Age: 21

Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Sponsors: Coastal Edge, Catch Surf, Channel Islands Surfboards, Quiksilver, Dakine

How long have you been surfing?: 19 years

Quiver + Dimensions: 

• 5’11 x 20” x 2 9/16” CI Dumpster Diver
• 6’2 x 19 1/2” x 2 9/16” CI Fever
• 6’8 x 19 9/16” x 2 9/16” CI Fever
• 7’6 x 19 3/4” x 2 3/4” CI MG
• 8’3 x 20 1/8” x 2 7/8” CI MBG
• 9’8 x 21” x 3 1/2” CI MBG
• 10’6 x 21 1/4” x 3 3/4” CI MBG

Wes rides exclusively Channel Islands Surfboards preferring the Dumpster Diver or Fever model in smaller surf and the MBG model in bigger surf at spots like Waimea Bay, Makaha, Sunset, and many other places.

Competition History: 

• 2017 ESA Men’s Shortboard State Champion
• 2018 Steel Pier Classic Open Men’s Shortboard Champion
• 2018 Steel Pier Classic Pro Shortboard 4th Place
• 2018 ECSC Men’s Shortboard 6th Place
• 2019 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge 6th Place
• 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 Surf For The Cure Men’s Shortboard Champion

Favorite Surfers: Billy Kemper, Zeke Lau, John Florence, Will Skudin, Marvin  Foster, Willy Morris, Sunny

Why: Their power and versatility

Favorite Spots: Waimea Bay, Makaha, Pipeline, Sunset, V-Land, Ruggles, Surveys, Croatan

Favorite Surf Movie: Headfirst by Will Skudin

Most Memorable Day of Surfing: December 30th, 2019 at Waimea Bay; the swell rose from 15’ to 25’+ in about 10 minutes and was still building, I managed to get a couple after dodging a few closeout sets.

Worst Wipeout: I took off behind the peak on a big one at Waimea Bay, I didn’t make the drop and went over the falls. I got pushed about 20 feet down and hit the bottom. It was such a long and rough hold down, the cuff of my brand new 12’ Dakine Kainui Big Wave leash pulled off my ankle. I came up to see the next wave breaking about 10 feet in front of me, barely missing a two-wave hold down, luckily I was able to punch through the back of it and that hold down wasn’t as bad.

Dream Trip: The Ledge, Newport, Rhode Island

Who do you think will win the World Title this year and why?: John John is on another level from everyone else. I think if he can avoid an injury, he’s got it.

What are your thoughts on the future of surfing?: Wave pools are definitely the future of small wave performance. Every year there's a couple new pools opening up with new technology and its without a doubt accelerating the progression of surfing. Every week theres new footage of guys doing bigger, more technical maneuvers that they wouldn’t be able to do at most of their home breaks.

As for big wave surfing, we’re living in an era where big wave surfers are really thinking out of the box and trying new designs and technology to not only paddle faster and catch bigger waves than anyone else ever has, but be able to turn a 10 foot gun like a shortboard.