Newport Beach's most iconic wave gets Nazified!
You know the Wedge, that dirty old Wedge, Newport Beach’s most famous wave? Well of course you do! It is the source for endless amusement amongst surfers and non-surfers alike. When it gets rolling you can be certain that the sands will be packed with slack jaws watching the brave get pounded.
The brave used to be mostly bodysurfers and bodyboarders. Surfers, though, have taken to the place more and more and more. Jamie O does it. Dion Agius does it too. But if they try today they may get locked up in prison next to OC gangstas.
The Wedge, you see, has always been a blackballed jam during certain hours for certain seasons but, as voted by Newport Beach’s City Council last night, the lifeguards now have the power to raise the flag any time they deem fit.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
The City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday night giving lifeguard officials the power to blackball, or prohibit, hardboard surfing off city beaches whenever they determine that conditions are unsafe for swimmers, bodyboarders and users of skimboards, which are small flotation devices used in shallow water.
Such power! Such un-American values! Will the surfers revolt? Will they spray paint The Bill of Rights onto the bottom of their hard boards? Will there be a “Surf Lives Matter” movement? Should we start it right now?
"Dirty Old Wedge" Teaser from Jack Murgatroyd on Vimeo.
What about the “black ball beaters?” that turned in t just beaters I had the laws laminated in to a board so I could argue the blackball rule where I live, I was the first person in florida to be arrested for not wearing a leash and surfing in the black ball,it was 45 degrees not a soul on the beach except for the two cops who tackled me at twighlight,I tried to stay in the water until it got dark and bolted I also went to JAIL not prison,usually before “prison” and that other precursor “court” But you don’t wan to be 140lb male in a skin tight suit at jail either. fuck “Lie gaurds”
I’ve never been to jail but if it ever happens, I hope I’m not wearing a wetsuit. That sounds like absolute torture.
makes it hard to take a shit but you look like half peeled banana to the big haitains.
Actually, this isn’t what it seems. Although this may affect the Wedge slightly, it will most probably open up West Newport, where most people surf anyway. In the past, it was a hard 12:00 to 4:00 rule, no matter the conditions or crowd. Now they have the choice to not put it up at all if conditions permit. Uncrowded weekdays and large surf days will now have potential to be left open for surfing. Not sure about the Wedge but surfers should still have some early morning access.
Remember the Marie swell at the Point? Much of that would have been blackballed under the old rules.
I’m one that challenged the NB lifegaurds, they called the cops & they called backup & spent hours of your tax dollars to get me out of the water on a day with no one out,I went to jail for the weekend,when I seen the judge on Monday he laughed me out of court.(might have been the paper clothes the police had me put on when they finally got me out of the damm water,the whole court room laughed aloud as the judge dismissed as waste of every ones time that was present)The Nazi’s did win the war,OC is & always has been there model.
thank the old fat lumps of lard that bark like seals and float around out there catching up on last week’s bingo for this one. who the fuck else has the time resources to lobby city council?
The wedge has been reduced to a photo-slut hangout. This is good.
Conversely, this could be a positive thing if they decide to do away with the scheduled blackball times. I’LL NEVER KNOW BECAUSE IM OVER MY MONTHLY LIMIT FOR LA TIMES ARTICLES.