Nate Zoller, hopeful abandon, The Wedge, CA

“This was opening day at the Wedge two-days ago. It was the first south swell of the season, and everyone was psyched to get into a few,” recalls photographer John Lucarelli, on the image above.. The sand was a little disorganized from the winter swells, but there were some makable corners to be had. The set of the morning came through and Nate Zoller was ready to go.  He took off deep on the side-wave and as he approached the peak, the wave jacked and threw out wide.  He tried to outrun it and for a second, and I thought he was going to make it.  But, I remember looking down from the top of this beast and seeing him disappear into the shadows, wearing it on the head.  Nate’s a charger though! He popped up quickly, smiling, grabbed his board and headed back out for some more.”