MASSIVE surf pounds San Diego

One of the largest swells in the past 15 years hit the west coast on Friday January 6, 2023.
Thanks to surf forecaster Mike Durand with SwellMagnet for helping me sort out where to go for this swell. I was torn between Rincon and San Diego and opted to go where it would be biggest.
Thanks for watching. I'm Brad Jacobson and I'll sea ya on the sand.

[prairiefire]

BEST 15 minutes of the internet! The best of the best out there. Respect to all you surfers. I don't surf but could feel the tension, respect, fear, attack, and thrill. Great photography, thank you.

[tannerthornburg]

Can we all just respect that he added the video without music and let us hear nature's wrath instead :)

[robertdavis]

I can’t imagine how stoked the guy around 3:20 felt. Even catching that monster wave would be exhilarating, but then ridding it into a fat barrel, then out the end? Magical.

[GaladonGaming]

Being from San Diego it was an absolutely amazing experience to see these waves in person last week.
Big props to all the guys who paddled out- it's a blast watching guys who are used to riding 2-3 ft. waves deal with basically XL Pipeline-like conditions! Scary as HELL, but awesome stuff!

[lukasshipley]

That’s me at 8min with the broken board 😢😂, thanks for getting the clip!!

[ZvukUp]

Mad respect for the guys who dropped in, had no clue what they were getting themselves into and then got spanked

[artlover]

Yeah, yeah. I know a lot of experienced Hawaiian surfers scoff at big Cali. I have only surfed small Black's, but in talking with experienced locals, the cold water, the canyon set hold a very humbling spot for the most experienced waterman.

[F]

Paddled into that same thing in '83. After almost drowning, learned my lesson. Was very lucky I was a healthy and active 17 year old...or I'd be dead. Big wave surfers are very brave individuals! 🤙

[kropotkinnie]

I grew up at Ocean Beach SD a few blocks from the ocean. Have childhood memories of being in those waters almost every day. I never really wanted to surf (ironically have always heavily preferred snow sports) but spent a lot of time swimming out as far as I could to the big waves and checking out the wildlife. Sharks, dolphins, and massive fish out there, all of them so passive.

When I was tiny it was leopard shark pup season, and all the pups came in right to the shore to feed and for safety. Dad took me out there and we stood barefoot in the water up to my waist, surrounded by these precious little creatures who were so curious about us.

So many nights spent falling asleep to sea salt air and occasionally, on really stormy days, if it was quiet enough, you could hear the waves crashing from blocks away.

Tons of times I'd just go down to the beach with my friends during storms, and we'd watch the absolutely massive waves they'd create. OB gets some really fun storm moments where the water pulls out from the beach as though a tsunami's about to happen, and then you get these massive waves rolling in and crashing against the pier, and when you were standing up there (after sneaking through the storm barriers) you could feel the full force of the ocean like a living being taking heaving breaths.

I might not be as keen on the ocean as I am on most other places, but I have to admit there's something very humbling about growing up next to an ocean. When you live next to something so massive and alien and forever alive, you lose any feelings of personal significance you once had, and trade them for a deep animalistic awe that never leaves you.

[Rogue_wave]

This is the best coverage I've seen of the whole swell! Such a great vid. Can only imagine what it must have felt like to be in the water, let alone catch one of those bombs! Hats off to anyone who paddled out that day!

[robertjensen]

Lifelong San Diegan here; most of our county's surfers have little or no experience with massive waves. On any given day, our waves are far more likely to be far too small, than too big to handle.

[ThatCakeJake]

It felt better getting out of the water alive, than catching the waves. Crazy day! Thank you for always bringing the awesome content!

[Elexmage]

I surfed the LJ area since 61. Only a few swells in that time were this big. Biggest I recall was in 81. That one had waves breaking 1/4 mile outside of the Crystal Pier. Next day we watched Horseshoe Reef at 25 plus Hawaiian scale-I rode the N.Shore there for a few years. One set’s surge came up the bluff and into the street at Hospitals. Great footage. Thanks.

[chrismc.]

Much respect for everyone out there and just committing. I don't surf much anymore, but this makes me so happy to see my SD peeps killing it and having the time of their lives. Get it!!!!

[Misguidedchild]

When I was stationed at Camp Pendleton I learned to surf at Trestles on a long board. I was the only black dude out there. They had nothing but love for me and it motivated me to become part of “our world”. I moved up to the short board 3years later. I never had the fortitude to ride anything over 6 ft, so I’m stoked to see these guys killing it. What a great video, bruh.

[Letsgo_ray]

Respect to the guys out there. This winter season is insane. Pow in the slope and swell in the shore. Yeew! 🤙

[ChildBrunswik]

I was there that day! Chickened out and got outa the water before the waves hit. Mad respect to those in the water with those waves!🤙🏻

[adambrown]

These guys are so brave! I don't have the balls to do it. 6-8ft is my limit. LOL! I'll be a spectator until this big stuff dies down. Great video 📹 👍! Thank you, Brad. 😊

[krzykris]

I'm an East Coast guy, have never experienced waves like that. I can't fathom even getting in the water with those monsters. Balls of steel.

[beachboy]

Maximum respect to those guys, I can’t see any jet ski or safety boats like you often do, and to paddle onto one of those takes skill and balls. I hope you all made it home safely. Thanks for posting the video…I would love to see the drone footage! Personally I do no more than 4-6 ft on my body board or an inflatable lilo😂, it’s a good laugh trying to stay upright. Cheers from Paul, Southerndown, South Wales, UK . PS yes this is my 1980 Z28 Camaro 7.5L tuned up monster, I love old American cars 👌