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The Wedge is not a wave -- it's a 20-foot-plus meat grinder dreamed up by the devil himself. It heaves, bends and pulverizes in ways that good little waves aren't supposed to act. The first time you swim or paddle out on a solid day, a typical thought might be, "Dang, is my chiropractor covered in my medical plan?"
The Wedge is a combination of two waves that merge together, thrusting into a titanic slingshot that breaks with enough pounds per square inch to send Stone Cold Steve Austin to the mat. It takes a south swell only, refracting the swell energy off the jetty and creating a sideways wave that slings across the beach and mates with the next wave in the set. The result is what locals fittingly call a "humping effect," where the set waves jack, expand and release in unimaginable ways.
The key to a good Wedge wave is the right swell interval. If the interval is just right, the side wave will hit the main swell at the perfect moment, causing it to "wedge." Too short or too long an interval and the side wave will miss hitting the main peak. It's not uncommon to see skimboarders, spongers and bodysurfers catching the side wave before it collides, resulting in ozone-depleting aerials, monstrous tubes and insane wipeouts.
Although the Wedge is perhaps the best-known bodysurfing spot in the world, in recent years there's been an influx of stand-up surfers. What was once a novelty for guys like Danny Kwock back in the '80s is now serious business for pros like Strider Wasilewski, the Hobgood twins and a long list of other challengers. Part of the reason for the influx of hard goods is that the media -- both surf and mainstream -- have been persistent in recording all the action. Every summer, there's guaranteed to be a center spread of some hapless fool getting launched or a front-page shot on the Los Angeles Times of the Wedge at its nastiest. Despite the increased presence of fiberglass and foam, an alternative wave is best suited to an alternative approach, which is why bodysurfers still rule the place. In fact, they literally rule the place -- thanks to a serious lobbying effort by the local skull-cap crew, throughout the summer, no boards of any kind are allowed in the water except in the early morning and late evening. So if you're feeling suicidal, or just want to watch stand-up surfers and bodyboarders play demolition derby at one of the most breathtaking natural spectacles in Southern California, it's best to show up in the morning or late afternoon.
-- Blair Mathieson
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deadly at all tides
S, SW
6 to 20 feet
E, NE
9
sand
advanced to psychotic
camera and beach chair; or swim fins, Speedos and insurance card
summer
free street parking, but if it's pumping, plan to walk
moderate
quietly thuggish
2
10, if you include your own
Broken body and board, death from impact into the shallow bottom or on someone else
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Quick Fix: Mutt Lynch (23 Oceanfront, Newport Beach, 949-675-1556) -- locals love it; tourists love it. It's pub grub at its best: pizza, beer, pool tables and 12 TVs. And it has a rowdy nightlife, too.
Worth the wait: Avila's El Ranchito Restaurant (2800 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949-675-6855). If you're determined to get authentic Mexican food in Southern California, make a pit stop here. It's family owned, and they make their tortillas on site. Prices are medium range and so is their salsa.
Break out the gold card: Rusty Pelican (2735 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach, 949-642-3431). Classy spot to take a date. You get fresh seafood and a beautiful view of the marina for a pretty penny.
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Newport isn't the greatest place for cheap deals on accommodations. It's a city for rich vacationers and wealthy wives who drive their Lincoln Navigators to Nordstrom and back. If you insist on staying a short drive from spots like the Wedge, though, here's a list:
Balboa Inn, 105 Main Street, 949-675-3412
Best Western Newport Beach Inn, 6208 West Pacific Coast Highway, 949-642-8252
Doryman's Inn Bed and Breakfast, 2102 West Ocean Front, 949-675-7300
Hyatt Newporter, 1107 Jamboree Road, 949-729-1234
Newport Channel Inn, 6030 West Coast Highway, 949-642-3030
Newport Classic Inn, 2300 West Pacific Coast Highway, 949-722-2999
Portofino Beach Hotel, 2306 West Oceanfront, 949-673-7030
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Balboa Funzone (600 E. Bay Ave., 949-673-0408). Carnival-like atmosphere on Friday and Saturday nights. Ferris wheel, arcades, fortune tellers, smoke shops and lots of other stuff that kids enjoy. Located a mile or two north of the Wedge. Irvine Spectrum. A bit of a drive, but it's probably the best entertainment center in all of Orange County. Whether it's movies, adult arcades with beer, music shops, fine dining or specialty shops, the Spectrum's got it. Open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., it's at the intersection of the 405 freeway and Interstate 5. Improv Comedy Night Club (4255 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-8545455). Laugh, cry, throw rotten vegetables.
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All in Newport Beach:
Frog House, 6908 W. Coast Hwy, 949-6425690
Green Room, 6480 W. Coast Hwy, 949548-9944
Jacks Surfboards, 2727 Newport Blvd. Suite 101, 949-673-2300
Main Street Surf Shop, 105 Main St., 949-673-4412
Newport Beach Surf Co., 2224 Newport Blvd., 949-723-0635
Newport Surf School (formerly Matt's Surfing Lessons), P.O. Box 843, 949-760-1430
Planet Locals, P.O. Box 15613, 949-650-9009
Russell Surf Boards, 2280 Newport Blvd., 949-6735871
Surfboards by Small Faces, 6908 W. Coast Hwy, 949-6425690
Surfside Sports, 112 23 St., 949-675-2855
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