Hollywood producers only expected a few minor challenges when giving the story of legendary big-wave surfer, Jay Moriarty, the green-light. Clearly, they underestimated the task at hand.

The 55-foot "Huli Cat" nearly capsized at Mavericks, off the coast of Half Moon Bay, Calif. Photo: Frank Quirarte

Back in December, during early filming, actor Gerard Butler nearly drowned after being caught inside by a set of 25-foot waves. He endured a frightening two-wave hold-down, and was rushed off in an ambulance after rescuers got him ashore.

This week, with huge swells pounding the coast near Half Moon Bay, Calif., filming resumed at Mavericks, which is the most revered big-wave spot in North America. Wednesday and Thursday were banner days of surf. But according Ken "Skindog" Collins, and other local surfers, the perfect conditions -- sunny skies, light winds, and glassy surface -- may have lulled many into a false sense of security.

Related:Kelly Slater's new milestone: 40

Among those lured into danger were the crew members aboard the 55-foot Huli Cat. The boat, which served as home-base for the film crew and thousands of dollars worth of equipment, barely escaped a batch of rogue waves-- but not before getting slammed by a giant wall of whitewater and nearly capsizing.

South African Grant "Twiggy" Baker makes annual treks to Mavericks for waves like this. Photo: Quirarte

"Their intention was to get close to the lineup...but not that close," says Frank Quirarte, a Mavericks photographer who works as part of the water rescue team in his spare time. "They'd made a few close escapes earlier, then that happened."

The challenge for cinematographers of the film is capturing the massive waves while also delivering sense of scale. Of course, nothing provides perspective like sticking a 55-foot boat in the foreground of your shot. Maybe that's why the crew had the Huli Cat operating in a dual role-- as a film target and command center.

"If you're on one of the zodiacs you can get out of trouble in a hurry," says Quirarte. "Not so on that thing. That was a scary moment."

While some aboard were checking their underpants afterward, Grant Washburn, one of the men hanging-on in the back of the boat, was remarkably cool throughout the ordeal. Washburn is a respected Mavericks icon who was a close friend of Moriarty's. As a consultant on the film, his job is to ensure the project's authenticity. After all, the last thing Moriarty would want is for Mavericks to be bastardized by green screens and CGI.

The story of Jay Moriarty is, in many ways, the story of Mavericks. In 1994, when Moriarty was just 16, he became part of surfing lore after surviving one of the worst wipeouts in history there. A photo of his harrowing ride landed him on the cover of Surfer Magazine. Then, just three days after that incident, legendary Hawaiian surfer Mark Foo was killed at Mavericks. The stunning week of powerful surf combined with the Foo tragedy propelling Mavericks onto the global stage. Moriarty, too, was vaulted into the limelight thanks to his impressive performances the rest of that year.

However, Moriarty's life was tragically cut short during a free diving accident in 2001.

These days, boats are a regular fixture in the lineup at Mavericks because the break sits more than a half mile from shore. Professional photographers use them as perches while surfers hitch rides back and forth to shore and store spare boards on them. The numbers of boats has been increasing ever since NOAA's controversial decision to ban the use of personal watercrafts at Mavericks in 2010.

Scary episodes aside, those close to the film say they're extremely happy with the footage they've managed to capture. After last week's incredible swell, they believe the audience will understand exactly what it looks like to have a 30-foot wave approaching.

Kelly Slater's 11 world titles haven't come easy, regardless of how they've looked. Keeping the drive alive for two full decades involves incredible sacrifice and dedication. Time and again, Slater's either had to wait patiently or dig deep for new sources of motivation. One year it's a new threat, the next it's validating new equipment. And lately, after being pushed by guys half his age, it's been incorporating a new brand of acrobatic surfing.

Believe it or not, the world's greatest surfer turns 40 on Saturday, one week before he sets out to defend the same title he first won back in 1992, when he became the youngest world champion ever.

Two decades later he owns every record in the book, and continues to meet every challenge he dares to set in front of him. So what---if anything---could possibly be motivating this man heading into 2012?

Well, aside from winning at 40, how about that little thing we call mankind?

Let's face it, at this point Slater is a science experiment. A lab specimen if you will. C'mon, no athlete in history has dominated his field as long as Slater. Period. And what's more remarkable is he keeps getting better. How the hell is this possible? No, seriously? The guy keeps rewriting the rules of endurance and stamina, so why stop now? Why not let man know once and for all what's physically possible? When will we get another chance like this to learn?

We figured Kelly hitting the big Four-Oh was as good an excuse as any to catch up with him. After welcoming him into the dinosaur club, he revealed some of his secrets for staying young in our probing Q&A where Kelly filled in the blanks. One thing is certain: if you think he's bummed about getting older, think again.

