On December 18th, New Jersey surfers awoke to a rare day. Waves way bigger than normal were rolling in — about as big as anyone’s seen it in a long time — and for those who braved the conditions, a few diamonds were hidden in the rough. The surf report was almost unheard of, with a 20-foot swell at 15 seconds, and photographer Pat Nolan was on the beach, camera in hand, to document a day that might be remembered for a long, long time.
“While I’m nervous to make the claim, ” Nolan told The Inertia, “I think Monday was the biggest I’ve ever seen in New Jersey.”
Nolan, who grew up on the East Coast but now calls California home, was visiting family for the holidays. “I was stoked the timing worked out,” he said. “I lucked into that swell while visiting!”
Among the surfers who threw their hats into the ring were Brendan Tighe, Cole Deveny, Owen Moss, Robbie Goodwin, and Ryan Huckabee, all of whom can be seen in Nolan’s photos above.
“Owen Moss in my opinion had some of the best waves of the day,” Nolan said. “But that shot of Robbie Goodwin getting pinched down by that lip was next level. He actually made it through, got barreled, and spat out.”
See more from Pat Nolan on his website or follow him on Instagram.
