You don't want to SURF The Wedge

Sure, it looks really fun when watching online or from the safety of the beach but it's a different story when you're looking down the face of a dirty ol wedge wave.
Thanks for watching! I'm Brad Jacobson and I'll sea ya on the sand.
Music: Lars Ericksson and Blood Red Sun.

[@ylana4444]

Thank you so much for slowing it down and narrating in the process. Very informative and entertaining. I’m 69 and obviously would never surf the wedge. This video made me smile from ear to ear and my brain was creating alpha “waves” pretending I was actually surfing it! Thank you!

[@BlueRusso]

73 and living near tiny Florida shorebreaks that can make good tries at killing you, at 5'.

[@sqweegium]

I’m like 90% sure I am the guy slamming into the blue body boarder at 9:00…. Sorry blue body boarder. It was a mistake.

[@ralphiewigs2208]

It's a spectacular place for spectators. When those big sets come in and that big peak doubles (or more) in size in the span of a second or two, there's a collective gasp from the onlookers. It's pretty fun. I've never been tempted to go out. In the words of Dirty Harry, "A man's got to know his limitations".

[@jtotheb-ip2hh]

"...a collective gasp..." along with collective oohs, aaahs, and WHOAs -- all day long. it is fun, but you also sit there thinking, am i going to see someone DIE today?!?!

[@firstblood8391]

Amazing video! It'd be great to see interviews with Wedge locals. That furious wave must create gnarly locals.

[@tropocal2343]

*I always wanted to surf it, as it was a local spot near me, but back in the day it was a body surfers hang out, mostly black balled, I never saw it being worth a broken board, or fin up the ass.* *Not to mention; I respect it as a body surfers wave, and give it up to them.*

[@vickryan]

2:45 Looks like a spine twister back breaker. Here's my advice. Every wipeout you take, roll into a ball like a little rolly polly bug. Or a turtle. Ball up. To protect your head and your spine and your feet too. Laceration on my foot by my fin taught me this lesson, to ball up every time i fall. Hope this advice helps somebody out there.

[@Carphi2000]

I wish I read this advice a week ago but thank you anyways

[@grahambarton1942]

Great analysis! With slo-mo you can take in the full horror of these wipeouts!

[@aapp953]

I went to the wedge not knowing what it was and tried to ride on my body board. The first thing that happen was I went straight down full speed board went right into the sand while my body bent feet nearly touching the back of my head then the wave dragging me through the sand at full speed under the shallow water. Then the life guard came running and told me and my buddies to get out cause it wasnt worth it.😂

[@1234waveskier]

I love these kind of videos, great job!

[@BradJacobson]

Thank you!

[@jerrybow8779]

After what happened to mikala in the ments the other day it amazes me how that kind of thing doesn’t happen here!

[@xavier4355]

🔆 rest in peace 🤙

[@sunsensational]

True. But really was a freak accident the way that happened to him. We’ve all had a fin to the groin, nuts, leg, etc. with gashes and blood. But to get it right at your femoral artery where you bleed out? That’s just a very freak and sad accident .

[@TaranakiGreenfields]

YEOW!!! GET AT IT

[@Slipperygecko390]

Not a surfer, watched a few surf films is about it. But this is a great video to help me appreciate it more.

[@OspreyVision]

Good video 📹 Thanks!

[@johndone-s8e]

funny to watch when they know they're in for a beating

[@garyspeed8961]

as an old bellyboarder love these slow motion views

[@Tdub0911]

Moved to Newport from Seattle after high school, went bofysurf and had no clue. On first wave I was dropped off lip straight onto my face and heard a crunch up my neck. First Wave equaled last wave as I said "f*ck it, I'm out."

[@KaiOwensDrums]

I’ve been out at the wedge on a few small day body surfing when it was like 3-5 feet and it still was breaking on basically dry sand where you had to pull out of your ride right at the last second or you would just get destroyed on the ground

[@doctoronishispsychosislab1474]

the wave behind hits the rocks then bounces off to cause the wedge effect

[@scarletbegonias2359]

I used to surf The Wedge, I got pummeled so many times.

[@theman21030]

Beast

[@vulpes122]

what about skimboarding in on the side wave?

