This wave hasn't broke for decades 

Grown 9 to 5's being groms. How can you not love surfing! Thanks for bringing us along!

I thought your MASSIVE surf pounds San Diego was great, but I think this decade's piece is one of your best from a story, description, and video perspective. You have your finger on the pulse of SoCal surfing. Thank you!

Brad, always love your videos. The ocean makes me so happy and you do a great job of bringing it every single time!

I grew up learning to surf at the River jetty and Surfside in the 60's and my mom had a crafts shop on Main Street in the 70's called The Cricket. I had two Harbour surfboards, one was a lime green Banana model and the other a 10' Trestle Special, so there's a soft spot in my heart for Seal Beach. Now, I'm an old man watching your video from the Thai jungle. Thanks for the memories. PS I never saw this wave break back then, like it is here. Rare indeed.

Epic session! I've never seen it break, though I've spent many an overhead day at Swami's. I used to be a cook at Walt's Wharf there on Main in SB. 1973-74

You know it’s big when Esther’s is breaking. If you know, you know

Excellent video and narration. If you ever want to experience sand coming out of your ears and tear ducts for three days straight, surf the shorebreak.

That can't be RayBay?? We used to surf between the jettys on the further north part of the beach. climb onto rock and jumped in seeing multiple sting rays under our boards. It never broke big. I learned how to surf there when i was 11-12 years old 1968-69

Surfed with only four friends out in the early 80’s the day the pier lost the middle sections. It was braking out sometimes at the oil rig. One of my biggest days surfing in over 50 years. The water washed over the berm and flooded the homes street all the way to PCH . Great memories.

Non surfers (I am one) don't realize just how powerful waves are. I was living in Huntington Beach sometime in the early 90's (it was just before I deployed to Iraq/Desert Storm). The surf was huge. I used to boogie board and thought it a good idea to go out. There were broken surfboards up and down the beach. I paddled out and caught a huge wave and just by dumb luck I was at the right spot at the right time and had one hell of a ride. I could not believe how fun it was and how fast I was going.I was stoked and paddled out for another one, big mistake. I was pummeled by the next wave and barely survived, I thought I was done. I popped up and saw what looked like a 100 foot wave heading straight for me. It seemed silent just waiting for that wave which I was absolutely sure was going to kill me. I really thought I was going to die. That was one of the three times in my life that I really thought I was going to die.

Seal freakin' Beach? I was BORN in LA in ... well, WAY too long ago - long before *any* of these surfers were even groms of the dreams in their folks' eys .... and I've NEVER even heard of Seal Beach breaking! Oh, yeah - the old rumors, the old stories ... but nothing more than that. Mahalos, Brad, for the awesome footage. Even though we moved to Hawaii in '71 and all my surfing from a few years before that until I came back to go to college in ('75?) ... all my fave breaks were on the south shore of Oahu, still; I managed to surf up & down the coast of CA throughout '75 & '76, 'till I went home for summer break. This is footage "of record', man; should be in the annals at Surfing or Surfer magazine. Not even sure who's up there running those these days, but sure hope they capitalized on these record breaks that only have happened, like, once-in-a-lifetime. Mahalos, again, Brad ... you were there when in counted , giving us the lowdown on how sh*t really is. Ono job, man.

Excellent video. Oh the memories. Surfed S Ca for 35 years and only one other time did I see Seal Beach look like that....back in 82-83. You nailed it on the description of the inside break.....slams your butt into the sand if your not careful. Its sure great having such great videos these days, keep up the great work. Try this spot next on a big swell....Indicators south of Paddleboard cove.....beautiful left. Thanks for sharing the passion.

What you’re describing about the waves backing off and then jacking up is typical big wave surfing vibe.. That’s the challenge. Taking off deep enough, and maintaining all the speed and jumping off the sheer cliff that happens right underneath you, just in the nick of time.

So rad. But what a fun left! How can something be so gnarly and mellow at the same time? Dig the electric hydrofoil!

Think I surfed this place (SB harbor inlet) a gillion years ago and it was similar if not larger - but soft and mushy... but fun dropping in on bombs.

That was rad Brad

Great shots and editing, you caught Blair Conklin @ 1:35 Nice production!

Truly amazing! Thanks

Wow, what a fun wave....

Social media and Surfline are the reason there are so many guys out on a day like this. Believe it or not it wasn’t that long ago that a crowded day at cloud break was 6 guys, and it was possible to get it to yourself . Oh well, times they are a changing.

