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Stanton and Surfing Legend Jeff Clark Meet
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Posted (10/22/2004) - World famous big wave surfer Jeff Clark and Craig Stanton met for the first time at Clark's Maverick's Surf Shop in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Maverick's, one of the world's biggest and most dangerous waves, is located one-half-mile off the coast of Half Moon Bay. Created by deep water and a reef that abruptly rises from the ocean floor, Maverick's can create waves that reach heights in excess of 70 feet, waves that only the most daring of individuals try to tame. Clark was the first of these individuals ever to tackle the huge cold water break. Growing up in the area, Clark would watch the unridden waves just off the coast from atop Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay. For years he and his buddies would only wonder what it would be like to actually ride the monsters that they had watched for so long as the waves were deemed too large and the rocks too dangerous for a person to venture out into. For Clark, staring at the break was not enough and on a cold day in 1975 his need for adrenaline and a thirst for the unknown took over and he suited up for a paddle out into surfing history. For Porsche drivers Patrick Long, Johanness van Overbeek and Craig Stanton, the chance to meet Clark and listen to his knowledge of surfing and the ocean was a unique opportunity as they are also surfers in their spare time. The group met at Clark's surf shop for an experience that they would never forget during the week before their 2004 ALMS season closer at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey Calif. Upon arrival, Clark was immediately on point, describing Maverick's in detail and explaining his unique surfboard designs to the ALMS drivers. All involved were equally impressed with Clark's knowledge of surfing as well as the waves that make the sport possible. Clark went into great detail about his special big-wave board design, which is actually a means of creating suction at the bottom end of the board for greater control on the extremely turbulent big waves that he and others surf every year. After a short hike to the top of Pillar Point to see where the gigantic waves break when the swells come in, it was back to the shop for a few photos as well as some autographed posters for the ALMS drivers. Drivers Long, van Overbeek, and Stanton joined Clark at Laguna Seca to share their extreme profession. Clark was amazed by the raw talent that these individuals possess as well as the fact that many of the skills involved in racing relate to the flow and smoothness needed in order to be a successful surfer. Clark was in a new environment at Laguna Seca as he traded in his surfboard and wet suit for a helmet and fire suit. Patrick Long and The Racer's Group New Century Mortgage team arranged for a second seat to be bolted into the No. 66 Porsche 911 RSR, one of 25 in the world. For Clark, this would be the rare chance to experience raw speed on concrete in a Porsche with Long at the wheel, the first non-German ever to be selected for the prestigious UPS Porsche Junior team and full time ALMS driver for Porsche. "The day I spent at Laguna Seca was like spending a day surfing the giant waves at Maverick's," said Clark. "The drivers that pilot these race cars are like the surfers that brave the giant waves here at Half Moon Bay. They are putting it on the edge every time they get in these cars. There is no other place like the edge whether you experience it surfing the big waves or in one of the American Le Mans Series cars. Patrick Long showed me a great time and was very professional. This winter I will hopefully be able to share the same experience with the drivers of the American Le Mans Series here at the Maverick's Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay." "To actually go out to the cliff with Jeff and have him show us where the huge waves break at Mavericks was amazing, and to listen to the stories that he has to tell is something I'll never forget," commented Long. "We talked about the rhy |
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