A Sequence You’ll Love: Balaram Stack Enters Through The Sidedoor

Southern California, above shark mania, is revelling in the first significant south swell to swing through the region. The conversation surrounding apex predators hasn’t halted. In lineups, bars, over breakfast burritos and on the shore, it’s all the coastal inhabitants are speaking of – following recounts of, or missing out on the pre-summer feels. While Lowers had its official opening day, the sider at Newport Beach’s famed shore pound drifted into proper, and (sometimes) makable Wedge barrels. For the working crowd, in modern, open offices, charged with timestamp barriers, the notion that nothing goes undocumented in this digital age has left them dizzy, awaiting a weekend of lesser surf and questionable weather. For those living in hyperbolic headlines, the sentiment that most don’t surf as much as they’d like prevails.

“The night before, while going to bed you could hear it. Louder, longer and different than the night before,” says photographer Jeff Davis on the Orange County-centric south swell. “I had an early doc appointment this morning that wouldn’t and couldn’t be missed. It was at 7:30 am so I was tripping. I’m a freak. If it’s on, generally speaking, nearly nothing can pull me away. I knew Balaram was in town but I hadn’t really thought about him coming this far down. But he did. I stuck to my plan with the doc early, and then Balaram came out and slayed it east coast style. It lined up perfectly, and can I say ever so fucking beautifully? Magic morning for me, anyway. Thanks, Balaram. You were gifted this morning. Disclaimer: It’s never this good, ever.”