Ah, winter on the North Shore. It’s a time when mettle is tested, a time when the up-and-comers prove their worth, and the old salty dogs prove why they’re at the top of the pecking order. It’s a time when the surfing world points its lustful eyes at the 7 Mile Miracle. And of all the revered spots on the North Shore, none are quite so revered as Waimea Bay. As you no doubt have heard, things on Oahu’s most famous stretch of sand have been exciting for the last few days.
“Eddie might go” was the phrase that had plenty of us crossing our fingers coming into the week. Immediately following Thanksgiving, it was announced that the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational would finally be back this winter, conditions permitting. A week later, big wave royalty made their way to Waimea for the contest’s opening ceremonies, with the competition window kicking off the first day of December. And sure enough, swell forecasts gave us a hint that all those conditions might come together for a Wednesday run of the Eddie.
Well, the Eddie didn’t go. But you already knew that. The North Shore did, however, still get slammed with incredible surf and Wednesday and Thursday turned into all-time days. So here’s what Waimea Bay looked like on Thursday. Certainly not Eddie-worthy size, but there’s just something about that classic sight of a herd of chargers chasing each set wave and then, inevitably, those one or two guys taking off with arms extended, board nearly vertical, and the rest of us holding our breath while they race to the bottom.
Here’s Waimea on December 5, doing what it does best
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