TOAO
10-08-2010, 06:25 PM
It is an unnatural break, and stops suddenly in the sand. This thing has broken more necks than Albert Pierpoint. And that's just body surfers.
Surf spotlight: Wedge warrior Spencer Pirdy
I’ve never seen someone smile so big after breaking a board.
With what seemed like the world watching, Spencer Pirdy walked up the sand at the Wedge clutching both boards, after a stomach-dropping bomb in the 15-foot range tossed him around in the washer-machine, pounding waves that only a handful of surfers have learned how to master.
The 23-year-old Wedge warrior was there so frequently – most days wearing a bright yellow and purple Lakers-like wetsuit – that he no doubt considers the Wedge his home.
With the south swells slowing down for the season, we thought we’d use the down time to get to know Pirdy a bit more, and figure out what the heck the Newport surfer is thinking taking on these crazy, monster waves. Click through the slideshow (photos by John Salanoa) to learn about what makes this Billabong surfer tic:
http://beach.freedomblogging.com/files/2010/10/blog4.jpg
http://images.onset.freedom.com/orange/gallery/l9y19a-l9y140img8030.jpg
http://images.onset.freedom.com/orange/gallery/l9y198-l9y13qimg7469.jpg
http://images.onset.freedom.com/orange/gallery/l9y11p-l9y0w2img3933.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedge_(surfing)
(yes, they said AU, so STFU aussies)
The Wedge is a world-famous surfing and bodysurfing spot located at the extreme south end of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California. During a south swell of a particular size and direction, the Wedge can produce huge waves as spectacular and intimidating as any in Hawaii, Tahiti, or Australia. The wedge can produce waves up to 30 feet high.
The waves are a by-product of improvements to the groin (rock jetty) on the north side of the Newport Harbor entrance undertaken during the 1930s.[1] When conditions are just right and the waves approach the shore at the proper angle (south swells), an approaching wave will reflect off the groin creating a second wave. The reflected wave meets up with the following wave of the set and forms a peak. Because of this effect, waves at the wedge are often several feet larger than waves at other south facing beaches in Newport on any given day.
Surf spotlight: Wedge warrior Spencer Pirdy
I’ve never seen someone smile so big after breaking a board.
With what seemed like the world watching, Spencer Pirdy walked up the sand at the Wedge clutching both boards, after a stomach-dropping bomb in the 15-foot range tossed him around in the washer-machine, pounding waves that only a handful of surfers have learned how to master.
The 23-year-old Wedge warrior was there so frequently – most days wearing a bright yellow and purple Lakers-like wetsuit – that he no doubt considers the Wedge his home.
With the south swells slowing down for the season, we thought we’d use the down time to get to know Pirdy a bit more, and figure out what the heck the Newport surfer is thinking taking on these crazy, monster waves. Click through the slideshow (photos by John Salanoa) to learn about what makes this Billabong surfer tic:
http://beach.freedomblogging.com/files/2010/10/blog4.jpg
http://images.onset.freedom.com/orange/gallery/l9y19a-l9y140img8030.jpg
http://images.onset.freedom.com/orange/gallery/l9y198-l9y13qimg7469.jpg
http://images.onset.freedom.com/orange/gallery/l9y11p-l9y0w2img3933.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedge_(surfing)
(yes, they said AU, so STFU aussies)
The Wedge is a world-famous surfing and bodysurfing spot located at the extreme south end of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California. During a south swell of a particular size and direction, the Wedge can produce huge waves as spectacular and intimidating as any in Hawaii, Tahiti, or Australia. The wedge can produce waves up to 30 feet high.
The waves are a by-product of improvements to the groin (rock jetty) on the north side of the Newport Harbor entrance undertaken during the 1930s.[1] When conditions are just right and the waves approach the shore at the proper angle (south swells), an approaching wave will reflect off the groin creating a second wave. The reflected wave meets up with the following wave of the set and forms a peak. Because of this effect, waves at the wedge are often several feet larger than waves at other south facing beaches in Newport on any given day.