The Wedge (surfing)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wedge is a world-famous surfing, bodyboarding and bodysurfing spot located at the extreme south end of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California. When supplied with a south swell of the proper size and direction, it can produce shore break waves as spectacular and intimidating as any in Hawaii, Tahiti, or Australia. Skimboarding is another water sports activity that takes place at the Wedge.
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. 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 3-5 feet larger than waves at other south facing beaches in Newport on any given day.
The Wedge only breaks big a few times a year, primarily during the summer months. It's unpredictable. "Thus it remains a kind of unspoiled inner sanctum of wave riding at its purest—and most challenging."
Those who dare to go bodysurfing, bodyboarding, or kneeboarding are guaranteed to get a short, but very fast and exciting, ride.
"It’s the toughest bodysurfing spot in the U.S.", or so said Sports Illustrated in 2004.
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[edit] Dangerous, cautious respect
Between Balboa Pier and the Wedge waves are referred to as a "shore break". When the crest of the wave comes crashing down, regardless of its size, it lands in water no more than a foot or two deep, and it will sometimes land directly on to the sand. This condition causes uninformed and inexperienced swimmers to be at extreme risk of a spinal cord injury. If a person is to "go over the falls," (fall with the water in the crest of the wave), they will commonly strike their head on the sand below the shallow water. Shore break waves are much thicker and stronger for their size than waves that break farther out. Their thickness increases the force in which they strike the ground. Lower Newport sees many spinal cord injury victims every summer which often end up as paraplegics.
These conditions at the Wedge are only for a swimmer in peak physical condition, with ample amounts of ocean experience and proper equipment. Swim fins are a must!
[edit] The "Wedge Crew"
The Wedge Crew is a group of locals in their upper 40's and older, who come to the Wedge and bodysurf when the waves get big. The Wedge Crew and others fought with City Hall to keep the spot bodysurfing only during the summer.
[edit] External links
[edit] Video
- The Wedge Extreme
- Great surfing video footage, especially at the end
- Footage of the Wedge on rotvideo.com, 12.9 MB .mov (no surfing until end where there is a great wipeout)
- Very good surfing footage
- Video of very long skim board ride
- Video of another long skimboarding ride
- Link to video clips from the Wedge film, "THUMP"
- Short video of backwash ride
- Matt Larson bodysurfing massive wedge
