Wednesday, December 9, 2009

"Eddie" Went

Aloha Beach Bums & Bunnies
Welcome to . . .
Oahu's North Shore, Waimea Bay,
and
The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Surf Meet.


Yesterday was the day.

For the first time in five years,
and only the eighth time since it's 1984 founding,
the contest was held.


Eddie's brother Clyde
competed at age 60.


Greg Long, 24 of San Clemente, Calif.,
took home the first place purse of $55,000

edging out his childhood idol Kelly Slater with a score of 323.
Slater, 37, placed second with 313.


"I'm humbled to be even in this event," Long told AP reporter
Audrey McAvoy, adding that he had posters of today's competing athletes on his walls growing up. "To be recognized amongst them on the invitee list was a dream come true for me."

Kauai-born Sunny Garcia placed third.

The North Shore saw 30- to 40-foot waves,
with some sets approaching 50 feet on the outer reefs
as Hawaii remained under a high surf warning.
The high surf was caused by two large storms northwest of Hawaii.




















ALOHA, & Thanks for YOUR visit today! cloudia