The Eddie Swell Shows Its Face In Northern Peru

One moment can be read a thousand different ways. A hand on the thigh — comfort, or a dare? A lingering glance — innocent, or an invitation? A big fucking storm raging through the middle of the North Pacific — a prestigious big wave event in Hawaii, or a novelty wave in Peru?

Planetary swell events spread their bounty far and wide, letting each place take what it will. The same storm that handed Landon McNamara eternal bragging rights a few weeks ago also delivered waves to the northern tip of Peru — a place that doesn’t often find itself on the swell map.

“It was one of the biggest swells to every hit Northern Peru,” says Lucca Mesinas. “Every break on the northern Peruvian coastline lit up. There were waves we had never seen before.” 

Lucca Mesinas, for those with their heads in the dirt, is Peru’s crown jewel — a former CT surfer who’s competed in every single Olympic surfing event ever held. He boasts a list of notably non-surf sponsors, with Toyota, Adidas and, according to his Instagram bio, Machu Picchu all in his corner.

Lucca was in town for Peru’s historic swell and has dropped a 10-minute edit on his YouTube channel. Also making appearances — whether by chance or deliberate fly-ins — are Taro Watanabe, Juan Diego Rios, Gabriel Vargas, and more.