Pete Thomas Outdoors

Surfers might have to lower standards for Maverick's contest

Nearly three months have passed since the competition window opened for the Maverick's surf contest and the 24 competitors are still waiting for giant waves and perfect conditions so they can hold the best Mavericks contest ever.

El Niño fueled their optimism. The incredible Eddie Aikau memorial competition in early December, won by San Clemente's Greg Long, reinforced the mindset that the Maverick's contest must be just as epic.

However, the world's premier big-wave surfers might be forced to lower their standards the next time a big swell is due and they convene for a vote. That's because the contest window closes in two months and the jet stream has lowered, bringing storms--and storminess--closer to the coast, reducing the likelihood of prolonged clean sets at Maverick's near Half Moon Bay.

Long, who is the defending contest champion, told me today, "I still have faith that we're going to get a day to run the event and I still think the biggest swells for the West Coast are yet to come, and it's just a matter of if the the weather cooperates."

Then Long conceded: "I think people's standards are going to come down a little bit, and that we're going to have to settle for a good 15-  to 18-foot day with 20-foot sets; that we might not get that perfect 25-foot day."

That would be a shame but perhaps a bigger shame would be letting more opportunities pass--there have been a few legitimate opportunities this winter--and missing out on holding a contest for the second consecutive season.

-- Pete Thomas

2008 file photo of Maverick's by Pete Thomas

Abby Sunderland in Mexican waters, headed toward equator

Abby Sunderland, 16, who on Saturday embarked on an ambitious and controversial around-the-world solo-sailing excursion, is well south of Ensenada and now appears to be venturing slightly farther from the Baja California coast as she heads toward the equator.

The Thousand Oaks adventurer, who is aboard a 40-foot racing yacht named Wild Eyes, has escaped the storm now arriving in Southern California but she has not updated her blog and that's unfortunate for those who'd like to follow her journey. She has to conserve power and is still settling into a routine. But here's hoping frequent updates become part of that routine.

Meanwhile, Australia's Jessica Watson, who is likewise 16 (but slightly older than Abby) and trying to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone, has passed the halfway point of her journey. On Tuesday she celebrated Australia Day aboard her 34-foot pink sailboat and reported on her blog that a call from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made her day.

Wonder if U.S. President Barack Obama will ever call Abby?

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Abby Sunderland during her departure by Lisa Gizara/Gizara Arts

Shaun White good as gold with X Games, Olympics at hand

It's not quite a foregone conclusion but if Shaun White merely sticks his routines Friday night at the X Games (which begin Thursday at Aspen, Colo.) and later this month at the Olympics (which begin Feb. 12. at Vancouver), he'll repeat as gold medalist at both halfpipe competitions.

It might have been different if Kevin Pearce and Danny Davis had not recently been injured, but probably not. White, who edged Pearce last year at the X Games and won the gold convincingly at the 2006 Turin Olympics, has raised the level of halfpipe riding to a ridiculous and even dangerous level, and won four of five Grand Prix qualifiers in clinching a spot on the U.S. team.

I don't envision teammates Louie Vito or Scotty Lago (a fourth U.S. men's team rider will be named today), or any foreign snowboarder unveiling a better performance than White. The X Games will be a tune-up, so he might be pushed in the Buttermilk Mountain halfpipe. Another Olympic gold medal is what White has been preparing for during the past two winters, though, so he'll have whatever it takes to get that job done.

That said, check out the video showing the world's best halfpipe rider making the seemingly impossible Double McTwist 1260 look graceful and easy. Some might argue, but he has no legitimate rivals coming into these premier competitions.

-- Pete Thomas

Abby Sunderland embarks on quest to sail around the world

 

Abby Sunderland is out there, somewhere off Southern California, in the cold night. The 16-year-old from Thousand Oaks, Calif., left Marina del Rey at lunchtime Saturday, beginning a quest to become the youngest person to solo-circumnavigate the planet in a sailboat.

I was among those who accompanied her to sea, aboard a power yacht full of family and friends. Then all of us returned to our ordinary lives while Abby sailed toward the sunset and into the blackness aboard her 40-foot racing yacht, Wild Eyes.

It was not lost on her parents that Australia's Jessica Watson, a slightly older 16-year-old more than three months into a similar quest, had her vessel knocked over repeatedly a day earlier by 70-knot winds and massive Southern Ocean swells.

Abby is bound for the Southern Ocean and will arrive in five or six weeks. Once she rounds Cape Horn, at South America's tip, and begins her easterly sail below the great capes, cold nights will have new meaning. But Abby wants this; she wants to sail around the world by herself, it seems, more than she wants to set a record.

And Saturday was just the start. She's out in the cold night, her first of many, to soul-search and learn about life and about herself, and to test her mettle, and to experience adventure on a level most of cannot fathom.

Here's hoping she can forget about the cold and find what she's looking for.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Abby Sunderland and Wild Eyes leave Marina del Rey on a five-month journey around the world. Credit: Pete Thomas

Abby Sunderland finally to set sail on around-the-world journey

For Abby Sunderland, the time to begin her quest to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone is finally at hand.

The 16-year-old from Thousand Oaks will sail out of Marina del Rey on Saturday at about 11:30 a.m., and will not return for at least five months.

