Frame: Jacob Vanderwork
Ain’t no way around it: this has been a tough summer of surf in California. Unless you’ve pulled out the longboard from the garage and waxed it nose to tail, there’s been little action the last few months save for a few choice windows of south-southeast magnet spots.
Think of this video with O’Neil team riders Noah Wegrich, Ian Crane and Rasta Rob as a glimmer of hope that west swell will come again. There will be wedges to chip into and launch from, barrelling sections to knife into, and offshore sessions under autumn light.
The clip features waves the three friends found in Santa Cruz and San Francisco at the tail end of the 2023-24 winter before the spring winds came in full force. These lefts are Waggy’s element, almost literally his backyard. The freewheeling goofyfoot from Santa Cruz has a proclivity for his forehand on a region known for its right points, but he’s got his nooks and crannies dialed. The first wave he goes after in the : 45-second mark is a classic NorCal launching pad.
Waggy and Crane also make a point of scoring Ocean Beach, easily one of the most demanding stretches of sand in the state. The two goofyfoots take their turn driving through multiple left tubes, stacking quality clips that belie the shoulder aches and sweeping currents OB is (in)famous for. With luck, California surfers can dust off the stepups soon.
Related: Watch Now: “Cracked Record”, Featuring Noah “Waggy” Wegrich