British summer has never been characterised by firing surf, but the past month has been particularly woeful. Regular spots have been mostly blown out by onshore winds and low period swells, so it’s been time to take what you can get and hunt out the odd novelty wave. The idea of a split second, three foot barrel landing on your head is appealing to all, even if the reality is more akin to a short head dip…
So, to get us in the mood we’ve taken a look back at some of our favourite cuts from the archive of some classic wedge wrangling, along with some more creative ways to ride the foam ball.
Mason Ho
Eight years on from this classic clip of Mason Ho sneaking off in Brazil to surf this novelty wedge, Mason’s popularity has exploded. With nearly 25 million views on their channel, Ho and Pringle productions is now the place to go to watch novelty waves surfed effortlessly. Unlike that short john, Mason’s style is timeless and this clip from 2015 looks fresh as ever!
Asher Pacey
Another free surfer that perplexes all with his performance in sub par conditions is ‘surfing’s international man of mystery,’ Asher Pacey. This edit from 2019 features a heady mix fuzzy chests and funky wedges.
Airbed Wedge
Not everyone agrees that surfboards are the weapon of choice for novelty waves; wedges and harbour walls are often the ideal canvas for boogs and skims. This guy went for none of the above and took his camping gear out to Newport for a shred. Success was found, just wait until it slowly deflates throughout the session leaving him with a soggy clump of plastic, cursing his foot pump.
Weird Waves: Nigeria
Back on the topic of pros making a living out of riding crazy waves, Dylan Graves’ Weird Waves never fails to entertain. In this episode a Nigerian novelty wedge is the star of the show, along with the local crew having a ball.
Ecuador
This interview by Luke Gartside of Ecuadorian photographer Francisco Herrera is an insightful account of the South American country’s low key, yet thriving surf scene. We’re ready to book our flights and get to the Galapagos Islands, pronto!
