Oddest Spectator Sport Ever?

The past two weeks of winter storms, rain and hurricane-strength winds pelting the Bay Area has translated into some monster waves along the coast. And our local surf mecca/meat-grinder we call Maverick's has been seeing busier than usual surfer traffic and press coverage. The SF Chronicle is running a story today about this weekend's big wave surf contest that expects to see some of the world's best surfers braving 30 foot wave faces. Certainly not the biggest waves to be seen at Maverick's famous break, but still nothing to pooh-pooh.

However watching a surf contest at Maverick's is a bit of a challenge. Coastal Highway 1, particularly around Half Moon Bay and Princeton-by-the-Sea (the home of Maverick's) is an awful, log-jammed stretch of road on an average weekend. With a big surf competition, it's a nightmare. There's practically no parking once you get there, and the viewing area really isn't ideal as the waves break more than a mile from the beach. Attempting to get a better view by scaling the sheer cliffs along the beach often leads to the secondary Maverick's spectator sport of witnessing surf fans tumbling down the sandstone marine terrace. Some particularly avid fans have taken to watching surf contests from a boat, but that comes with a hefty price tag. In all, the complex logistics at Maverick's makes for a strong disincentive to be a surf spectator.

Enter the oddest twist I've yet seen to surfing as a spectator sport: The Stadium Surf Party. AT&T Park (although it will always be Pac Bell Park to me)--home of the SF Giants-- will play venue to the apparent throngs of surf nuts who absolutely must have their surf competition, albeit in the comfort of stadium seating and armrests with beer cup holders. The SF Chronicle reports today that this "viewing party" at AT&T Park, where the waves will be roughly life-size on the stadium's 130-by-30-foot, high-definition jumbo screen, is the only way to go. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Concessions including alcohol will be served, and in-and-out privileges will be granted.

If you check out the comments already logged on this story, readers have mixed feelings. Some readers think the stadium venue is brilliant and are already vying for Club Level seating. My favorite comment from a fan of stadium surfing sums it up nicely:

Only $20 for an event like this! They charge more to watch a bunch of un-educated morons to throw and/or kick a ball around! And these morons get paid way more than the surfers, which are much more exciting to watch!

Other readers are not as enthused and have labeled the event "sell-out surfing" and "suck central." One reader goes right for the jugular,

A buncha white trash, culture killing, thrill seeking, wannabe NASCAR fans trading their insulated beer can holders for a brand new surf shop hoody, and waiting for someone, anyone, to eat it on a monster wave.

Ouch!

My sense is that if spectators want to watch surfing in a communal atmosphere and in relative comfort (and are willing to pay for the expense) than what's the harm? It seems rather elitist to claim that only real surf fans are "worthy" to be present at Maverick's, especially considering the complex logistics of getting there and actually seeing anything. I'll certainly be curious to see what sort of turnout the stadium gets for this event.