company to use my accomplishment as a marketing tactic.
“Effective today, I have resigned from the Board of Directors of Mavericks Surf Ventures.
“My vision for the Mavericks Surf Contest has been unwavering: it is about the family of big wave surfers, the spirit of the ocean, and this amazing wave. I never wanted that to be compromised for the sake of money or marketing opportunities. I think that focus is obvious to anyone who knows me or who has seen my priorities over the years.
June 27th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
He didn’t ask people to help pay. They offered, so his family made a link. Big deal. Some people want to help rather than bitch and moan about someone else. If you don’t like the guy, then just don’t help. Worry about your own kook life.
June 29th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Save it…. The guy is a sellout kook! 20 years alone….. thats so good a PR firm must of helped him with it! What a Loser I know the true story of Mavericks from the Locals, fishermen, divers, surfers, etc. Jeff Clark is a lying sellout kook….. Move away idiot!
August 21st, 2009 at 10:05 am
Hey SoCal, last time I checked, Clark is a LOCAL too, or did you forget? We used to cut school, sit up on the cliff and drink beer, watching him surf out there. We never saw another guy out there. Including YOU. So what if he is trying to make a living doing what he loves. Isn’t that what we all want? You must have a real beef or really small penis to be spending your time lashing out at Jeff Clark instead of living your own damn life. Get over it.