San Diego on Fire: Local Talent Steals the Show

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Ricky Whitlock on the shoulder, along with Gary Richards below. They both got an up-close view in which Ricky is calling the best waves he has ever seen in San Diego. Photo: Michael Bonwell

David Suhadolnik on a bomb from Blacks. Dave charges and he made some of the biggest barrels I have seen down there. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Stokes, sunset snap. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Unidentified into a picturesque scene. The lighting was good for about 20 minutes this day that many will remember for a long time. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Kasey Doyle is another local talent that has one mean backhand. I hear he is pretty talented with a shovel too. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Dave Suhadolnik is showing his versatility. When you have talented surfers, photography is easy. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Matt Macauley is another talented and underrated surfer from San Diego. He has shaped his own boards, can kill it in the science lab, and just flat out rips. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Derek Bockelman hand stalling in front of two fearless water photographers, Dave Hart and Mark Johnson. This photo is special because it shows the amount of swell on the horizon. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Tonino Benson is one guy photogs love to shoot. He was blessed with tremendous talent—power, speed, and style pretty much sums up that kid. Photo: Michael Bonwell

David Suhadolnik just seconds before sunset. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Hunter Lysaught a true humanitarian. Here he is with a big clean hack off the reef. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Matt Macauley tucked into one just in front of the stop light. If you know, you know. Photo: Michael Bonwell

$Michael Zambetti has style in and out of the water. He\'s also one of the best tube riders around here. Photo: Michael Bonwell$

Michael Zambetti has style in and out of the water. He's also one of the best tube riders around here. Photo: Michael Bonwell

A shot of an undisclosed peak. If you know, you know. Photo: Michael Bonwell

$Nick Suhadolnik is the twin brother of David. Nick is so fluid. Here he is fanning one. This guy charges hard too. I have seen footage of him riding a 5’10\" in 15-foot Ocean Beach, SF like it was 5-foot Moonlight. Photo: Michael Bonwell$

Nick Suhadolnik is the twin brother of David. Nick is so fluid. Here he is fanning one. This guy charges hard too. I have seen footage of him riding a 5’10" in 15-foot Ocean Beach, SF like it was 5-foot Moonlight. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Jason Prescott is local talent. He is busy working a lot for Oakley, but when he is in town and able to surf, you will want to keep you lens on him. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Ryland Rubens. If you haven’t heard about him yet, you will. Shown here at his local break just taking this one easy. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Ricky Whitlock setting up for another bomb San Diego has been throwing our way. This guys has some stones! Photo: Michael Bonwell

Skyler Stokes into a backside green beaut. Skyler has said this is by far the best day he has ridden at his local honey hole. Photo: Michael Bonwell

Unidentified in what is one of my favorite shots of the winter. Photo: Michael Bonwell

The recent run of swell had everyone frothing. I still can’t get over how good San Diego has been. These big storms are bringing a variety of big, quality waves right to our backyard. “The best waves I’ve ever seen in San Diego,” local boy Ricky Whitlock said to me. A bold statement indeed, but had you been there you might also say the same. I can’t wait for the rest of the winter, as I’m sure we’ll all be seeing some amazing shots coming out of San Diego, where the talent runs DEEP.

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Pipeline Comes to San Diego: Local Talent Steals the Show

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