Up, up, and away at the Wedge. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot
It’s hard to overstate just how epic this giant south swell hitting California is. It’s likely one of those swells that’ll get a name at some point; one of those swells that people will get a faraway look in their eyes when talking about it in the future. And when a giant south swell hits, all eyes are on the Wedge. Brent Weldon’s eyes included.
Weldon’s a bit of a Wedge connoisseur. He knows and loves the place well, so he had a good idea of what it might look like as the forecasts rolled in.
“Massive surf, insane bodyboarding,” he wrote, “and some of the biggest action we’ve seen in years at the Wedge in Newport Beach, California.”
June 10 brought all that and more. When the day ended with a blackball, Weldon headed home and began compiling the footage immediately into the 50-minute chunk of video you see here.
“This session had everything,” he continued. “Huge shorebreak waves, multiple double backflips, professional bodyboarders launching into the sky, top surfers charging heavy peaks, and nonstop carnage from sunrise to sunset. The energy in the lineup was unreal as some of the best riders in the sport showed up to take advantage of a powerful swell that transformed the Wedge into a playground of chaos.”
When the Wedge does what it did, it’s a bit of a zoo. Everyone and their mothers were there, either in the water or on the beach. And the show? Well, it was a good one.
“From massive air reverses and double backflips to heavy wipeouts and near-perfect rides, this was one of those rare days where every set seemed bigger than the last,” Weldon finished. “The beach was packed with spectators, cameras, and surfers watching some of the most talented watermen and waterwomen push their limits on one of the most dangerous waves in the world.”
