(Photo courtesy of Kevin “Mel” Thoman)

On duty lifeguards, citizens and two Huntington Beach city lifeguards rushed to pull the man, said to be in his 20s, out of the water. With the big waves, it was a struggle to get him from the water. The rescue happened about 2:30 p.m.
Paramedics transported the man to the hospital. It is unknown how severe his injuries are, but Turner said he was conscious when he was on the sand.
“Until we have X-rays and the swelling goes down, you can’t tell for sure,” Turner said. “I’ve had patients we’ve thought were going to be in trouble, but ended up fine.”
Turner said spinal cord injuries can happen at any time at the beach, and people need to remember to avoid diving into the water head first, and to have arms stretched out if they are bodysurfing.
“You’d much rather hurt a shoulder, than have a neck injury,” he said. “You have to protect yourself.”

UPDATE:

Wedge bodysurfer Kevin “Mel” Thoman said the surfer, identified as 22-year-old Robert Khoury, is a pro tennis player and regular at the Wedge.
“He took off and rode the wave very well, but something must have happened after it tubed over him,” he wrote in an e-mail. “As you know, if it’s hollow, we don’t pull out, we just keep going into the tube.”

Thoman said Khoury is being treated at Hoag Hospital, and will likely have surgery Thursday.

Post from: OC Beach Blog

Here’s what the statement, given to Surfer Magazine, reads:

“We, the family of Monte Kevin Valentin, would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the courageous and caring surfers and lifeguards who risked their lives trying desperately to save Monte last friday at the “Wedge” in Newport Beach.

We will miss him beyond imagination!  But, we know in our hearts that Monte is ok and that he “transitioned to his next life” doing what he loved most…riding waves!

Most Sincerely,

Luana Valentin, Natashia Valentin, Eric Valentin, Nicole Valentin-Smith, and families.”

Read the full post from Surfer Magazine here. And read more from the story on ocregister.com.

> Get more Orange County surf  coverage.

Post from: OC Beach Blog

Robbins says there’s already a few news crews on the sand, and as I talked to him on the cell, I could hear people cheering in the background as these crazy dudes took on these monster waves.

The Wedge is one of the world’s most famous bodysurfing wave, and when a big south swell hits, it bounces off the jetty, meets up with another wave, and doubles in size.

Check out this slideshow from this morning:

It’s one of the most amazing sights you’ll see on the coast, so head down there if you get a chance today.

I’m headed down to the US Open to see how the waves look at the U.S. Open of Surfing, and how HB’s Brett Simpson  is going to handle it during his heat, which is one of the first this morning.

Post from: OC Beach Blog

Much of northern OC coastline was walled, or the wind was just to funky.

But bodysurfers got into the water and hit the Wedge, where the world famous waves provided some action.

We posted this quiz a while back to see how your Wedge knowledge is. Check it out if you missed it!

Get the answers here!

Post from: OC Beach Blog

The Wedge in Newport Beach today was funky like the rest of the coast, but there were some peaky 6-footers rolling through.

Check out some shots from today.

If you didn’t see my post from earlier this week, the Wedge is off limits to boarders from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until late October. Read more about the Blackball.

Post from: OC Beach Blog

For surfers and bodyboarders, the rules suck.

Blackball season has officially kicked off, with the first spot along the coast — the famous Wedge – blackballed on May 1. Bodysurfers gathered at the Wedge in Newport Beach on May 1 to celebrate the open season, which restricts boarders from using waves there from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the summer, until Oct. 31.

There’s a pretty big debate about blackball, and whether it’s fair. The rules are put in place by lifeguards to ensure safety of swimmers who flock to the sand during summer months who might get nailed by boards.

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Most beaches enforce some sort of blackball rules to keep order in the water, so boards don’t collide with the increased crowds that flock to the water during summer months.

The Wedge crew lobbied to get the spot blackballed in 1993, taking the issue up to City Hall.

Kevin “Mel” Thoman said about 20 bodysurfers  showed up at the Wedge to celebrate the blackball season.  Thoman says the rules don’t keep people out - they are welcome to get in the water, just not with boards.

“I figure, if I loved the wedge enough and I was a surfer, I’d learn to bodysurf,” he said.  ”Bottom line is, that place was first and foremost a bodysurfing wave. We had to do something to protect our sport and spot.”

Thoman said a lot of new bodysurfers have been showing up consistantly at the Wedge, a good thing to keep the sport alive.

Each beach has different blackball areas and start dates. Click here to see the rules at your favorite spot.

Post from: OC Beach Blog