A 40-foot open-class sailboat named Wild Eyes--she had the eyes repainted recently, to look less-wild--will be her home. A store of freeze-dried fare will provide sustenance. Because she'll be traveling in the hostile and inhospitable Southern Ocean, she'll wear a survival suit for much of the way.

Abby had planned to depart last Saturday but a week-long bout of wild weather forced a delay. She will, however, experience much colder and perhaps nastier weather during her nonstop voyage.

She has a slightly older Australian counterpart, Jessica Watson, who is already halfway through a similar journey. Abby said she is not in a competition with Watson and her goal is not to steal Watson's record. For Abby this has been a dream long in the making; she just wants to fulfill it.

Renowned Australian adventurer Don McIntyre is supporting Jessica's trip. I asked him recently whether both girls should be attempting such a dangerous feat at their age. He replied: "They sure as hell should if they have the passion that is so clear from both of them."

Storm update: All roads into Yosemite Valley temporarily closed

Breaking news for travelers planning or considering a weekend trip to Yosemite National Park: All roads leading into Yosemite Valley are temporarily closed because of snow, ice and fallen trees.

At 9 a.m. the park issued a news release stating that Highways 41 (Wawona Road), 120 (Big Oak Flat Road), and 140 (El Portal Road) have been closed. Badger Pass Road and Hetch Hetchy Road also are closed.

Assessments will be made throughout the day and prospective visitors can obtain updates regarding access 24 hours a day by calling (209) 372-0200.

The park further states: "Visitors coming into the park over the weekend are urged to drive slowly and with caution. All vehicles entering the park must carry chains as the weather can change quickly (even vehicles equipped with four-wheel-drive). Additionally, visitors are also urged to be aware of significant risk of falling trees while driving or walking in the park."

-- Pete Thomas

Photo courtesy of  Kenny Karst

A heavenly weekend on tap for skiers, snowboarders in Tahoe area

Vimeo

It's no secret that wherever you go skiing or riding over the next several days, conditions will be incredible. Fresh powder--measured in feet, not inches--covers the slopes of every resort in California, thanks to a week-long series of storms that are finally clearing out.

Conditions will not be better at Heavenly in South Lake Tahoe, but as you can tell by the video issued by Heavenly to media outlets today, the popular resort with a breathtaking view of the lake will live up to its name for the next several weeks, at least.

Hope you enjoy the sneak peek.

-- Pete Thomas

Skiers, snowboarders anticipate perfect weekend in wake of storms

The accompanying image, issued today by the Big Bear Lake Resort Assn. reveals the type of scenery skiers and snowboarders can expect this weekend, as the storms finally clear and give way to bluebird skies and glistening white slopes.

Resorts in the Big Bear Lake area--Bear Mountain, Snow Summit and Snow Valley--will have received as much as four feet of snow after the last of the clouds blow past. (There are bound to be road closures on some routes to Big Bear so please call (909) 866-5766 for updates.)

Mount Baldy and Mountain High will boast excellent conditions as well. Mountain High will re-open East Resort on Friday (West Resort has been open) and its North Resort tubing park will open Saturday.

Visitors to Mammoth Mountain in the Eastern Sierra, where even more snow has fallen, will be chest-high in powder on non-groomed slopes and so will visitors to the Lake Tahoe area.

Simply put, it does not  get any better than this. Don't forget your chains and, of course, your common sense.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo courtesy of Big Bear Lake Resort Assn.

Scientists on alert as Costa Rica's Turrialba volcano spews helium

The weather is wild here in Southern California, but in checking for news elsewhere in the world I discovered that Costa Rica's Turrialba Volcano, which experienced a minor eruption earlier this month, is acting up again.

This should not alarm tourists planning to visit the Central American nation, which is a cherished destination for outdoors enthusiasts of all types. However, it's interesting to note that the volcano this week began spewing helium, which is an indication of magmatic activity, so it's possible that molten rock, or lava, could begin to rise within the volcano.

I found two stories on the topic. The English-language Tico Times reported that scientists have stopped short of predicting lava flows from the volcano, which is about 25 miles northeast of the capital city of San Jose, and that health experts still are assessing risks from helium and other gasses.

Inside Costa Rica reported that a yellow cautionary alert remains in effect in the communities of Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Capellados and Pacayas, and that two schools near the volcano have been closed indefinitely.

The volcano's last major eruption was in 1866. Scientists so far are not speculating as to whether the recent activity might be signaling another such episode in the near future.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo courtesy of OVSICORI

What better time than now for Chris Farley's take on El Nino?

As a follow-up to an earlier report on California's storms and specifically on the ridiculous amount of powder layering the slopes at Mammoth Mountain, I'm happy to share a hilarious video the Eastern Sierra resort has posted, recycling the late comedian Chris Farley's take on the responsible party: El Nino.

As for the week-long storm total, Mammoth reported about 55 inches of new snow as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, with much more expected before the weekend.

Though El Nino promises to deliver much more snow this winter, the weekend forecast calls for little or no precipitation, so expect the top of the mountain to open for the first time since the storms arrived on Sunday--and expect the view and the conditions to blow your mind.

-- Pete Thomas