Photos: Mavericks Invitational big wave surfing contest

The Mavericks surf competition off the Northern California coast delivered massive waves, and in the end South Africa’s Grant “Twiggy” Baker took home the crown.

Forecasters had predicted that the mix of swell size and weather would make for faces exceeding 40 feet, and Mother Nature didn’t disappoint with some appearing to exceed 50 feet.

Baker, 40, also won the competition in 2006 and is considered one of the world’s foremost big wave riders.

Each year if conditions are right the contest is held at the perilous surf spot, which is near the San Francisco Bay Area city of Half Moon Bay. Two seasoned watermen have died there, including legendary big-wave rider Mark Foo from Hawaii in 1994.

Only surfers invited to the event can participate, and the event is only held when conditions are prime. This year, invitations went out to 24 of the world’s best big wave surfers. The participants compete in groups throughout the day, with judging based on the quality of the wave, difficulty of the drop and the surfer’s performance.

Grant Washburn rides a wave during the second heat of round one of Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California. | Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Carlos Burle crashes on a wave during the third heat of round one of Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California. | Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Tyler Fox rides a wave during the second heat of round one of Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California. | Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Danilo Couto (L) and Peter Mel share a wave during the second heat of round one of Mavericks Invitational on January 24, 2014 in Half Moon Bay, California. | Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

People paddle out to watch the third heat of the first round of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. | Eric Risberg / AP

Crewmen on a U.S. Coast Guard vessel watch the first heat of the first round of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. | Eric Risberg / AP

People paddle out to watch the third heat of the first round of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. | Eric Risberg / AP

via Associated Press