Key Points
- The Wedge is a unique, manmade shorebreak surf spot in Newport Beach, CA.
- Its formation traces back to a 1936 jetty expansion after a tragic boating accident.
- The jetty created signature refraction waves, making The Wedge famous among surfers and spectators.
There aren’t many waves on this planet quite like The Wedge.
In surfing, the term “gladiator pit” is tossed around often – especially when it comes to heavy waves like Pipeline. That’s because, surfers are putting their lives on the line very close to shore, allowing spectators to cheer and jeer from a relatively safe distance.
But The Wedge is even closer than Pipe. It’s the ultimate shorebreak wave, with surfers, bodyboarders, and bodysurfers a stone’s throw away from the throngs of viewers onshore when the Newport Beach, CA surf spot turns on. And it’s a manmade phenomenon with a peculiar history, dating back over 100 years. Dive into the backwash below…