Earlier this month, the Eddie Aikau Invitational looked like it would run, then got the red light at the last minute. In the brief period between those notifications, Zeke Lau made sure he was ready for a potential “Eddie-sized” swell, because, as he says in his latest video, “Big wave surfing is all about preparation, in my eyes. The more prepared you are, the better your experience is that day.”
The Eddie is a famously difficult competition. For the event to even take place, wave face heights must consistently reach 40 feet at Waimea Bay, during the contest’s waiting period of December 14, 2023 through March 12, 2024. As a result, the invitational has only run 10 times since 1985.
At the top of the video, Lau explains the reason for the uncertainty regarding whether the event would actually run after the initial yellow alert. Though a sizable swell was incoming, it seemed likely that it would not produce the eight hours of quality waves needed to actually run an event. “Either way, we gotta be prepared,” he said, “So I’m making my rounds, acting like the event is going to be on.”
As the video follows Lau making his preparations for the event, we get a look into the logistical needs for competing in one of the world’s most intense surf spectacles. First was a stop to pick up cartridges for his inflation vest. “I need a bunch of those, because I’m going to surf twice that day,” he explained. “Last time, in my first heat in The Eddie, I pulled like four of my cartridges, so I need at least eight to ten of those to be covered for the two heats.”
The trip concluded in Lau’s home for a tour of his Eddie quiver – a collection of nine to 11-foot Tokoro guns. He also explained the logic behind his front-traction placement, as well as pointing out the need for double leash plugs on boards he runs at the event (“if one gives out, you have a backup. If both give out…you’re swimming”).
Then, we flash forward a day. “So, they called the Eddie off,” Lau says to the camera. “It was a pretty sketchy forecast to begin with, so I’m not surprised. Either way, we’re ready.” With that, he headed out to Makaha for a consolation session in 15-foot surf.
Here’s to waiting for the next yellow light.
