Former Maverick's champion and Santa Cruz surfer Anthony Tashnick leaves a trailing rainbow as he drops in front of a huge barrel during the second heat of Saturday's big wave contest. Tashnick eventually made it to the final heat.

In the most spectacular wipe out of the Maverick's contest Saturday, Ion Banner gets blown off the wave face during the first heat. His board was snaps in two pieces. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)

Kenny 'Skindog' Collins of Santa Cruz races down the face of a Maverick's monster during the second semifinal heat last Saturday. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel

Santa Cruz surfer Kenny 'Skindog' Collins in green jersey, turns to watch Chris Bertish in a steep takeoff during the Maverick's final Saturday. Bertish overtook Shane Desmond of Sant Cruz to win the $50,000 first prize.

Josh Loya kicks out with the radar station in the background. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)

Josh Loya of Santa Cruz slides down the wave face in front of a monster Maverick's barrel during the third heat.

Former Maverick's champion and Santa Cruz surfer Anthony Tashnick begins to fall from his board during the Maverick's final. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)

Santa Cruz backside surfer shane Desmond rockets down a steep wave face in front of a crowd during the Maverick's final Saturday.

Carlos Burle enjoys a fleeting moment inside a Maverick's barrel before being creamed by the falling lip of the wave. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)