Perfect for a standup

So many goobers in the water. Hard to believe how many goobs fall for no real reason. I remember surfing that so called cloud break spot during the early 80's storms. Might not have been as clean because the water in those days STANK and was filled with junk. We surfed that same wave taking off behind the peak and it was bigger, and on boards under 6ft..... wish I had pics rom those days!

I was there on New Years Day either 1979 or 80, I do not remember exactly, the waves were huge but every break was a complete wall, like the old myth goes if it is big and wall the only break is south side Seal Beach, so that is where I went. The shore was lined with people watching, only a few people in the water. I just received fins for my boogie board, so I could not wait to try them out, the waves were huge and it was very difficult to swim out, if you tried to go under the wave you were leaving finger marks in the sand. When waves are this big only two kinds of people go out and I was going to find out really quick who and what I was, so I drop down on the wave and usually with a boogie board you have to pull really hard for the first bottom turn, will with the fins that caused me to stall and I went up, and I went back first down the falls, I put my hands out because it is really shallow, I felt the sand coming quick so I ducked my head and let my shoulder hit the sand bottom, the wave was so powerful it stripped my fins off, I found them put them back on, the crowd was having a great laugh at my expense, but it was going to get better. So the I finally made it out there again, waited for the best wave, dropped in again pulled really hard to guessed it stalled again, time for another trip backwards down the falls on a huge wave, hand out, duck and roll, the wave stripped my fins off again, this time they went out to sea and I had to go in and go home. Epic day So I pulled the fins off the boogie board and now you know why they do not have fins on boogie boards. After watching this video the waves are trying to break in deep water, my day the waves were breaking nearly on the sand, two cuts and bail VERY steep and VERY fast waves. Easily 0.50 but steeper and faster.

Great play by play!

Question: When a wave hasn't broke for decades, should it be called "broken"?

I've often seen swells peaking up against that jetty, but don't know if they were rideable. Check out hydrofoil dude at 6:00 - he's got the right idea

Good Footage 👍👍😃😀😀😆

Epic lens and great footage! Selling any lenses?

Exactly my kinda wave, Except for the “Big Fish” thingo..

Seal Beach?!? This does not compute.

Definitely better than the wedge

On a side note, if your ever in this kind of surf, starting in the white water on your belly is the most successful way to catch them. It’s cheating but at least your on it and have a chance to get to your feet!

I thought it was the wedge at first!

Sweet🤙

The bigger sets look alright to me. Waited all that time, just be patient. A one minute long ride is serious.. Isn't the west coast due to get another swell any day now? Does look a bit Sharky to me tho. 🦈

You sound like the 60s surf flick narrators

I think it was 1969. David nuhiawwa. Mike purpus. Owl chapman and others . All showed up at the pier. I was 13. Our idols were there. Sorry i cant spell their names . It was ya decades ago. . Its crazy how things on land have changed . But the waves remain the same..

Those shorebreaks look like they've got an appetite for wetsuit rubber and human flesh.

8 years ago it was pretty good

Got destroyed at seal Beach pier in 88 had to cancel the ski trip in Banff sum beach

Its called 13th street

"Hasn't broken for decades" is a straight up lie.

Something for every sadist

We've always called it Cloudbreak. It breaks every few years or so. Not like this, though. Nice footage.

The real novelty wave is when the oil rig breaks. I've only seen it break 2 times in 30 years.

Thanks Brad! I grew up Surfing Seal Beach south side back in the 80s it only breaks few days in winter. 13th street was the spot we called it pipeline training because you will get slammed!! thanks for all the epic videos this past two weeks

Great video! As someone that has lived in Seal Beach- This wave has broken many times within the last decade. Keep up the excellent content!

Starts like Middle peak Lane, ends like the Wedge.. what a show!

The outside would be a great “big wave” for beginners. Super mushy, long rides, and easy to duck dive.

Love seeing the perspective you got compared to where I was filming from. Such an epic day. So glad we got to see this in person. Been waiting for the last 5 years to see it lol

That’s the most exciting thing to happen to Seal Beach since Ben Gravy surfed South Side.

Enjoyed this so much, my heart beats with excitement just to hear those waves . I miss the beautiful beaches of California . I could feel the excitement of each surfer and your filming and narration is perfect. Thank you ❤️

South side of the Seal Beach Pier, a reverse Wedge, I surfed the big swells there since the late 60s. My friend Dave and I used to surf the jetty by moonlight! I remember catching waves breaking outside the end of the jetties both south and north of the pier.

