Jan 11, 2008 10:39 pm US/Pacific
Parking, Viewing Areas Limited For Mavericks Crowd
HALF MOON BAY (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
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Boaters gather to try and catch a glimpse of the last Mavericks surf contest.
CBS
Contest goers hoping to get a glimpse of the legendary Mavericks wave break just outside of Half Moon Bay will find limited parking as the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office barricaded roads in an effort to control traffic during Saturday's competition.
The Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau said it expected between 35,000 and 40,000 people to descend on the region to watch the contest.
Parking was not allowed from West Point at Sanford to the radar station. There were also barricades at Prospect Way and Capistrano Road, as well as Airport Street and Stanford Avenue. Local residents were the only ones being allowed to pass through the barricades.
In an effort to "bolster the Coastside Patrol Bureau" there were eight additional deputies, two additional sergeants and a number of volunteers added to the sheriff's department's duty roster during the contest, Lt. Marc Alcantara said.
County officials also acknowledged that an unpleasant aspect to this year's contest may be the lack of adequate viewing areas.
The recent winter storms that pummeled the area have loosened rocks on the cliffs and made the hill very slippery, Alcantara said. Deputies erected barricades and taped off the Satellite Hill and cliff area to encourage viewers to go to other areas.
"It's a popular viewing area, but we have had injuries there in the past and we would like to avoid that this year," Alcantara said.
In addition, the bluff area is home to a bird refuge so officials said visitors must stay in designated areas.
Because parking is so limited and spectators typically have to walk to the bluffs, contest organizers this year arranged parking and a shuttle service to the beach from the Half Moon Bay Airport. The cost is $15.
Officials from the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary also issued restrictions for vessel and aircraft viewing of the surf contest. In order not to disturb the variety of federally protected marine mammals and sea birds in the area, boats must stay at least a quarter mile from shore, and aircrafts should maintain at least 2,000 feet in altitude.
Surf enthusiasts could avoid the limited access to the competition by attend a viewing party held at AT&T Park in San Francisco. A live video feed was to be shown on the centerfield scoreboard and run for the duration of the contest.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
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