"The Wedge in Newport Beach becomes a symbol of Man's weaknesses: his fears, doubts, infirmness, insecurity, anxiety - his basic demons. The Wedge concept behind surfing and defying The Wedge is The Cretan Glance (Nikos Kazantsakis) and The Dance With the Bull, meaning fearless and hopeless wrestling with the dark forces of nature and man...The cross stands a symbol of hope."

from a letter to a personal friend

Rami E. Cremesti
Sherman Oaks, CA

1-1-2003

» Click here to see blue version of the logo.

» Click here to visit Daniel Starr's Wedge Webpage

» Click here to meet Team Wedge>Heads

Inspired by the most notorious surfing spot in Newport Beach, this logo communicates visually the danger that's part of surfing in the wedge. I designed it in the year 2000 one morning when I had a vision of it after I had surfed the Wedge the day before and experienced first-hand its might, its anger, its danger, its haunting power and the inner satisfaction I felt after I survived it...

It's a spot at the end of the Balboa Peninsula, in Newport Beach, California (Visit The Wedge website to view amazing photos). Sometimes it looks calm, so you get in... but then u get hit with a set of 7-8 humungous waves, and you know what scary is.... the currents are such that when u get hit with the 1st wave, there's no going back (hence the name - the Wedge - you're stuck! There is also the "wedging" constructive interference effect of waves that also contributes to the humungous tidal size of the waves which is also part of the name). You cannot get out of the water. After every wave you take, the currents pull u to the sweet spot where the ocean can strike again. You have to take the whole set of waves.... and when u survive it, it's the greatest feeling.......... the logo is meant to CHALLENGE swimmers and surfers, by beating on their FEAR chord. Ofcourse, it's a token of pride and honor for those who have been there too. Surfing The Wedge is about overcoming your demons - fear, cowardice, self-doubt. The actual wedge - the red triangle thingy - (it's a piece of wood that carpenters use to push 2 things apart in a snug position) is symbolic of the surfing spot. The skull symbolizes death naturally. It can get really dangerous there. If u dont know how to survive a wipe out, u can hurt yourself. u can drown too. Every year there are incidents of injuries at The Wedge and some of them are unfortunately fatal.

The Wedge Project is an effort to capture the spirit of the Wedge through a line of clothing, team boogie-boarding, photography and video.

Email us to order your Wedge^TM t-shirt, available in the black or blue version. Custom orders with the slogans "I Survived the Wedge", "Are You Man Enough?", "I Have Been to The Wedge and Back" also available for larger orders.

"Mutant Breakers" - Article from "Where - Orange County", Summer 2000 Issue - Page 41

At the Wedge, at the end of the Balboa Peninsula, the south swells of summer can conspire with the jetty to create mutant breakers up to 35 feet, attracting bodysurfers, bodyboarders, and scads of spectators. In fact, the Wedge is one of the world's most famous bodysurfing and bosyboarding spots. Beside the surf, dangers include currents, riptides and other folks in the water, who can be very territorial. Watch, but unless you really know what you're doing, don not venture out.

» Click here to read Surfline's article on The Wedge.