Photo: Tucker Wooding // YouTube
Despite a week of hype, it wasn’t until the very last second that we knew The Eddie would actually go. Swell reports were promising and the green light had been lit, but there were still some lingering doubts as to whether conditions would truly line up perfectly for “Eddie-sized” waves. Then they did, and on Sunday, the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational ran for just the 11th time in its 40-year history.
What ensued was truly a spectacle. In explosive, nightmare-inducing bombs, the best big wave surfers in the world vied for a ride that would not only win them glory, but also make a fitting tribute to the legend of Eddie Aikau. Videographer Tucker Wooding was there for it all, and for a recent post to his YouTube channel, he cut together a highlight reel that truly captured the grandeur of the famed event.
As always, this year’s Eddie had a stacked roster. In the video are waves from Grant Baker, Luke Shepardson, John John Florence, Mason Ho, Kai Lenny, Billy Kemper, Nathan Florence, Russel Bierke, Bianca Valenti, Annie Reickert, and of course, event winner Landon McNamara.
“They say Eddie picks the winner,” said McNamara in a heartfelt podium speech afterwards, “and I’m just so grateful he picked me.”
