Update: The event's official name is going to be "The Jay at Maverick's Big Wave Invitational".  Currently the Half Moon Bay Surf Group Inc. only has a facebook page, which includes a press release detailing the changing of the guard.

Just got off the phone with Grant Washburn, famed Maverick's surfer who is leading the charge to change the controlling interest of who runs the contest.  Washburn confirmed what both the Half Moon Bay Review and San Jose Mercury News reported yesterday, that the new group, now calling themselves the Half Moon Bay Surf Group Inc., have wrested the single annual permit issued by the San Mateo Country Harbor District for a surf contest at Maverick's away from Keir Beidling's Mavericks Surf Ventures (MSV), who ran the contest since 2004.  The decision by the board leaves Beidling and MSV out in the cold, while the new group will now run what will be called the Maverick's Invitational.

Transworld Business, a very valuable tool for the action sports industry, recently published a story detailing the demographics of the action sports industry's customers.  The numbers may surpise given the perception that youth drives the industry.

Kelly Slater defeated Jordy Smith in the Finals of the Rip Curl Pro Portugal at Supertubos to extend his record of career contest victories to 44 and moved within a single event of winning an unprecedented 10th ASP World Tour Title.

Maxim Magazine, known for their fantastic photoshoots and terrible articles, ran this video showcasing a local model in one of their annual competitions. Large parts of the video were shot with good surf in the background. In other words, this video gave us a great chance to show you skin and waves. A beautiful combination.

Mick Fanning defeated Kelly Slater in a Final heat filled with pumping overheard surf to win his second consecutive Quiksilver Pro France Title. The victory put Fanning back into the World Title race, while a Finals appearance for Slater extended his overall ratings lead for the ASP World Title.

The Godfather of Mavericks Jeff Clark called me the other day to inform me of a locals only contest held every few years at Waddell Creek. The contest strives on keeping itself private, and asks spectators and contestants to keep attention away from the media spotlight. As specified by this sign, which is posted near the organization's booth.

The city of Huntington Beach, CA recently hosted its second annual Surf City Surf Dog competition, where dogs hit the surf for a chance to make their owners love them even more. The event helps raise money for animal charities including Coastal German Shepherd Rescue, Chase Away K-9 Cancer, Orange County Humane Society, The Pet Rescue Center, Huntington Dog Beach and Surf Dog Ricochet. It’s hard not to enjoy a photo gallery featuring surfing dogs, although they don’t seem to look quite as pleased as their owners would when they’re riding waves.

Taking advantage of phenomenal conditions at world famous Lower Trestles, Kelly Slater defeated Bede Durbidge in the finals to win the Hurley Pro at Trestles. This was Slater’s fourth career victory at Lower Trestles, and his 43rd career tour victory. With the win, Slater extended his overall ratings lead in the quest for an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title.

The Mavericks Surf Contest is arguably the most prestigious surfing event on the U.S. Mainland. With monstrous cold water waves to paddle into, only 24 of the most elite big wave surfers are invited annually (when conditions allow) to compete in the contest held at Mavericks. Unfortunately, the limited amount of invitations forces some of the world's greatest big wave surfers out in the cold, leaving the alternates waiting for their opportunity to conquer nature’s oceanic beast.

A French actress who goes by the name Zazon recently used her television sketch comedy show to pull a prank on the Greatest Surfer Ever, Kelly Slater. Zazon stalked Slater at a surf contest, seeking an autograph while mingling with other surfers. After finding Slater and asking for his autograph while heavily hitting on him, Zazon made the situation even more awkward by revealing that she is a transsexual. Slater’s stunned response is classic.