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Moments before the start of the Mavericks Invitational contest, a Kaepernick-wearing, stand-up boarder drops in on contestants warming up Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Princeton-by-the-Sea, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Tyler Smith, left, and Ryan Seelbach ride a wave together during heat 3 of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

A group of contestants wait for a wave during the Mavericks Invitational surf competition in Half Moon Bay, California January 20, 2013. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Spectators cheer on Nathan Fletcher, left, and Rusty Long as they compete during a semifinal heat at the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Grant "Twiggy" Baker competes during the fourth heat of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Greg Long competes during the third heat of the Mavericks Surf Competition in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Colin Dwyer competes during heat 4 of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Dave Wassel drops in on a wave during Round One of the Mavericks Invitational surf contest Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Princeton by the Sea, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Peter Mel, left, and Dave Wassel wipe out at the Mavericks Invitational on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at Princeton by the Sea, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Surfers Dave Wassel, white, and Peter Mel, red, collide on a wave during the first heat of the Mavericks Invitational surf contest on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 near Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Staff)

A paddle boarder wearing a Colin Kaepernick 49ers jersey gets a close up view of contestants practicing for the Mavericks Invitational surf contest moments before the start of Round One on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Princeton by the Sea, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Ken "Skindog" Collins watches Rusty Long wii out on a wave during Round One of the Maverick's Invitational surf contest Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Princeton by the Sea, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

A helicopter flies past Pillar Point as the Mavericks Invitational surf contest gets started on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Princeton by the Sea, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Ken "Skindog" Collins, left, and Rusty Long share a wave during Round One of the Maverick's Invitational surf contest Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Princeton by the Sea, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

All manner of watercraft made their way out of Half Moon Bay to watch the Mavericks Invitational surf contest Sunday morning, Jan. 20, 2013 at Princeton by the Sea, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Surfer Mark Healey goes left on a wave during the first heat of the Mavericks Invitational surf contest on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 near Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Staff)

Surfer Ken Collins takes off on a wave during the first heat of the Mavericks Invitational on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 near Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Staff)

Surfer Tyler Fox takes off on a wave during the first heat of the Mavericks Invitational on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 near Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Staff)

Surfers Colin Dwyer, left, Anthony Tashnick, center, and Grant Baker ride a wave during the fourth heat of the Mavericks Invitational on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 near Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Staff)

Tyler Smith, left, and Ryan Seelbach ride a wave together during heat 3 of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Ryan Augenstein makes it to the bottom of a wave as Josh Loya wipes out during the third heat of the Mavericks Invitational on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 near Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Staff)

Peter Mel of Santa Cruz, veteran of each of the Mavericks big wave contests since 1999, charged his way to the victory stand Sunday, in a final heat that included two other Santa Cruz locals--Zach Wormhoudt and Shawn Dollar. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)

Shawn Dollar kicks out of a wave in the final round of the Mavericks Invitational on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Princeton-by-the-Sea, Calif. Dollar placed sixth overall. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Mark Healey catches his final wave of the day on his way to a fifth place finish in the Maverick's Invitational surf contest Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Princeton-by-the-Sea, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Peter Mel is framed and silhouetted by the falling wave lip during a steep drop in his semifinal heat. Mel, who grew up in Santa Cruz, won the Mavericks Invitational Sunday in Half Moon Bay. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)

Peter Mel takes off on a wave during Round One of the Mavericks Invitational on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at Princeton-by-the-Sea, Calif. Mel was the eventual winner of the contest. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Alex Martins, Greg Long and Peter Mel of Santa Cruz scramble to catch the same wave during the final heat of the Mavericks Invitational Sunday. Mel, a veteran of the big wave contests, won the event for the first time. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)

Dave Wassel, left, and Peter Mel take off on a wave during Round One of the Mavericks Invitational on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at Princeton-by-the-Sea, Calif. Mel was later named the winner of the 2013 Mavericks Invitational. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Peter Mel paddles in after the final heat of the day on his way to winning the Mavericks Invitational surf contest Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Princeton-by-the-Sea, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Tyler Fox gets wet in preparation for his first round heat. Photo by Ben Ingram of Ben Ingram Visuals and http://www.santacruzwaves.com

Shawn Dollar goes right, while Mark Healey chooses to take the path less riden. Photo by Ben Ingram of Ben Ingram Visuals and http://www.santacruzwaves.com

Shawn Dollar pulls in. Photo by Ben Ingram of Ben Ingram Visuals and http://www.santacruzwaves.com

Shawn Dollar shares a right. With the swell being long period, each set was that much more valued. Photo by Ben Ingram of Ben Ingram Visuals and http://www.santacruzwaves.com

Showing the power behind Mavericks. Photo by Ben Ingram of Ben Ingram Visuals and http://www.santacruzwaves.com

The rising sun sheds light on the gathering masses of media boats. Photo by Ben Ingram of Ben Ingram Visuals and http://www.santacruzwaves.com