Mavericks awakens and Californian's rejoice up and down the coast as the first legit swell of 2012 hits. Stay tuned for part two, the offshore buoys are showing an even bigger and badder swell behind this one!

The swell that rocked Teahupo‘o made landfall here in California a few days later, yet unlike Tahiti, there weren't any "biggest and best ever!" claims going down. That said, there were a few good spots and moments, here's what we got from SD to SC...

When most people think of Santa Cruz visions of big and cold Steamer Lane pop into their heads, but the reality of the NorCal surf town is that it's pretty damn good on a summertime south swell...

Santa Cruz hellman Nic Lamb comments on not being invited to the "Jay At Mavericks" big wave contest on Ken "Skindog" Collins' new big wave surfing website, www.chasingmonsters.com.

Nelly and Checkwood scour the coast from Santa Cruz to San Francisco all the while fighting off hungry sharks and fierce locals solely for your viewing pleasure...

Summer flatness? Not up in Santa Cruz. Homer Hernard, Nic Lamb, and some of the boys just got some dreamy four-to-six-foot, crystal blue, secret Tarps sessions this past weekend. Check the vid.

A huge photo gallery featuring Jordy Smith, the Gudauskas bros, Dusty Payne, Josh Mulcoy, Johnny Craft, Matt Rockhold, Homer Henard, Nic Lamb, and amazingly enough; chicks on the beach taking in all the action! It doesn't get any better than this...