Mavericks surfers call early conditions ‘treacherous’

When the storied big-wave Eddie Aiku competition was called off in Hawaii because of less-than-imposing swells earlier in the week, there was thought that the Titans of Mavericks event, set for Friday, might be less hearty than in previous years. [...] in the first round, Santa Cruz surfer and Mavericks veteran Kenny “Skindog” Collins was overwhelmed by a 35-foot face and had to be pulled out by a jet ski. “I almost drowned,” Collins said after getting back to the dock at Pillar Point Harbor; he called the conditions “treacherous” and credited his life vest with saving him after the worst wipeout of his career. Two competitors have been killed in the event’s history; Mark Foo during the 11994 Mavericks competition and Sion Milosky in 2011. Collins, 48, had to exit the event because of a ruptured left ear drum.