WOMEN TO COMPETE AT MAVERICKS
On Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, Sabrina Brennan, an elected San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner, civil rights activist, LGBTQIA+ activist and environmental activist, asked the California Coastal Commission to require a women’s division as a condition of the Coastal Development Permit for the Mavericks surf competition.
Brennan presents her slide presentation to the Coastal Commission at a hearing held at the Oceano Hotel across the street from Pillar Point Harbor and about a mile from Brennan’s home in Moss Beach.
CCC hearing video, Item 14-c, Cartel Management
This was the first time the Coastal Commission had ever required a Coastal Development Permit for the Mavericks surf competition. Commissioner Mark Vargas made a motion to add a condition to the permit that would require a plan for encouraging equal opportunity for women in 2016. In a 7-4 vote Vargas’ motion passed.
In retrospect, had Brennan’s 2015 request for the inclusion of women been approved at the Nov 5, 2015 Coastal Commission hearing women athletes would have had the opportunity to compete, in the Titans of Mavericks, held three months later on Feb 12, 2016.
Coastal Commissioner Mark Vargas of Los Angeles responded to Brennan’s presentation with a motion to amend the Coastal Development Permit for the Titans of Mavericks surf contest and add a condition to allow women to compete in the 2016-2017 event. Commissioner Martha McClure of Del Norte County seconded the motion. The motion passed in a 7-4 vote.
COASTAL COMMISSION 7-4 VOTE COUNT
Cox - yes
Howell - yes
Lueveno - yes
McClure - yes
Turnbull-Sanders - yes
Uranga - yes
Vargas - yes
Bochco - no
Groom - no (San Mateo County Supervisor)
Shallenberger - no
Kinsey - no
TRANSCRIPT of VARGAS’ MOTION TO AMEND CDP TO INCLUDE WOMEN
Coastal Commissioner Mark Vargas made the following remarks and motion:
“I'm still a little concerned about the fact that there is no clear plan for highlighting, involving, or encouraging the growth of women in this event or in this sport. I would really love to see an amendment. I understand that were too close to the event this year, but if this is going to be contemplated as an extension (permit extension) that could possibly have four more years of extension we should start contemplating a plan for encouragement and inclusion on women in this event. So that we (Coastal Commission) can review it, and have that information available for next year when this permit comes back up for renewal. I appreciate that it's a one time, one year permit but Mavericks has been going on for a long time and Mavericks will continue to go on. I'm sure we'll be back here next year and it would be unfortunate if we don't start planning now for the inclusion of women and to see more women involved in this program, and not wait until a year from now.
I'll float it out there. I'd like to see if I can make an amending motion to add a specific condition that we ask the applicant to provide a plan for encouraging equal opportunity for women surfers in future events.”
Half Moon Bay Review, Nov. 11, 2015 - By Clay Lambert, Editor
Add women to Mavericks lineup and be on right side of history
The most important sports development on the coast in a long time may also involve pioneering women. By virtue of a motion made by California Coastal Commissioner Mark Vargas, of Los Angeles, the Mavericks surf contest organizers are encouraged to allow women to compete at one of the world’s premier big waves, on a stage that has been hogged by men since it was discovered decades ago.
This is a good idea that came from San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner Sabrina Brennan, who suggested it before Thursday’s Coastal Commission vote. The commission gave Mavericks organizers a coastal development permit, clearing the way for this season’s event, with the proviso that they include women going forward.
2015 COASTAL COMMISSION MEETING VIDEO LINK
Sabrina Brennan's Nov. 2015 presentation is 2:10:37 minutes into the video and the motion is 2:56:24 into the video.