File this one under 'more reasons to play hooky tomorrow': organizers of the big wave surf competition Mavericks Invitational have decided that conditions are ripe for the event to take place tomorrow morning. Starting at 8am, Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay will play host to the surf contest as waves of 40 feet or higher are expected to make landfall early tomorrow, generated by by a mid-Pacific storm system (sadly, it won't bring any rain).

Twenty-four strapping young world-class surfers will be competing in the big wave competition, 14 of whom hail from California and two from San Francisco proper (go Grant Washburn and Ryan Seelbach!)

If you're planning on heading down to watch the action, don't expect to be able to access the beach and bluffs, which will be blocked off for safety and environmental reasons. However, there will be a "viewing festival" taking place on the grounds of the Oceano Hotel & Spa in Princeton Harbor, just down the road from the action. Expect jumbo HD screens, music, food and entertainment, plus access to the Awards Ceremony. If you can't or don't want to be there in person, the event will also be televised live for the first time ever, starting at 1:30pm (check your local listings on that).

Here's wishing the surfers a safe and totally tubular ride tomorrow morning.

[Merc]
[Mavericks Invitational]