Co-Ed(die)
For the first time, both wahine and kane compete in The Eddie Aikau Memorial Big Wave International - a historically male-only surfing competition hosted at Waimea Bay.
Mahalo to Surfline for providing the images for this article.
Mike Ho and Ross Clarke-Jones at the ‘23 Eddie
On Sunday 22nd Jan at 8 am HWST, Waimea Bay churned out a 30-40 foot swell; with the offshore winds constructing the conditions perfect for the famous Eddie Aikau Big Wave International surf competition.
The last Eddie was held in 2016, making it an anxiously anticipated event for both surfers and lovers of surf alike.
The competition lineup comprised 40 individuals. Boasting names such as Luke Shepardson, Ian Walsh, John John Florence, Ross Clarke-Jones, Makua Rothman, Billy Kemper, Jamie Mitchell, Mark Healy and for the first time in history a lineup of six women as non-alternates.
Andrea Moller, Emily Erickson, Justine Dupont, Keala Kennelly, Makani Adric and Paige Alms broke the 39-year streak of The Eddie being a male-only event.
In 2016, Keala Kennelly was the first non-alternate woman to be invited to The Eddie set to be held in 2017, although this event was cancelled.
Kennelly spoke to reporters at the event emphasizing they were all watching “history in the making,” and describing being invited as the biggest honour of her life.
“I grew up with Andy and Bruce Irons and we had big wave role models like Kala Alexander and Titus Kinimaka and Laird Hamilton but our ultimate hero was Eddie,” said Kennelly.
Huge swell drew in surfers from around the globe to Oahu’s Waimea Bay this Sunday.
Luke Shepardson - also a lifeguard like Aikau - took home the crown with John John Florence coming in second and Mark Healy -pictured above - coming in third place.
North Shore Lifeguards reported over 60 rescues as the competitors donned red rash guards featuring the words: ‘Eddie would go’ plastered across the back in bright white lettering.
The phrase ‘Eddie would go,’ was first used by late big wave surfer Mark Foo in reference to the idea that Aikau would charge dauntingly big waves that often ran off other surfers.
Eddie Aikau has become a solidified legend in Hawai’ian culture from being the first North Shore Lifeguard at Waimea - saving over 500 people - to paddling to Lanai after a leak on a Hokule’a replica in order to get help for the crew and being lost at sea.
This year’s Eddie competition mimicked the Aloha spirit Aikau with its inclusion of women, an event that will be celebrated for years to come.
In order: Ross Clarke-Jones, Ian Walsh, Waimea onlookers view, Mark Healy, Mike Ho and Ross Clarke-Jones, Aerial of Waimea, Makua Rothman and lastly a party wave.