I don’t know about other communities, and I am sure this isn’t an isolated matter, but the community where I live in Newport Beach is a breeding ground for young, creative, and athletic talent. The crazy thing is, each year, that talent grows exponentially, as more and more groms are stepping up and paddling out in big surf when it seldom arrives. Their commitment is invigorating.
Mac Saxton and Charlie Wiggs (pictured above) are just a few of the numerous young, gifted chargers taking this small beach town by storm. It’s incredibly inspiring to see our youth ditching game controllers to go out and develop skills they will carry into their adulthood. Every morning, I walk the beach to find gangs of young groms up early, working on their air reverse, hanging ten, finding new optical angles, and simply having fun. This isn’t a new phenomenon for surfers, but it’s still comforting to see, as the sense of determination around town feels stronger than ever. Despite their young age, it seems as though these groms know exactly what they’re working toward. As an observer, all I can do is encourage their ambition and wait for the next killer edit to post.
Charlie Wiggs-Wedge Carnage Part II from Mac Saxton on Vimeo.
