Our Ambassador Pete "Luigi" Shaw Rides the Hipster Through the Swell of the Century

From Teahupo'o to The Wedge

On June 9, 2026, a South swell that surfers are already calling the Swell of the Century slammed into Newport Beach, sending 20 to 25-foot faces crashing onto The Wedge. Nearly a thousand people packed the sand to watch — and KTLA5 was there filming, calling it one of the biggest swells Southern California has seen this year.

Right in the middle of it was our team rider and brand ambassador, Pete "Luigi" Shaw.

Pete is no stranger to big water. He's paddled into Jaws, Nazaré, and Mullaghmore, and he flew in straight from Teahupo'o, Tahiti, specifically to catch this swell back home. On this session, he rode a 5'9" Hipster — built for exactly this kind of heavy, fast-moving surf.

A Foamball for the Ages

Pete came away from one wave with a foamball ride that had the crowd on the sand losing it. He was stoked on how the board handled it — saying it spit him out clean at the end, and that he can't wait to get more time on the new Hipster.

He described the feeling of committing to a wave like that as the closest thing to flying: full commitment, no way back, just going — and pure euphoria when you land it.

KTLA5 caught up with Pete on the beach for an interview, featuring him as one of the standout riders who traveled the farthest for the swell. A full recap of the session is coming soon on his YouTube channel, Salty Pete TV.

Built for Days Like This

Days like this are exactly why we shape the way we do. The Hipster wasn't built for small mush — it's built for surfers like Pete, in conditions like The Wedge on a South swell, where there's no room for a board that hesitates.

Want to know if the Hipster is right for your next session? Check out the full lineup or reach out directly.