Szekely says the drop-ins were pro-approved. Photo: Jacob Szekely//YouTube
I find the most hyped swells are usually not among my best sessions. Big waves lead to big crowds and strong currents, lots of water moving around the lineup. Yes, those days can produce the best individual waves that translate well to social media clips, but when I actually look at the waves I rode… I’ve had better days.
Jacob “Zeke” Szekely, surfing’s leading wave pool influencer (now looking for a board sponsor), just released a 30-minute cut featuring three of his sessions during a weekend Hurricane Marie surf bender in Newport Beach. The video is entertaining because they didn’t just select the best clips. They included the dozens of wipeouts and broken boards it took for every made barrel.
It’s a good reminder of the work it takes to snag a good wave during the swell event of the summer.
Szekely, who is still nursing his knee after fracturing his patella, decided to give it a go even though he’s not 100 percent healed. He and his friends paddled out for a Hurricane Marie session at Newport Point, followed by back-to-back sessions at the Wedge.
“It was huge out there. I got properly smoked and blown up,” Szekely said. “But it was nice to ride some solid surf at the Wedge and feel the energy.”
“I didn’t really get any incredible rides, but I was just stoked to be chasing those swells again,” he added. “I came back surfing six weeks earlier than I should have. Being in the mix, hanging with the homies, feeling that surf trip energy again, traveling — it felt good.”