1.) Dude, haven't you heard? 40 is the new shit.

2.) I've tried a lot of different exercise and workout variations over the years, from yoga to sex, circuit training, the gym and bodysurfing. But right now I'm having the most fun with people thinking I know Jiu Jitsu.

3.) Based on my vitals (blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat, resting heart beat) I'd say my "real age" is probably between 20 and 39.

4.) When I'm not in the water eating healthy and not overeating has helped me stay in shape the most during my career.

5.) I used to eat a lot of sugar, but now I don't touch it. I've basically replaced it with maple syrup or Stevia because it's healthier.

6.) When I look at 50-year-old guys like Dr. Nick Delgado or Dr. Bob Delmonteque(when he was 90!) I get inspired about the future.

7.) The best thing for me to eat when I wake up on a contest morning is warm water and lemon, then fresh, organic, sub-acid fruits (apples, pears, grapes, etc.) because the cleansing and alkalizing to get your system going.

8.) The food that's the absolute hardest for me to stay away from is Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Swiss Almond.

9.) True or False: Today I feel stronger and faster than I did 10 years ago. Stronger for sure. Not always faster but usually I think that's motivation, not physical.

10.) Even if I do retire soon I'd still like to get a wildcard or two when I'm 50 at places like The World Tour of Poker, The Masters at Augusta...and maybe Pipe.


Kelly Slater through the years. Top: Quik Pro New York 2011, photo: Kirstin/ASP. Middle row: The wonder years in Florida. Photo: Dugan/Quiksilver; Tavarua takeover. Photo: Serviais/Quiksilver.

In a huge break from tradition, the Winter X Games in Aspen opened quietly and in the dark on Thursday night as fans, friends and family honored the life and legacy of Sarah Burke, the 29-year-old Canadian freeskiing icon who lost her life on January 19. With bright white glowsticks overhead, more than 100 of her peers drifted slowly down the darkened superpipe in front of a still crowd that fell completely silent.

Burke was a six-time winner known for breaking barriers in the superpipe, and was supposed to be defending her latest X Games gold in the superpipe this week, but her life was cut short after she succumbed to injuries suffered in a training accident. Her loss has been a devastating blow to a shocked skiing community, as she was even more of a moving force off the mountain.

More on Yahoo: Colten Moore's wild ride to Winter X Games gold

As a staunch supporter of the women's movement in freestyle skiing, and it was Burke's efforts that helped propel the sport into the X Games in 2009, and gain acceptance into the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

"Everything she believed in is on this mountain tonight," said Winter X emcee Sal Masekela. "Competition, excellence, progression."

Bumper stickers and arm bands with slogans paying tribute to Sarah can be seen all over Aspen. Earlier in the day, after fellow Canadian Kaya Turski won her third-straight gold in Women's Ski Slopestyle, she vowed to champion Sarah's cause. "We have someone watching from above that we need to make proud. We all need to follow in Sarah's footsteps. She was pushing the sport even when she didn't need to; she was trying new tricks, landing new tricks, and I think now it's our turn to keep pushing for her."


A Sarah Burke tribute video. from Downtofilm. on Vimeo.

More on GrindTV.com

• Two supercross racers are recovering after horrific crash
• Behind the scenes at Winter X Games
• The case for bringing Summer X Games to Bora Bora

While backroom drama between surfers, tour directors and sponsors made for a tumultuous 2011 ASP season, beyond all the internet chatter and puffed-up posturing - or maybe despite it - the consumer facing product that casual fans see is better than ever. Fan interest has never been higher, and the numbers prove it. Yet it's not Kelly Slater or the overflowing pool of global talent that's most responsible for this growth. In fact, the single biggest contributor has been the steady improvement of ASP webcasts.


Today the broadcast experience is looking more and more like a television show, which is as it should be, especially with web-enabled televisions on our walls and cable outlets carrying the big contests live. But most of the broadcast improvements have come via the infrastructure side. Events are paying top dollar for producers and directors responsible for nice smooth HD feeds, smooth transitions in and out of commercial breaks, and even some nice editorial cutaway segments. These tiny, barely tangible little touches polish the product.

There is, however, one very important piece still missing: the unbiased announcer with journalistic flair and the on air chops to back them up. Fact is, being able to set the dramatic table, articulate the nuances of both the big picture and small, and ultimately keep the fan engaged during the world's slowest moving sport (yup, that's surfing) is no easy task. And it's certainly not one that should just be handed to the marketing guy to save a few bucks. Fact is, surfing needs a larger than life flame throwing personality like the much loved (and hated) Howard Cosell, and it needs him now...