[@j3f423]

More waves for me ❤

[@j3f423]

Please make a video at my local spot we need less people and more waves Lfg “you don’t want to surf anywhere in so cal” 🫡🤣 ty for the entertaining videos always best wishes sir

[@maltekuny9860]

Oh yes i want to

[@jmavierpayne9726]

Thanks for the video You never mentioned that it's a shorebreak 🤔 you said it was close to the beach but I always considered the wedge shorebreak is that correct?? I'm a local🤙🤙

[@BlueRusso]

I think the term was used. It is a classic shorebreak, along with Sandy on Oahu and Ke Iki, north shore, which is part sand, part stone slab, and a source of inspiration for Clark Little's wave photos and for the photographers who take photos of Little. I have a big near black & white photo from there, a big messy wall of water with a head and a water housing with a "B!" logo at the bottom. That's Clark. Our part of Florida has sharply contrasting beaches. Much of the Atlantic coast is fairly gently sloping beaches with waves breaking well offshore. On bigger days, getting out to the break can exhaust. Indian River County specializes in reefs and abundant shell fragments (big particle size), which favor beach breaks. Wedge skimboarder Brad Domke got started at Wabasso, which can be Wedgy. For comparison in Newport Beach, 15th-18th Streets and the "jetties" west of the Pier are more gently sloping. The waves break a good distance from the shore.

[@Jimmyspov]

i wanna bodyboard it tho

[@chriszablocki2460]

I probably COULDN'T surf the wedge. Side note: there are human teeth in the reef of pipeline. Or were in 2002.

[@richardelliott8352]

Before boogie boards, this spot was a bodysurfing rite of passage, famous for broken collarbones. If you hadn't surfed the wedge, you lost face. I still remember the hoots of laugher , and cheers of derision as I took off on my first try at the wedge. I was kind of embarrassed when the hooting and pointing from the rocks happened actually before I even took off, but that was quickly replaced by being held down in some kind of giant washing machine. I hadn't developed any coping mechanisms for being held down, my mind was without a survival plan at the time, so I was just starting to freak out over the time underwater when I realized I could just stand up, the water level was now below my knees. My skills were low, but what's a young man to do, not keep up with his friends? Fortunately for me, eventually the ocean took a liking to me, but she took a lot of convincing before bestowing such a heavenly prize.

[@jtotheb-ip2hh]

so true. as an OC native, i can attest that this place is legendary. the shallowness is both your friend AND enemy here. it can be so intense. rock on!

[@Cmon-Man]

@@jtotheb-ip2hhsame here. Grew up not far from there in the ‘70s thru ‘90s. All these years later I still have rash scar across my stomach and chest. Lucky nothing broke. Great memories

[@tuskedbeast]

That was your most entertaining video yet, Brad! A-Game commentary, the rewind/forward combo is just so fun to watch. The wave IS the star; this video is great wave-watching, as well (of course) the human hamburger factor :) Excellent!

[@BradJacobson]

Thank you! I really appreciate the feedback

[@bhaireddy7972]

Great video. Have so much respect for the Wedge Surfers, Bodyboarders and Bodysurfers. As a 53 Year old intermediate Bodyboarder I think my crashes on a 4-6 ft wave at Newport 40th is hard on the body and I can only imagine the wear and tear from the wedge.

[@teedubzone]

These videos are very educational and instructive, I really enjoy them. One comment, could you play the clips at normal speed after you explain them? Keep up the great stuff and thank you!

[@SantaCruzCowboy]

I don’t even want to watch it😮

[@BradJacobson]

🤣🤣🤣

[@sanpedrolocal1970]

Good way to get paralyzed!

[@timkeane2907]

My dad was paralyzed here, place is no joke!

[@riostomp5729]

@@timkeane2907 sorry to hear that, hope he's doing well

[@BradJacobson]

Sorry to hear that. It’s a heavy spot.

