Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Abody Surfer lost his life here at the wedge at Newport Beach, the waves are reaching as high as 25feet at the wedge, this is because of a large storm in Fiji. Apparentley he was thrown onto the rocks by one of these giants, police are arresting anyone entering the water above their waist, fot their own safety, we are also getting sightings of Great White Sharks just off Laguna.

Missed that by a few days...but watched the tide come in at Laguna last Saturday and surprise some implanted people...

Last time I was at the Wedge (March) it was quite calm.

Ugh, that's awful. Thanks for posting the news; I was completely unaware of this.

Human bodies make terrible projectiles. When I was about eight, my half-brother lost a kidney in a surfing accident. I just never understood the attraction myself. I'd rather stay on the beach with a camera on a day like that.

kiramdear wrote:Human bodies make terrible projectiles. When I was about eight, my half-brother lost a kidney in a surfing accident. I just never understood the attraction myself. I'd rather stay on the beach with a camera on a day like that.

It's the thrill and excitement I suppose. When I was a kid, we used to go surfing all the time (I lived in San Clemente, CA). When the huge storm waves came in, we'd go out and give those a ride too. Yeah, it was dangerous, probably more dangerous than we knew. It was a real workout just getting out past those waves to where you could catch 'em, but what a ride!

But you had to be careful, watch where the waves would take you and stay away from things like rocks (or the pier, a few of these storms had waves crashing over the end of the pier, 1/4 mile out from the shore ). The worst thing about those big waves is that it's sometimes hard to "abort" if things aren't going as planned. The wave itself has enough power to really crunch you too, so sometimes you just have to go for it and hope you can stay on.

Anyway, I feel sorry for the guy and his family, I sure wouldn't want to get slammed into rocks, even in normal "small" waves...

kiramdear wrote:Human bodies make terrible projectiles. When I was about eight, my half-brother lost a kidney in a surfing accident. I just never understood the attraction myself. I'd rather stay on the beach with a camera on a day like that.

It's the thrill...I've never surfed in anything that big, but I've windsurfed in 20' + conditions. I still vividly remember a ride on Maui's north shore (Ho'okipa) in 15-20' swells with a stiff 30 knot breeze...people were being thrown on the rocks and there was much carnage to flesh and gear, however nothing fatal. It was like "Victory at Sea" - the adrenaline pump lasted for days! Having the sail is a mixed blessing though - you can pull out of a nasty situation, but it can also turn really bad in a hurry if you go down - one of the reasons I started wearing a crash helmet years ago. Now the Great Whites are another story - I'd be outa there pronto!

Prayers for the dude and his loved ones.

Horrible! I grew up going there since 1970 and saw lots of accidents but nothing like this. Used to jump off the pier, like a teenage idiot.....

Damn that is gnarly big for Newport Beach!!

The wedge has been dead since they stuck a harbor through the middle of it back in the day (early 70's ?)

Good on the cops for reeling the crazies in, even if it looks enticing, Balboa area
Has always been to rocky to surf a 25 footer safely..... Sure is cool to see though, especially in the summer.