Officials are asking people not to descend upon Montara State Beach to watch the annual Mavericks big-wave surfing competition today, as the cliffs along the beach are fragile due to recent weather conditions. I’m guessing it will be a tough ride from the city today along the tiny two-lane coast road, especially rounding the bend at the notoriously hairy Devil’s Slide. But you can watch the live webcast of the competition here. Read about the history of Mavericks here.

What’s Mavericks, you ask? “Supremely harsh conditions and the giant, unpredictable waves both contribute to the Contest’s allure. So do the frigid waters, dangerous currents, jagged rocks and the ever-present threat of the Great White Shark. When Mother Nature and a little luck combine to produce the notoriously massive waves, 24 legendary surfers will get The Call. When they do, they will have a mere 24 hours to prepare themselves to face the extreme conditions, the thunderous waves, and each other.”

My favorite book on surfing: Daniel Duane’s Caught Inside: A Surfer’s Year on the California Coast.