[@timkeane2907]

It was before the days they had emergency services on site on the big days. So glad they are prepared now

[@noahthomas6407]

This is a great bodysurfing break, especially when it’s not too gnarly. I wouldn’t wanna surf it, shits crazy man

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

What happens is it sucks the water In front of it rapidly because if the layout... Believe me tons of sand get displaced when that lip hits that Sandy water.... Honest to God I sit here and tell you at Seal Beach ( hurricane In Baja 80) 15-18 foot shorebreak the lifeguard stopped me and asked " You do this before!?" Yeah ! Get In get down and out the backside! " Alright" First wave..15' bodysurfing just on my way down THIS HUGE BACKWASH DISLODGED ME! next thing I know I'm 12 feet in the air flapping my arms like a seagull then this huge barrel lip me mid back drives me into the sand... Honest to God I did a summersault underneath ground level! Then the wave spits me up onto the beach with both my heels cramped locked up against my buttocks! I'm paralyzed! Excruciating cramps! I'm waving my arms and lifeguard runs down grabs me by arms and pulls me out just before another wave 🌊 broke on my position! It was brutal! Unscathed cept for the cramps! A one wave day! Eric Underwood Class of 81 Downey High school CA ✌️❤️🇺🇸🛐🗽

[@Crazysurferdude]

You should take the best and funniest one's of these and turn them into shorts. You'd gain hella views off of that cause some of these are hysterical. You remind me of Jomboy's breakdowns with this style of video and I love his stuff so please do more of these if you can. A+ content.

[@iancharless]

Great commentary for us non surfers. Mad respect for a sport I've never been apart of. Skateboarding and snowboarding I'm familiar with but this is crazy. I almost drown in Mexico in Puerto Esondido in big waves. I was just messing around body surfing and got locked into a horrible set and a lot of under tow. I was exausted and survived and I since have much greater respect for the power of the ocean. There is barely a power greater. Until you know that power, you'll underestimate it evertime

[@athleticgeek1]

Grew up in CdM and lived at the Wedge every 6ft + swell in the mid 80s to mid 90s. I can surf but never did there, only body and sponging, for these reasons. I also valued my 6'6" Channel Isl. far too much for a 1-2 second barrel. Though it does provide the best free salt/sand scrub you can find! PS: he didnt do the right thing at 6:37... he should have bottom turned and cut back into the face of the wave... saving energy paddling back out!

[@MarkSchmidt-w6s]

I once got paralyzed from the waist down after landing on my back hitting the shallow bottom. I thought I was going to be permanetely paralyzed but with 5-10 minutes I got my feeling back. Got lucky.

[@thomasrichardson-ev1wp]

Paralyzed a friend back in the late 60’s

[@anotherworldviewispossible]

Well ... obviously that's a wipeout reel... But if you know what you're looking at...and you're really picky when choosing your waves...you can continue riding it into your 50's...and you can survive and do it relatively safely... Ask me how I know 😉. If I was gonna diagnose what's wrong in these situations...most of the time it starts with too much West in the angle, and probably an early- (or inconsistent-) season sand bar, that isn't far enough out, to make the waves break in the right spot, out by the Jetty. Sure, more westerly angles makes for more sidewave energy... But it also makes for more closeout clamshell end sections - and rights coming over, towards you, from Cylinders. I pick my days pretty carefully. So far, I've missed a couple good days this year... But I'm also in good shape, for when the primo conditions come - and so are my tools.

[@christophercarrillo4726]

Didn’t know surfing was this complicated I just assumed you go out everyday to hit the waves. Sick!

[@11bravo18]

I'll buy that Drone Pilot a round. And burn a chronic with him.

[@colter7300]

Love these analysis videos, keep doing them! This and Malibu were awesome

[@Kahuna54]

We surfed there in the 70s, if I’m not mistaken board surfing was outlawed for a while there but we tried anyways! Got my clock cleaned for sure!😂

[@Av-vd3wk]

If you’re a true local it’s just “Wedge”

[@campbellgeddes]

need to see john john out there just once on a big day

[@michaelhoste_]

Beautiful peak that should peel off nicely in each direction.. but then.. No Exit.

[@yournamehere6719]

"Nowhere to run, Nowhere to hide..."

[@FishingGingerly99]

The wave to the camera tho😂😂

[@hman7236]

No thanks 😊

[@BradJacobson]

I agree

[@markeggins890]

You need to do a PhD on the Wedge!

