Landlocked, I am in Awe of Maverick & those who take it on

Founder Jeff Clark first surfed the dense, 25-foot swells in 1975; he kept the spot secret for years, but now it's so well-known that environmental protectionists have gotten involved. Mavericks waves are infamous for taking surfer Mark Foo under for good in 1994, but this year, no one was hurt. "The camaraderie was beyond anything I had experienced," said winner Greg Long, who shared his prize money with the top 6.