The 40th anniversary of the Billabong Pipe Masters is already being called one of the best surfing contests ever, and for good reason. The best Masters' swell in decades was pounding the North Shore of Oahu all week, making for an incredible climax to the 2011 ASP season.

The most anticipated match of the event was between 39-year-old Kelly Slater, the 11 time world champion, and his 19-year-old protege, John John Florence of Hawaii.

Florence, an ASP rookie, was born the same year Slater won the first of his six Pipe Masters crowns back in 1992. The famous wave breaks roughly 100 yards from John John's bedroom, and he started braving the ferocious conditions when he was 8. By the time he was 12 he was appearing on the cover of Surfer Magazine. Slater, meanwhile, has spent a good portion of his career surfing in Florence's backyard, and has played a big-brother role for years.

Many viewed this week's battle between them as the possible passing of the Pipeline torch, and perhaps more. Florence won back-to-back events at Pipeline earlier this year, and clinched the first of what many believe will be many Vans Triple Crown of Surfing titles Saturday, becoming the youngest surfer to ever win the prestigious Hawaiian crown.

On Friday Florence drew first blood on Slater in a Round Four match-up that pitted him against Kelly and CJ Hobgood. He beat them both handily thanks to a perfect 10-point ride.

But during Saturday's sudden-death quarterfinal heat, Slater came from 10 points behind in the final five minutes to slip past Florence in the final seconds. It was a remarkable comeback that seemingly only Slater could pull.

[Is Slater's 20-year reign worthy of a Sports Illustrated cover?]

"I'm just trying to hold John John at bay a little longer," Slater said afterward. "This kid is going to dominate here for the next 20 years. He'll have plenty of Pipe titles before he's done." Indeed, it was easy to see that defeating Florence at his home break meant a lot to Slater. Years from now Slater's last-minute heroics in 2011 are sure to be remembered as one of the finest in his remarkable 20-year career.

Pipeline is the planet's most celebrated wave thanks to both its beauty and fury. When massive swells finish their journey across the North Pacific uninterrupted, they hit the shallow coral reef sitting just 50 yards from shore and jump to the size of four-story buildings before heaving, twisting and detonating with enough force to shake the sand under the feet of fans and the gallery of photographers on the beach.

Meanwhile, brave surfers are vying for the ride of their lives, risking life and limb while trying desperately to avoid Pipeline's ferocious guillotine of glassy water.

"It's really heavy out there but this is as good as Pipeline gets," Slater said Friday.

While Slater and Florence stole most of the early headlines, the Pipe Masters is a career-maker-or-breaker for several others, but none more than veteran Kieren Perrow, who needed to make the quarterfinal this year just to remain on the ASP world tour. That was a tall order to be sure, but possible considering Perrow finished runner-up at Pipeline last year. His painful loss still haunts him, as he let the lead slip away in the final seconds.

Perrow managed to keep his career alive with a 10 point ride that got him to the quarterfinals on Friday. On Saturday he set out to right last year's wrong.

Wrapping his many battle wounds in Duct Tape, Perrow worked his way back to the final against fellow Aussie Joel Parkinson (who defeated Slater in the semifinals). This time Perrow didn't let his finals' lead slip. He nabbed the title that eluded him in 2010, finally got his first tour win, and took home what Slater calls "The best trophy in surfing."

[Video: amazing human feats of 2011]

Former Hawaiian State Senator Fred Hemmings, the 1968 world champion and founder of the Pipe Masters, was among those taking in the show. In 1971 he helped launch the sport of surfing with a card table and a bull horn. "We dreamed of surfing going global like this, but this has surpassed our wildest imagination. This is just an incredible show."

Above: Gabriel Medina threads the tube at Pipeline during his run to the quarterfinals of the Pipe Masters. Click photo for full Surfer Magazine photo gallery. Photo: Todd Glaser

Results of 2011 Billabong Pipeline Masters
1. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
3. Kelly Slater (USA), Michel Bourez (PYF)
5. John John Florence (HAW), Jamie O'Brien (HAW), Evan Valiere (HAW), Gabriel Medina (BRA)

Winner of Vans Triple Crown of Surfing
John John Florence (HAW)

PHOTOS: The Banzai Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore (top) is the world's most photographed wave for good reason. 19-year-old John John Florence (middle) has come of age under the microscope at Pipeline, where he grew up. These days the ASP rookie is the biggest threat to Slater; Last week Kieren Perrow (below) was pondering life after pro surfing, Saturday, after an emotional victory, his career is going strong. Photos: ASP/Kirstin/Cestari