Namibia comes to Newport, August 27th. Photo: Ben Ginsberg

Here's the thing about Orange County: there's a whole bunch of talented surfers here who have a lot of experience in good, big waves. Cheyne Magnusson is one such gentleman. Photo: Alex Verharst

In case anyone was wondering, Kelly Slater surfed Malibu on Wednesday. He ripped. Photo: Bill Parr

Tom Cozad has shot Newport Beach for a very long time. He is an excitable man, as many are, when their local spots see the day of the decade. And he has been in froth overload, sending all-cap emails with multiple exclamation marks since Tuesday afternoon. Here's one of what will undoubtably be many amazing images from Mr. Cozad. Photo: Tom Cozad







This is Long Beach, ladies and gentlemen. As in Queen Mary and Snoop Dogg and LA's giant harbor Long Beach. Photo: Jeff Farsai

And this is the opposite of Long Beach. The dirty, nasty Wedge had a few moments of brilliance over the last couple days while nearby Newport Point stole most of the talent. Sequence: Merkel/A-Frame

Timmy Reyes has been a WQS warrior all year. He could seriously qualify for next year's WCT. At this moment, though, a 20 minute drive from his house, he takes a moment away from the grind to enjoy the ride. Photo: Ryan Craig

Another unlikely spot that came alive Wednesday: outside Doheny. Photo: Rob Brown

Wedge saw a few shared rides on Wednesday. Some successful, some not so much. Photo: Merkel/A-Frame

This is what happens at Corona Del Mar Harbor when a giant hurricane swell happens. Photo: Tim McCaig

When we said "Namibia comes to Newport", we mainly just meant that this swell created lots and lots of hollow lefts. Not as long as Skeleton Bay or anything, but just as hollow. And bigger. Photo: John Salanoa

The other thing to come to Newport? Lots of very good surfers from elsewhere, including Jamie O'Brien here, who was hands-down one of the swell's standouts. Photo: Matt Kurvin; Video: Noah Alani