The Orange County coroner’s office has identified the man as 50-year-old Monte Kevin Valantin of Lawndale.

A body surfer has died after being thrown against the rocks at the Wedge in Newport Beach in 20-foot waves.

The body surfer, whose name was not released, was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital about noon in grave condition, said Jennifer Schulz, a spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Fire Department.

The Wedge is a popular body boarding, surfing and body surfing beach at the south end of the Balboa Peninsula.

A high-surf warning has been in effect for Southern California with waves possibly reaching as high as 8 feet in south-facing beaches. Area lifeguards are warning beachgoers to exercise caution this weekend.

“The high surf is our No. 1 concern,” said county lifeguard Capt. Terry Harvey. “We’re advising all beachgoers to talk to lifeguards to find out where that safe place is to swim.”

Harvey said the result of large surf and an uneven bottom in the water will lead to dangerous rip currents, and conditions are expected to run through the weekend and into next week.

Rescuers have already dealt with a magnitude of distressed swimmers and surfers in the water today, Harvey said.

He said there would be additional Baywatch patrol on beaches to ensure safety.

“We do everything we can,” Harvey said. “We are prepared for a busy weekend.”

The Wedge is considered a mecca for body surfing, but is also known for its potential dangers.

Wedge veterans have left the beach with concussions, fractured vertebrae and broken bones. The waves ricochet off the rocky jetty at the tip of Balboa Peninsula, smashing together in white-frosted peaks that can tower 20 feet.

The Wedge can chew up novices, flinging them onto the hard berm of sand or sucking them back into the churning surf.

story from LA times

The combination of extremely hot weather and high surf prompted the National Weather Service to issue a warning this morning about hazardous weather in Southern California.

Forecasters now say the heat wave that has created broiling condition in the region for more than a week will continue through the weekend and into next week. The weather service forecaste “triple-digit heat across portions of the mountains, deserts and interior valleys. The hot and fairly dry conditions will continue to bring heightened fire weather conditions to much of the interior through the week.”

Officials said high surf could bring dangerous rip currents and localized flooding to beach areas.

South-facing beaches in Los Angeles and Orange counties are bracing for large waves. The high surf is a byproduct of 50-knot winds that developed off Tahiti and are blowing toward Southern California, producing 8- to 12-foot swells at some beaches.

The conditions are perfect for surfers, and the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing competition is being held in Huntington Beach through Sunday. But the surf might be too much for other beachgoers, and lifeguards may warn them not to go into the water if the surf gets too high and dangerous.

The National Weather Service has issued a warning to boaters in south-facing harbors to anchor down. Beach homeowners also are being told to be wary of increased erosion from large waves and high tides. “It’s going to be very dangerous; there’s going to be a lot of rip current,” said Sean Collins, chief forecaster for Surfline.com.

As high pressure continues to heat the Southland, the beaches are expected to be packed in the coming days. So lifeguards are preparing.

“We’re watching it and we’re prepared . . . but then again, it’s a prediction, so things might change,” said Mickey Gallagher, a Santa Monica-based chief for Los Angeles County lifeguards. “Only time will tell.”

story from LA Times

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Hurley U.S. Open saw explosive action from an array of surfing talent including former ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (Tweed Heads, AUS), 28, Julian Wilson (Coolum, AUS), 21 and Eric Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL), 20, as the event’s top performers took the water in two-to-four foot (1 metre) surf at Huntington Beach Pier today. Reigning U.S. Open Champion Malia Manuel (Wailua, HI), 15, continued her quest for a repeat U.S. Open crown when the women battled throughout the afternoon.

Surfers competing at the Hurley U.S. Open are not only looking to claim the mass of ratings points available towards qualification for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour, but are also out to win the historic US$100,000 prize purse on offer, the largest winner-take-all check in competitive surfing history.

2007 ASP World Champ and perennial ASP Title contender Mick Fanning dominated two heats today, posting one of the day’s highest heat totals of 17.00 out of 20, showing the world of up-and-coming competitive talent why he’s considered one of the finest surfers on the globe. Fanning utilized his patented forehand carve on the right-handers off of Huntington Beach Pier in his early round heat and then dominated on his backhand in the afternoon.

“I sort of fumbled around a little bit,” Fanning said. “The sets were closing out and I snagged a little left and got a couple of turns and was able to back that up.”

The Australian powerhouse is enjoying a change from his usual ASP Dream Tour schedule to take the time out to compete for the notable prize purse at this year’s Hurley U.S. Open. Fanning is also out to gear up for the next event on the ASP Dream Tour, the Hurley Pro, which takes place in September.

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