[@siriusness7505]

You surf/bodysurf/ etc. the Wedge to get pounded, that's kinda the point, especially at low tide. I used to surf there in the 80's-90's and the side wave wasn't really a thing back then. At red flag, normally on a big south swell, an ambulance/ paramedics would be parked there waiting for someone to be injured. The wave changed a lot over the years. The wave seamed to be more dangerous back then but maybe that's just me getting older. 😉 Nice video, thanks for sharing.

[@DKoren]

if you’re a chiropractor watc.. fu*k that! i need a SOLID team of neuro and orthopaedic surgeons. yesterday. and yeah.. a psychiatrist might help as well😆

[@garyt3hsna1l82]

never been more afraid in the ocean than being trapped in between sets at the wedge and barely treading water looking at the beach 20 feet away wouldn't get in now.

[@johnkeeley5111]

Love the Drone footage!!!

[@roberttillotson6861]

Back in 80’s the lifeguards only allowed boogie boarding on weekends. You had to move over a 100 yds to surf. Still good. Getting slammed though by these waves wasn’t bad. It felt like a wet sand bath rubbing you down into bottom. Looks worse then is.

[@MrNvona]

Seriously, it's a shit wave for surfing, other than the spectacle that is The Wedge. It's WWE vs. Earnest Hemingway. The Wedge is WWE.

[@rolly1496]

Not good for seniors.😏

[@SoCali_Surfer]

When did the Wedge change so much? I used to live on Miramar St. and the Wedge was all body surfers. It had the wave come across, hit the jetty, then reverse direction, making for the best body surfing! The Wedge was well known but never crowded like this at all. When there was a HUGE storm, some pretty much daredevil bodyboarders with helmets came out and were the only ones going out. This was back in the mid to late 90s. It was such a short, harsh break.... I cannot ever remember seeing a single surfboard there! When the change?

[@A-FrameWedge]

Back in the late 70’s and in the 80’s surfboards were so much heavier and were just not as advanced as today’s boards. On really big days I almost never saw a surfer in the water, just Ron Romanowsky on his knee board. But I don’t remember any bodyboarders wearing helmets.

[@MikeWise-et8to]

What causes the jetty to form waves like that ? I once read it was an engineering fuckup back in the day ??? How does it go from so deep to the A frame section buildup and then literally a closeout with nowhere to go ??? Is it also caused by the beach being downhill ????

[@vickryan]

8:50 to 9:20 As if one snake isn't enough, this is a double snake. You hit the guy twice. Guess he really badly wanted to snake that dude. Hit him twice. fkkkked up.

[@funtimegames]

On my bodysurf bucket list. Sailed there from Hawaii but swell was not working.

[@ryancuda45]

i miss the late 80s and 90s wedge days were good like really good. spitting chunks every wave for months straight

[@yournamehere6719]

Gotta be a lot of snapped boards on good-sized days. Are there local shapers who make thicker/ heavier boards to deal with this?

[@dt6107]

The Wedge: in position, out of position, in position, out of position...washing machine. Not for amateurs...

[@deanrobertcrabb]

I'll bodyboard The Wedge eventually. But not til I got boastable skills tell ya what.

[@brucescott3183]

Great commentating on the waves and what the surfers and bodyboarders are doing and going through. It makes it more fun!

[@majorpayne8373]

Would be best to show the waveride at normal speed, and then dissect it. Gives the full power and dynamic of the wave.

[@unrealuknow864]

When I grew up there was no surfing at the Wedge. Body surfing or sponging only. Had a lot of great times out there when I was young.

[@neiljoy8465]

I do want to surf the Wedge and I have many friends whom want to join me...we're coming!

[@user-qj6nx9ss7v]

Right at 11:30 that guy resembled the Cardiff Kook to a tee. The first time I've ever seen it played out.

[@outtaurmind8554]

Grew up in HB and spent manny hours at the Wedge. PArt of the aura is getting pounded/

[@mattd03411]

Only waves I know. Chewed me up and slammed me repeatedly 4 waves one after another.

[@FamingoSpace]

amazing video and communication bro!!

