It feels like, if you live in Southern California, everyone’s been talking about for the past few weeks: the historic south swell that just recently detonated on the coast.
And the swell delivered. It was huge, peaking at spots like The Wedge in Newport Beach, CA, with glory and chaos, wrapped up into a milieu of spectacle. But was it the biggest The Wedge has ever been? Depends on who you ask. Koa Rothman thinks so.
Upon viewing Rothman’s latest vlog from the notoriously mutant wave, one thing is certain: it was absolutely gigantic. There’s no denying that. Check it out:
Titling his video, Rothman wrote: “THE WEDGE BIGGEST ITS EVER BEEN… 20ft+ CALIFORNIA SUPER SWEL [sic] 6/9/26.”
Classic. Gotta get those clicks. Keywords and all.
Anyway, Rothman dropped into the madness as an early-season run of Southern Hemisphere swell marched into California, lighting up every south-facing break along the coast. At The Wedge, the swell transformed the notoriously unpredictable wave into a mutant spectacle of towering wedges, closeout peaks, and heavy-water beatdowns.
Related: A Historic 20-Foot Swell Is About to Hit The Wedge — and the Beach is Almost Gone
“The Wedge is kind of pumping,” Rothman said as the swell began to build. “Tomorrow is going to be bombing.” That turned out to be an understatement.
By the time the swell peaked, social media was flooded with claims that it was the biggest Wedge session ever. While longtime locals will point to legendary swells from decades past, many observers agreed this was among the largest and most consequential south swells to hit Southern California in years.
Forecasts called for surf in the 8-to-10-foot range at many south-facing beaches, with larger sets pushing well beyond that. At The Wedge, where wave energy can double and triple through unique shoreline refraction, the resulting peaks were downright frightening.
The swell itself originated deep in the South Pacific, the same powerful storm track that ignited Teahupo’o, Tahiti, before marching into Hawaii, Mexico, and eventually California. Earlier in the run, Surfline reported seas exceeding 50 feet near the storm’s core.
Related: Missing Girl Swept Out to Sea During Gigantic 20ft Southern California Swell (Video)
Rothman’s footage captures the full spectacle: massive drops, impossible-looking wedges, and plenty of carnage.
But it wasn’t just surfers taking notice.
Crowds packed the Newport Beach shoreline, as they always do, to watch the show, with many comparing the scene to a big-wave contest. The Wedge has always occupied a unique place in surfing—a wave as famous for its wipeouts as its rides.
So, biggest Wedge ever? Or overhyped?
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