A surfer raises his arm to acknowledge a screaming crowd at the Wedge in Newport Beach. Thousands of spectators lined the beach Wednesday to watch waves as high as 25 feet tall generated by Hurricane Marie off the Pacific coast. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Surfers slide down a huge wave Wednesday at the Wedge in Newport Beach. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Water splashes some of the people watching surfers Wednesday at the Wedge in Newport Beach. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Young surfers walk along the beach after riding huge waves Wednesday at the Wedge jetty in Newport Beach. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
A body-board rider races down the glassy face of a big wave at the Wedge jetty in Newport Beach on Wednesday. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Spectators standing on the breakwater at the entrance to Newport Bay watch waves crashing on the beach in Newport Beach. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
NEWPORT BEACH, AUGUST 26 - A boogie boarder launches a wave at The Wedge in Newport Beach on Tuesday, August 26. (Scott Smeltzer - Daily Pilot) (SCOTT SMELTZER, Daily Pilot)
A surfer and boogie boarder ride 10 to 15 foot wave at The Wedge in Newport Beach on Tuesday, August 26. (SCOTT SMELTZER, Daily Pilot)
NEWPORT BEACH, AUGUST 26 - Surfers and boogie boarders ride 10 to 15 foot waves at The Wedge in Newport Beach on Tuesday, August 26. (Scott Smeltzer - Daily Pilot) (SCOTT SMELTZER, Daily Pilot)
NEWPORT BEACH, AUGUST 26 - Hundreds of spectators line the beach to watch surfers and boogie boarders ride 10 to 15 foot waves at The Wedge in Newport Beach on Tuesday, August 26. (Scott Smeltzer - Daily Pilot) (SCOTT SMELTZER, Daily Pilot)
NEWPORT BEACH, AUGUST 26 - Surfers and boogie boarders ride 10 to 15 foot waves at The Wedge in Newport Beach on Tuesday, August 26. (Scott Smeltzer - Daily Pilot) (SCOTT SMELTZER, Daily Pilot)
NEWPORT BEACH, AUGUST 26 - A boogie boarder rides a wave at The Wedge in Newport Beach on Tuesday, August 26. (Scott Smeltzer - Daily Pilot) (SCOTT SMELTZER, Daily Pilot)
NEWPORT BEACH, AUGUST 26 - A surfer and boogie boarder rides 10 to 15 foot wave at The Wedge in Newport Beach on Tuesday, August 26. (Scott Smeltzer - Daily Pilot) (SCOTT SMELTZER, Daily Pilot)
NEWPORT BEACH, AUGUST 26 - A boogie boarder rides a 10 to 15 foot wave at The Wedge in Newport Beach on Tuesday, August 26. (Scott Smeltzer - Daily Pilot) (SCOTT SMELTZER, Daily Pilot)
NEWPORT BEACH, AUGUST 26 - A surfer rides a 10 to 15 foot wave at The Wedge in Newport Beach on Tuesday, August 26. (Scott Smeltzer - Daily Pilot) (SCOTT SMELTZER, Daily Pilot)
