Albee Layer has had a hectic week. It started at Mavericks. Then it turned into “a couple missions in that area.” Then it was supposed to be punctuated by a rush back to Oahu for the 9th time the Eddie ever held court. Only the latter never happened.
The crazy thing is that Albee knew it wasn’t going to run. And logistically, if it had run, the dude would have arrived fresh off a plane from Maui with just enough time to get to put his feet in the sand at Waimea to maybe make his heat. He cuts it close.
So naturally the first thing I ask Mr. Layer is how bummed he is that the Eddie was called off.
“I’m kind of stoked.”
I’m picking his brain over the phone as Albee starts to break down his schedule these last couple days, from the moment he received word Eddie was going until the moment he knew (and heard) Eddie was in fact not going. Oh, the life of a big wave surfer. Does anyone know how or if these guys ever get to sleep?
Here’s how it all went down according to Albee:
Monday: 7pm PST
We had surfed Mavericks last week and stayed in that region for a mission there. Since cell service was kind of spotty I actually got the word that the Eddie was on a little later than everybody else on Monday night.
I have one big board with me but I need another, so I’ll have to get to Maui before flying over to Oahu for the contest. So the plan was set: Leave California by 4pm Tuesday, arrive in Maui at 8pm HAST, pick up a board and jump on a 9pm flight to Oahu, drive to the North Shore, then sleep for a little bit before surfing Wednesday morning.
Tuesday: 4pm PST
We’re on the plane ready to leave California, ready to go, and they pull us off. I figure we aren’t going to make the connecting flight (Maui to Oahu) and I have no flight straight to Oahu. So now it’s a matter of getting a Wednesday morning flight, then having enough time to drive from Honululu to the North Shore.
On top of that, ALL the flights are booked from Maui to Oahu Wednesday morning.
Tuesday: 7:45 PM PST
Right before we board the new plane out of California one seat opens up on that Wednesday morning flight. 7:30 am. That was going to get me onto Oahu at 8am and then, hopefully, I’d be at Waimea Bay in time. We’re talking straight from the airport to the North Shore, putting fins on my board in the car and running right into my heat.
Mom and Dad are already on Oahu. They’ve rented a car and are staying the night in town so they can meet me at the airport and drive me straight to the contest.
Tuesday: 8 PM PST
We finally leave for Maui.
Wednesday: 1AM HAST
I arrived in Maui and get my boards ready.
Wednesday: 2 AM HAST
Time to get some sleep, hopefully for at least a few hours. But first I check the buoys and start thinking to myself “I just can’t see them running it.” It’s the same swell track on Maui as Oahu, so I kind of feel it’s not going to happen.
Wednesday: 5:30AM HAST
I wake up, put all my shit in the car and head for my flight to Oahu. But I already have a feeling I shouldn’t even go.
Wednesday: 6:15 AM HAST
Sure enough, a friend who’s there already mentions they won’t run the contest, so I call it. I miss my 7: 30 AM flight, drink some coffee and get my parents a flight home (to Maui). Soon after that I get the official word that the contest is off.
Wednesday: 12 PM HAST
I have one last trip to the airport…to pick up my parents who were waiting for me on Oahu the whole time. So now I’m just cruising at home on Maui, hoping Jaws gets good before dark.
