Redondo Breakwall reawakens in time for Big Wave Challenge
Photos by Mike Balzer
On Sunday, December 29, just days after the South Bay Boardriders Club announced the opening of its 2024-25 Big Wave Challenge, a swell that promised to rival the swell that produced the 2023-24 Big Wave Challenge winners swept into the South Bay.
Unfortunately, the swell peaked after dark that Sunday. But it still delivered waves that will be contenders for this year’s Big Wave Challenge.
Photographer Mike Balzer, who shot from morning ‘til sunset that Sunday, said the day belonged to Angel Lurhsen, winner of the 2016 Big Wave Challenge.
“He flew in on the red eye that morning from Oahu, where he had just ridden the biggest wave of his life. He put on a clinic at the Breakwall,” Balzer said.
Evidently, in Luhrsen’s rush to return home, he forgot his leash, because he surfed all day without one. Amazingly, he never lost his board, Balzer said.
Balzer’s photo of Lurhsen banking horizontally off the lip (see above) was selected by Surfline.com as one of six photos for a gallery of the swell’s standout rides from throughout California that day.
The South Bay Boardriders Big Wave Challenge runs through March 31. Photo and video entries may be submitted at SouthBayBoardRiders.com. ER
It’s an incredible Moment of Nature to see these waves come in and the awesome surfers that ride them. But, calling it the “Breakwall”? It’s the “Breakwater” to me and lots of others (including Lifeguards and South Bay Locals) and will always be that !!! Great shots Mike !!! Cawabunga !!!