Seal Beach. Hometown of Robert August, Corky Carroll, Jack Haley, and the Lenahan brothers.

Great video! When word got out that our little Mayberry by the Sea was getting these monsters, Kelly Slater, Kai Kobayashi and other professional surfers came down to ride them. It was epic. The storm sand berm on the beach was a perfect viewing platform and was lined with people taking in the amazing sights.

Spoiler alert. The day these waves hit Seal, the San Pedro Buoy had its highest wave on record. 35 ft.

Wow, this was a blast from the past for me. My Huntington Beach buds and myself used to surf there on the rare days that it broke back in the 1970s. We used to call it warm water jetty and it was a long, long paddle out but we were rewarded with the same long shouldered waves that we’d share with sometimes up to four riders at a time.

The River had to have been equally impressive. A big south or west swell causes it to be a most memorable wave.

I’m 61 now but I remember body surfing waves this big on the south side of the pier. What’s funny is I remember a camera guy with a tripod talking pictures. I remember going down the face and a back wave would be coming out and launch me in the air. Best days!! In the summer I would skate board down on my Harbour board with red rider urethane wheels I got from Jax’s at Bellflower & Spring. Spend 8 hours down there everyday, bowl of chowder for $1.06 on the pier. Pizza by slice on occasion. 😂😂 great memories!!

Great to see average surfers getting sets instead of the ubiquitous pros. Mahalo

This place breaks atleast one day a year. Also, you don’t have to paddle all the way out, you can walk out on the jeti and hop in. Seal Beach native here. But you definitely saw it on as big of a day as I’ve ever seen! Usually 15 ft faces at most

I learned to surf just down the coast at Huntington Beach "cliffs" at the end of Goldenwest Ave. Yeah...I've never seen SB break like this except for '78 and '83.

Here is that outside wave breaking a few years ago (not decades..) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VKcZNgN_HLY.html

Back in roughly 77-78 (as in 1977-1978) Seal Beach south of the Pier went off just like this!! I was about 13 years old and had been surfing for about 5 years. It only broke 1 day and it was complete mayhem!!!!! So completely cool!! I dont remember Squeal Beach poppin' off like this since then. Could have, but a couple of years after, we were all driving and would have been at the Cliffs (HB) anyhow. Thank you for the post. BTW, this wave looked exactly the same as what it did back in the day.

and 2 miles back theres a bunch of nuclear bombs , literally. Back at the Naval Station bunkers.

That was nuts. Glad to see such nice BIG rideable waves.

Seal Beach here when it happens it's great ! We do have sharks just saying .:)

Seal Beach Cloudbreak went off in 2013. Hurricane Marie

Back in 2006 it broke outside by the oil rigs. Guys were towing in

much appreciation for the report. Seal beach is such a fine little town to visit when in the area, but living far away, I had never been in the water there, so I enjoyed the insightful perspective on the nature of the place. I mostly went because they had a bike shop that specialized in beach cruisers, and not just the cheap junk, nice bikes. I had previously seem women jumping into cars as the displayed cars from a car show left town going up main street, and it once happened to me, although I wasn't in the show, just leaving via the main drag. Turned out she was an enjoyable personable lady, so we shared some time and good wishes. She said it was possible to love a man because of his car, and I rejected that opinion completely, that the worth of a man can be judged by his possessions. Perhaps that was why she had a place on the beach and I didn't, but I did find the concept interesting, although wildly mistaken.

"This wave hasn't broke for decades" Hey Brad your title is a complete lie

This is amazing content! Your informative narration combined with the capturing of a rare event really made for an intriguing affair. I’m a surfer and still learned a lot from your narration. 🎉🎉

Love the natural wave sound feels like paddling out and in lineup-great work!

great footage!! Some of those guys had zero business being in the water

The narration is a trip - it's like an essay for English class...

Happened upon this cam same day watching from Florida and couldn’t believe my eyes. What?? Why have I never seen this before? You answered my question.

Great video,top notch 👌

I spent my childhood surfing here on the north side of the pier and the jetty and it’s true not once did i see it break. The only reason it does break at all is the way the jetty is angled and sand builds up right next to it coupled with some sort of storm or hurricane in Mexico

Such sensationalism. Hasn't broke in decades? I've surfed it at least 4-5 times in the last 6 years... it breaks fairly regularly on any long period west swell and falling tide

Great vid! I remember catching a bomb here like 10-years ago, but this swell definitely topped those waves.

