Getty Image / Donald Miralle
Local Hawaiian lifeguard Luke Shephardson was crowned winner of ‘The Eddie’, one of the most revered events in surfing.
The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, also known as The Eddie, is a big wave surfing contest held in Waimea Bay on Oahu’s North Shore. It’s different from many other surfing contests because this invitational event is only held when the surf swell hits 20-feet or greater.
The last time The Eddie was held prior to this year was in 2016 when John John Florence won the event. Prior to that, it was won in 2009 by legendary Big Wave surfer Greg Long. Bruce Irons won it in 2004 and Kelly Slater was crowned champion in 2002.
HIGHLIGHTS: Luke Shephardson Wins ‘The Eddie’ Invitational
This massive wave was likely the largest that anyone surfed all day during the monster conditions. Luke Shephardson charged it en route to winning the 2023 Eddie Invitational.
Additional highlights of the 2023 running of The Eddie have hit YouTube and TikTok. Here’s a recap:
Spectators on the sand got wrecked by waves
@megncheeese Lifeguard was roasting parents life for being a bad parent and not listening to him when he told everyone to get their kids back #theeddie #eddieaikauinvitational #waimeabay
Those that risked getting smashed by waves on shore were treated to spectacular big wave surfing action:
@vitaminseahawaii THE EDDIE WAS HISTORICAL 🌊🙌🏽🏆 #theeddie #eddiewouldgo #clydeaikau #waimea #waimeabay #oahu #kanaka #hawaii #hawaiiwaterpatrol #bikini #fashion #tiktok #808 #hawaiilifeguards #aloha #sport #bigwaves #gopro #kanaka #eddieaikau #respect #fypシ #fyp #history #bikini #health #hawaiian #hawaiilifeguards #beach #fun #friends #ohana #aloha yessah #blessed#party#johnjohnflorence#lukeshepardson#coconut#mango#paradise#letsgo#inelove#film
@shannonreporting Go big or go home. 🫣 Nathan Fletcher during The Eddie Aikau 2016. 📽 @shannonreporting #eddiewouldgo #bigwavesurfing #eddieaikau #theeddie #waimea #waimeabay #wipeout #bigwave #bigwaves #northshore #oahu #surf #surfing #surfer #vans #vanssurf
The Eddie is held in honor of Eddie Aikau. He was the man behind the legendary phrase “Eddie would go”. That phrase refers to how as a lifeguard he would paddle out to save lives regardless of how big the surf was.
Eddie Aikau was lost at sea in 1978 and the largest air-sea search in Hawaiian history was unsuccessful in finding him but his legacy has lived in for decades.
Surfline has all 8+ hours of the 2023 Invitational on YouTube to stream:
The list of the invitees to the 2023 Eddie Aikau Invitational included the best surfers on the planet in additional to locals:
Aaron Gold, Andrea Moller, Billy Kemper, Eli Olson, Emily Erickson, Ezekiel Lau, Grant Baker, Greg Long, Ian Walsh, Jake Maki, Jamie O’Brien, Jamie Mitchell, John John Florence, Josh Moniz, Justine Dupont, Kai Lenny, Keala Kennelly, Keali’i Mamala, Kelly Slater, Koa Rothman, Kohl Christensen, Landon McNamara, Lucas Chianca, Luke Shepardson, Makani Adric, Makuakai Rothman, Mark Healey, Mason Ho, Michael Ho, Nathan Florence, Nathan Fletcher, Nic von Rupp, Paige Alms, Peter Mel, Ramon Navarro, Ross Clarke-Jones, Shane Dorian, Taio Shipman, Tikanui Smith, Tyler Larronde