Koa Smith//YouTube
Hurricane Marie 2.0 was an event. Sure, it’s been pumping nonstop in Southern California for a while now, and any new hurricane that’s blasted through the Eastern Pacific has become its own event, but Marie just felt special. The “original” Marie produced a swell for the ages back in 2014. You couldn’t help but get nostalgic when the 2026 rendition popped up on our radars with grand forecasts that teased at waves on a similar scale.
Now, Newport Point was a helluva sight during the 2014 Marie. It only felt right to bring things full circle and hope and pray for the place to look like Pipe once again. That’s where Koa Smith planned to surf, at least.
Life doesn’t always work out as you plan, though. And Smith is a good guy to watch navigate a day that throws a curveball or two. The Hawaiian was up before dawn with a full morning routine set up before even checking the waves. But Newport Point wasn’t delivering everything Smith had been hoping for, which meant being willing to jump on a backup plan: The Wedge. One prime parking spot later and a morning of offshore wind delivered a completely unexpected session at the Wedge and Cylinders for Smith.
It pays to roll with the punches.
