A few things to know about the Mavericks Invitational big-wave surfing contest, scheduled to start Sunday at 8 a.m.:
Format:Â Four heats of six surfers each, with the top three in each heat advancing to a pair of six-man semifinals. The top three in each semifinal will advance to the final. At the moment, the first-round heats are scheduled to last 20 minutes each, but the time may be extended due to the likelihood of inconsistent surf. Waves are expected to be at least 30 feet on the face, but with the potential of long lulls between sets.
Webcast: To watch the contest on the Internet, go to www.surfline.com or the contest’s website, www.mavericksinvitational.com. This is traditionally a first-rate production featuring live commentary and replays.
Judging: The judging crew, headed by longtime head judge Gary Linden, will be  … Pictures and more