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks! I appreciate it

[@MarkHoltze]

Back in July 2005 we were in Newport and got the call the Wedge was "popping off" and being from the East Coast, we had to come out and see. Was one of the most unique surf experiences I ever witnessed. Loads of players in the water, so many lenses pointed at the waves....I had to watch it with my own eyes for a good 30 mins before I even thought pointing my camera at it and getting some shots. What a wave.

[@dillwill1813]

Looks like a lot a of surfers now, my homie broke his friggin neck here.

[@vickryan]

2:51 my god that's a thick lip. Hey he got barreled on that first part!

[@cullyn]

Cant believe I missed this one, lucky I check my subscription feeds for missed videos. Thanks Brad!

[@Sp4wnK3lla]

If you can surf the Wedge, you got some bolls!

[@Onelastridesurfing]

my friend when i was a teen wanted me to goto the wedge to bodyboard, I was used to HB and didnt have even have fins at the time. I told him no im good i dont wanna die today LOL. Even with fins it would have been a no.

[@BradJacobson]

🤣🤣

[@jjohn56]

I'd love to know how often someone gets really hurt here

[@LukeAMcDowell]

I don’t understand why anyone would surf here.

[@rykcan-4411]

i could watch these vids for hours. cheers

[@cthespy]

Great video!

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks!

[@laurat1129]

All I can think of watching these videos is head, neck, and back injuries. Not fun. And I wonder, too, about the surfers duck diving underneath the ones taking the wave? As some may know, the Wedge is where John Wayne got injured bodysurfing and lost his USC football scholarship back in the 1920s. But then he got work in Hollywood (and the rest is history…)

[@BlueRusso]

Recent serious spinal injury at Huntington Beach. Victim was expert in the surf. I watched a broken leg at the Wedge. Another expert, for some reason had a hard landing on one foot, perhaps a six-foot wave. Broken tibia, fibula and apparently ankle damage. To a large extent, today's busy Wedge is a tribute to great water skills.

[@laurat1129]

@@BlueRusso Oh, no. That sounds awful.🙁

[@BlueRusso]

​@@laurat1129 The broken leg does not seem a Wedge-specific injury, could have happened at my local beach in Florida. Don't know the Huntington Beach circumstances, other than there being a swell.

[@reidnmiller1]

Brad Jacobson this was a great video!

[@monkfry]

Nope, but man you guys got some Cahoonas!!

[@roguebossa]

You are correct, I do not want to surf Wedge

[@kanebowman8115]

Funny commentary. I live in Australia, and back in the day remember a boog video by Scott Carter called "the inside". It was a great surf vid. It had a wedge feature with Chad Barber dominating.

[@AMOKIAN]

Yeah. Awesome breakdowns. Great to see the dissections of the rides. 😎🌴🌊🌊

[@maustintx]

Looks like maybe some 18’ coming out tomorrow morning. I’m new to the area and I’ve never shot there before so I’m stoked. Super awesome video and thanks for the coaching on getting great images.

[@ukutiki]

wedge is always hangry

[@r.c.salyer3652]

THE Best entertaining video on the Wedge. I even learned some things, and I used to body surf it, in waves this big and bigger in the 1960s with a Wedge regular.. I like the quote about the Chiropractor. I bet in the future you will see one there with a big sign and a fold up table, unfolded and waiting to straighten some of these guys out! Some whip lashes for sure too.

[@everythingsick]

actually I like surfing there

[@micahclothier]

Is this some off season no swell video ? 😂

[@masterofwit339]

I truly admire humans who surf. The ocean terrifies me. I wish it wasn’t the way, but she does. Waves, specifically, light such a fire of phobia inside of me that I’m scared just watching this clip. 😩🌊

[@garettoverstreet]

We need more videos like these Brad👍

[@markbond2539]

An amazing and well described video. Are you a sony shooter ? 120 fps looks like

[@cbadcruiser]

Just the pure insanity of the wave makes the wedge one of my favorite places to surf even though it's an hour drive away. Never been worked so hard and yet had so much fun.

[@5pecialFX]

Looks like a shit spot to surf.

[@MintyRiverboat-px5jd]

Like a decade ago to skill those

[@lucaddy]

Carnage what’s the fun there 😮