California Business Minute™

Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.

Surfing is to California as eating a hot dog is when at a baseball game.  It’s just something
that seems so natural specifically to the residents of the state.  Maybe this feeling is because
of the great weather and the 500 miles of coastline, but whatever it is, it has been part of the
California lifestyle since the 1950’s.

Continuing in this vain, Californians are witness to multiple surfing competitions a year in places
immortalized in songs and the movies such as Ocean Beach, Huntington Beach, LaJolla Shores
Pacific Beach and Santa Cruz. But it is that time of year when the big wave competition takes
place – Maverick’s.

Maverick’s is the nation’s premiere big wave competition.  It is located just north of Half Moon Bay
in northern California.  The competition occurs during the winter taking advantage of the enormous
waves from winter storms in the Pacific Ocean.  Participation in the event is by invitation only and
limited to only a few from around the globe noted for their big wave surfing prowess.

Attendance at the one day event was 40,000-50,000 in 2008 and for those that wanted to avoid the
crowds and traffic jams, 10,000 people gathered at the AT&T Park in downtown San Francisco to
watch it on the big screen in center field, while even more watched it on streaming video on the
Internet from the website You Tube.

The National Weather Service is predicting big wave action this weekend in northern California,
but no indication has been provided by competition officials if and when the competition will
begin.  While the competitors have been called to gather, there is still no indication is this
weekend’s waves will be large enough, (20 -40 feet) or whether they will hold out for even larger
waves yet to come. In the meantime, surfing is big business in California. Multiple museums
exist in the state on its history; one of the best is in Santa Cruz.  In addition, Huntington Beach
(the self proclaimed Surfing City) hosts dozens of competitions a year and is one of the best
communities in understanding the economics impacts from surfing.  In addition the manufacturers
of both boards and clothing are located in the state making it home to this multi-billion dollar
industry.

So, whether it is the steel courage or lack less possession of a brain of the surfer to ride the
big waves at Maverick’s, the event draws our attention, be you a Californian or not, Maverick’s
unlike any other event annually reinforces surfing and its industry to California.

I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.