I grew up Bodyboarding in the early 80’s at Seal Beach, the waves were massive on the Southside of the pier for sure. Shout out to Harbor.

DUDE! IM THE SECOND GUY! I ATE IT THAT DAY BUT SO WORTH IT! THANK U FOR THE AMAZING VIDEOS!

I learned to surf at Seal Beach in 2018. One of the most underrated spots to surf for sure! I specifically remember President's Day 2020(? maybe it was 2019) being massive (although maybe not this big), but there was practically no one in the water.

Caught inside on that thing is my worst nightmare 😳

I want to see a video of Rat Beach-Pinnacles-Malaga Cove, SkiJumps, BofA's, and Terranea-PT Vincente point

This looks a lot more fun than Porto during this swell😝

my friend said he was a quarter mile past the jetty and a 20+ still got him

I learned my lesson at Hale'iwa, Hawaii. I had just learned to surf using the easier waves at Populars (Wakiki) and on our last weekend on the island a couple buddies and I decided to try our hand at Big Wave surfing. We got to Hale'iwa and I noticed photographers with huge camera lens on the beach. Should have been my 1st clue I was out of my depth. It took a while to battle through the shore break to get to the waves. By the time I got there I realized just how big these monsters were up close (10'-12' by Hawaiian standards). I was intending on duck-diving under the crest of one like I'd done many times before at Populars, but my long board and this bigger wave had other plans for me. Before I knew it I was holding onto my board on the front of the wave and when it came over me I was upside-down staring at those big camera lens on the beach. It's my fervent hope I at least managed a smile before the wave crushed me into the coral heads bouncing around like I was in a washing machine. When I finally reached the surface and caught a breath of air, the next wave was nearly on top of me and I repeated my upside-down ride to the crowds. Since then, I've steered clear of any place where telescopic lens are in use. 🙂 Sure wish I had gotten a few pictures of my ride that day, missed opportunities.

I surfed up in La Holla, back in 1994, I was living at Pacific Beach, near Garnet ave. Anyways, caught some unique waves there, about 6-8 ft Perfect waves. II thought that was seals beach as their was a bunch of seals there. It was a reef break but and Not Shore break. I know going right you'ld surf along and than WTF, a big ole rock or Reef would be sticking out. It was pumping for two days, perfect onshore wiind's.. Than, POOF, gone. Farken gone.. Lived there 9 months more.. Nuffin, No more. Had the XP of a lifetime obviously Please tell me where that break was or the 'local name' It was about 1/2 - 1 hour walk North from Pacific beach, down there at Banana Bungalow Hostel; But's that's another story for another day! 😄

That's nuts! When I was little my mom took me to Seal Beach because of the "lack of waves"!

Yes, I surfed this wave back in the 70's, it was breaking 10-15, way out against the jetty. Labor intensive paddle out, hard to take off with offshores and a unusually hard to catch the wave. I got a few and that was all I could handle. I was the only one out there, always freaky by yourself!!

I had no idea seal beach could get like that.

The sport is called Bodyboarding… Boogieboard is a trademarked brand of one of the Bodyboard companies. I’ve been bodyboarding Seal since I first started in 78’ and we cherish this wave especially the inside barrels cuz the outside has some big faces but too mushy we like the pit. The 80’s was great before the internet cuz you could catch it uncrowded. El Niño of 83’ was insane and we lost the pier that winter.

Thank you for showing the Body boards. It was so fun to do but you are right, when the wave sucks all the water back and you land on sand, on a Body board...SMACK! FLAT on your stomach...yikes...been there. Still fun...

It’s called cloud brake. First time I road it was when the first El Niño hit. I grew up hitting southside seal beach. That year particularly I remember being out on cloud break, I bodyboarders looked over and I was well over Rubys dinner.

seal was breaking huge in 86

Beautiful outside waves. Would love to have been out there on my longboard. Btw, great commentary Brad.

Broken Brad, the wave has not broken, not the wave has not broke. If you publish content without a clue about basic grammar in the English language, you lose credibility

Great video Brad. There's nothing better the lucking into a fun novelty wave.

Nothign short of amazing...one might say a 20+ year swell is....EPIC!