Born in Redwood City, Clark moved with his family to Miramar Beach in Half Moon Bay when he was a young boy.
In the winter, Clark and his friends could see the large waves off Pillar Point breaking from the hillside of Half Moon Bay High School.
Labeled one of the "world's best big-wave riders" by Surfer Magazine in 1994, Clark, along with Mavericks and the Half Moon Bay surf scene, has been featured in such films as Riding Giants and Adventures in Wild California.
Most recently, a small group of Half Moon Bay surfers and business owners joined together to organize and present the contest, and in 2014 formed a licensing agreement with Cartel Management for the promotion, branding and sponsorships of the event.
Fans often encounter Jeff at his family-run shops in Half Moon Bay and meets with surfers to design custom boards.