“I didn’t agree (to stepping down) – not at all … It wasn’t amicable,” Clark said Friday.
He cites “strong differences of opinion” with Mavericks Surf Ventures CEO Keir Beadling regarding the “direction, image and priorities of the company and the contest” as the cause of his leave. Beadling declined to elaborate on Clark’s departure at the time of the company’s announcement, saying contest organizers would be “democratizing the contest direction process.”
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In light of Clark’s claims, Beadling sent an e-mail to the Review Friday, stating “the fact is, Mavericks has been around for tens of thousands of years, and will be around for tens of thousands more. Jeff’s accomplishments are written in the history books, as are the accomplishments of all the other brave riders who have surfed the treacherous waters of Mavericks.”
He added, “(The) organizers of the contest and I, as the CEO, remain steadfastly committed to our core values of authenticity, courage, respect and integrity.”
Last season, there was no contest. The best waves broke before the contest window opened. Last month, Mavericks Surf Ventures said it would open the window in November this year and Beadling said he could virtually guarantee an annual contest going forward.
Clark said he has felt pressure during past seasons to call the contest against his better judgment. With respect to that responsibility, Clark says the vision of Mavericks Surf Ventures and his own conception of the contest “are very different.”
“I hold true to the surfers and the spot … I don’t want to compromise the contest for money, that’s all,” he said.
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