Surf Photographer Captures Tyler Gunter Surfing at The Wedge

Unless you were traveling abroad to somewhere like Indo, this past summer was not a good one as far as good swell and tube time were concerned. Particularly in California where, just ask any local surfer, it was pretty slim pickins' when it came to solid days. After July, the tap seemingly went dry aside from a few blips and, to be fair, one solid hurricane event in August that lit up parts of Orange County with proper swell and tons of tubes.

Even reliable South Swell magnets like Mainland Mexico and parts of Central America were pretty unremarkable (dismal even) in August and September. For those of us stranded in SoCal--enviously watching on Instagram as Tosh, Zeke, and countless others, scored Desert Point, Uluwatu, Padang Padang, and the Mentawai's absolutely going off--these were rough days to be a surfer.

Yet, we ocean lovers don't give up so easily, we stay watchful and we stay on it. Such is the case of Orange County surfer + surf photographer duo Tyler Gunter and Kalani Cummins. They suffered through the flat spells but remained determined to be on it when their go-to spots showed signs of life...especially if that spot is the infamous dirty ol' Wedge. Aside from one session earlier there in the summer, Gunter was practicing patience, not threading heavy tubes. That all changed recently when the swell gods breathed life back into some of his favorite haunts and he didn't miss a beat to get out there and get some.

SURFER:So tell us the storyTyler, when did this go down? Do you and Kalani shoot together often?
Tyler Gunter: This was taken on Tuesday, October 15th. It was pretty empty down at the Wedge and super slow, but when the waves came in, it was really good. Kalani and I have linked up a few times at the Wedge and got some good shots, but this is definitely the best shot we’ve ever got together. The whole vibe that day was epic. The water was so blue, which made for a great day for water shots. 

Have you been surfing the Wedge for awhile or are you newer to the scene?
I’ve been surfing the Wedge since I was 11 years old, so 13 years ago. My first session, Bobby Okvist brought me out and showed me the ropes. Since that first time, I’ve tried my best to be there every time it’s good. When I was a grom, I’d go out anytime it was breaking and just pack as many barrels as I could, but now I’m a bit more selective about the waves I pick. I try to find the more makeable ones because after a while of packing closeouts, it starts to beat you up (laughs).